Chapter 53-Ridiculous Estrangements
-So, for those of you who are not yet aware, for this story I'm changing up the relationships in the fourth and fifth Harry Potter stories, as in, there will be no Cho Chang, so if you are a Cho fan I apologize, and I also apologize if you are a Krum/Hermione fan, because that won't happening either, but seeing as this is intended to be a Minerva/Albus based fan fiction, I didn't think the changes would be a big deal. I know a lot of the chapters have focused on the Dumbledore children and Harry and Hermione and the Weasleys but the rest of this story should focus on Albus and Minerva primarily, most especially after Voldemort's return, which, as you know, is very soon. So, again, sorry if you're not happy about the relationship changes...thanks for the reviews! You're all fantastic! :D-
At last the day came when students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang were to arrive. All of Hogwarts gathered outside, lined up in front of the castle, and awaited the newcomers. Madame Maxime and her students arrived first, in a large carriage pulled by giant, flying horses. Madame Maxime greeted Albus and Minerva, laughed at Minaveara's overexcitement, and then directed her students into the castle. Soon after, Igor Karkaroff and the Durmstrang students appeared from out of the lake in a large ship. Karkaroff greeted Albus, but pretended as if he had not seen Minerva, though she had clearly noticed the glances she received from him out of the corner of his eye. It did not bother her, as most former Death Eaters who were not currently sitting in a cell in Azkaban looked at her in such a way. The students of Hogwarts did not notice these glances, as many were preoccupied with their delight to find that Viktor Krum was a Durmstrang student.
Soon after the three schools had begun eating dinner in the Great Hall, Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch arrived and took seats at the staff table with the rest of Hogwarts staff and Madame Maxime and Karkaroff. When dinner was finished, Albus revealed the Goblet of Fire and explained that it would choose the champions of the three schools, and that students were to put their names in it before dinner the next day – which was Halloween – when the champions would be decided. An age line was placed around the Goblet of Fire, though a few students did attempt to get past it with the use of an aging potion, including Fred and George, who were promptly thrown back and sprouted long white beards.
When at last dinner was over on Halloween night, the champions were chosen; Viktor Krum of Durmstrang, Fleur Delacour of Beauxbatons, and Cedric Diggory of Hogwarts. However, another champion's name was thrown from the Goblet – Harry Potter. It had been decided that he was to compete, but Minerva was not at all happy with the decision.
So that is why she now stood before her husband, who had immersed himself in paper work the moment they returned to his office, her hands on her hips and a frown on her face.
"You can't possibly allow the boy to compete!" she exclaimed for another time that night. She had said it the moment they left the four champions, again when Severus argued with her, and then again on their way back to their rooms. And now she was saying it once more.
Albus, finally coming to the conclusion that his wife would not stop repeating those same words in some form or another until he acknowledged them, sighed wearily and pulled his half-moon glasses off his face, placing them carefully atop the pile of parchment on his desk, then sat back in his seat, placing the tips of his fingers together. "And what do you suggest I do, Minerva?" he asked her. "You heard Barty. The rules are clear –"
"To the devil with Barty! And since when have you ever accommodated the Ministry!" she challenged, taking a step forward so that her legs nearly bumped into the front of his desk, the heel of her boot scuffing along the floor loudly in the silence around the room. The portraits of the former Headmasters and Headmistress hardly dared to move, watching the argument with mixed expressions. Before Albus could respond, Minerva continued, her voice rising as her anger rose with it, "Or are you going with what Severus suggested? 'Let events unfold to discover the reason behind it.'? I'll say it yet again, Albus. The boy is not a piece of meat! We cannot simply offer him up as bait! It seems that Alastor finally spoke some words of truth tonight! Whoever put Potter's name in that Goblet wants him dead!"
"Minerva," said Albus calmly, though his fingers twitched slightly, as if he was restraining himself from clenching his fists, "you know as well as I that Harry is important to Voldemort's downfall. I will not allow anything to happen to him during the Tournament –" Her disbelieving snort interrupted him, and he raised a brow. "You doubt me?"
"I am doubting that this is a wise decision," she answered honestly, removing her hands from her hips to fold her arms across her chest.
"I am sorry you feel that way," he replied, picking up his glasses and sliding them back onto his face as he picked up his quill and returned his gaze to the parchment before him.
"You can't let this go on, Albus!" Minerva persisted.
"I'm afraid it is not your decision, Minerva."
Those words stopped her in her tracks. She had been about to lean forward, but now her hands hovered over Albus's desk as if an invisible force had stopped her from touching it, and her mouth snapped closed with a loud click as her teeth collided. Minerva stayed in that odd position for a few moments, the only sound being of Albus scribbling away on his parchment.
And then Dilys Derwent said, "Now really, Albus, that is no way to speak to your wife –"
"No," Minerva interrupted, straightening herself up and holding her hand up in the direction of the former Headmistress's portrait, but not turning to face her as she said, "It's quite all right, Dilys. He's right, it is not my decision to make."
"But –"
"Really, Dilys." Minerva looked up at the older woman's portrait then, and the former Headmistress sighed and nodded. "However," Minerva said, turning to face her husband, who was still annoyingly writing something on that blasted parchment, "I believe it is within my power to decide that I will be sleeping in Minaveara's room tonight."
Minerva spun on her heel and started towards the door to she and Albus's sitting room, ignoring Albus when he finally stopped writing and looked up to say, "Now really, Minerva –"
But she heard nothing else from him, because she slammed the door closed behind her and continued down the hall to Minaveara's room, where she conjured a bed for herself, locked the door tight so that Albus could not enter, and then lay down to watch her toddler sleep.
Albus did not receive much sleep that night. Not only was he anxious about the Harry-Triwizard situation, but his own wife, who had slept in the same bed as him almost every night for over forty years, was sleeping in another room, a room he had not been able to get into without possibly breaking down the door. He didn't want to frighten Minaveara or irritate Minerva further, so he went to bed alone, where he lay awake for a long time before succumbing to exhaustion. He had slept in a different bed than Minerva before, but he hadn't slept well then either, and so he tossed and turned for a few hours until at last it was late enough for him to get ready for the day.
When Albus had showered and pulled on his robes, he peaked into Minaveara's bedroom – the door was now open – and saw the toddler sitting on her floor. Minerva was crouched down on the floor and putting on Minaveara's clothes. Albus was slightly confused to see that Minerva had already given Minaveara a bath as well – her short ebony curls were still slightly wet. Normally Albus would bathe Minaveara sometime before lunch while Minerva taught her classes, or, on Saturdays such as today, he would take care of that while Minerva graded papers or went to a meeting for him.
Naturally, through both Albus's link with his wife and her uncanny magical ability to feel the emotions of others, she answered him without him having to ask. "I see you've already forgotten," she began rather coldly at first, her gaze still on the toddler now chewing on her plastic child's toy and staring up at her father interestedly. "You have a meeting with the Ministry and the Governors all morning and possibly into the afternoon to discuss the Triwizard…issue, and since I'm going with Isadora to look for a dress again this morning, I'm taking Minaveara with me."
Minerva gently pulled the toy from said toddler's mouth then and tossed it into a basket filled to the brim with toys. She stood, sitting Minaveara on her hip as she did so, and then strode from the room in an effort to make it as far from her husband as possible. She did not succeed, however, for Albus was no longer going to stand for this estrangement. He had gone a month without her once before, and he was not going to allow history to repeat itself.
"Minerva –"
"I don't have time for this, Albus," she interrupted, glancing down at the hand he had wrapped around her arm. "Now if you would please let go –"
"Put Minaveara in her playpen," said Albus, inclining his head in the direction of said object.
Minerva raised a brow, glancing once more at Albus's hand that was still gripping her arm before returning her gaze to him. "Why, are you planning on challenging me to a duel?" she commented dryly. "Or do you think sitting her ten feet away will deafen her to the argument you would clearly like to have right now? Well I'm sorry, Albus, but I haven't got the time."
At first, Albus's response was only to narrow his eyes at Minerva. Even if she had been attempting to be witty as she so normally was, the suggestion of challenging her to a duel was ridiculous. And then he said, "I'm not going to argue with you, Minerva; I would merely like to discuss this with you. I would also like for Minaveara to be entertained while we are having this discussion, so if you don't mind –"
He gestured towards the playpen once more, with a gesture of his arm, and looked back at Minerva to see her rolling her eyes.
"I've already told you that I don't have time for a discussion," she reiterated, yanking her arm from his grasp. "I'm not going to miss breakfast –"
"I'll have the house-elves bring you breakfast if you miss it, so if you would please just set our child down and allow me to say something to you, this would go much quicker."
Minerva's eyes narrowed imperceptibly, but she did as Albus asked and set Minaveara in her playpen, where she immediately began banging her toys around noisily, no doubt aware that her parents were going to have a discussion she would probably not like to hear, whether she could understand it or not. Albus watched as Minerva strode back to his side, and very nearly smirked as she folded her arms across her chest and looked to him inquiringly – she was so infuriating, and he loved it.
"Well," she said, "say what you would like."
"Very well," Albus amended. "First of all, I would just like to say that you're being incorrigible."
Minerva did not protest, but shrugged and conceded, "Perhaps. But then again, it is not my decision to –"
"Don't use that statement against me," her husband warned. "You know very well that I was not thinking very clearly. You may be worried about Harry and think that his involvement in the Tournament is frightening and ridiculous, but so do I. I do not want the boy to compete, but there is nothing to be done. We both knew something like this would happen eventually, and neither of us can change what has been done. But what I said to you last night was entirely uncalled for. For Merlin's sake you make more decisions for this school than I do –"
"– quit being modest," Minerva muttered, her gaze now on her shoes.
Albus ignored her and powered on, "But I'm just worried, Minerva. About you, about the children. I can't go through another war constantly wondering if my every decision is going to offend you. I know that you and I don't always see eye to eye, and that is likely because of the differences between the two of us, but in the end those differences are miniscule in comparison to our similarities and our…harmony, I suppose it could be called. And so it pains me when some silly argument such as this has us not speaking. This year has started out horribly. Instead of being happy about our daughter's engagement and laughing joyously when Minaveara says a full sentence or pronounces a particularly difficult word, we're moping around as if we're children ourselves and arguing over nothing. I'm making mistakes left and right and you're letting your temper get the better of you. I won't let this go on, Minerva. I'll be damned if you ever sleep in the Head of House bedroom for a month ever again."
Minerva stared up at him then, and he could practically see her mind working furiously. And then she sighed, her arms unraveling as she took a step forward, closing the distance between them and placing her hands on either side of his face to pull him towards her and press her lips firmly against his. Despite his surprise, Albus instantly wound his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. He was assuming this meant she was tired of arguing as well.
When she pulled away, his assumption was confirmed as she said, "I'm sorry, I know I…overreact sometimes, but I…" she sighed and laid her head down on his chest, her arms wrapping around his middle.
"You're not telling me something," Albus said knowingly, trailing his fingers along her spine.
"No," said Minerva quickly, perhaps too quickly, stepping out of his embrace and giving him a faint, reassuring smile. "I'm just…overwhelmed I suppose. Eliana…and then the…and our children and the…" she trailed off with an exaggerated sigh. "Listen to me, not even speaking in coherent sentences, my students would love this."
She was frustrated, Albus could tell, but over what he was not sure. Speaking incoherently of course was not something that Minerva McGonagall Dumbledore ever tolerated, and so he knew that wasn't likely to make her happy, but that wasn't nearly enough to frustrate her to the severity that he could see at this moment. He was frustrated with himself for not being able to figure out what exactly was bothering her. If it was something he already knew about or if she was keeping things from him. While he could normally read her like a book, it was still often difficult for him to understand her when she hid away. She could so easily block any emotions or thoughts she wanted to keep hidden, even from him, who was supposedly the most powerful wizard of the age. Of course, having been married for as long as he had and having had as many daughters as he had, he knew from experience that women were difficult to understand at the best of times. That wasn't to say men were much easier, but these thoughts were quickly leading Albus's mind astray, and so he quickly switched his mind back to the issue at hand.
"Minerva," said Albus, gripping his wife's upper arms and gently coaxing her to look up at him, "I know there's a lot going on right now, and I know you've got double the work, what with me forgetting everything and having so many meetings that you have to not only teach your classes but watch over Minaveara, and I apologize. I know you're worried about Voldemort's return and are bothered by the looks Karkaroff keeps giving you and what you've seen from Alastor, but I'm here, and I'm willing to listen. And if there's anything else that's bothering you I want you to tell me."
"I've already told you everything, Albus," said Minerva, gripping his arms as well and leaning up to place a quick kiss on his cheek. Then she stepped back, out of his embrace. "I don't want to argue with you either, and I want you to tell me what's bothering you because I can help too you know. I'm not an invalid just because I've got a lot of extra work and worries. You've got just as much going on and we've only got each other to talk to. It's not exactly possible to complain to Minaveara anymore, since she repeats almost everything I say now."
Minerva's lips curled up slightly at this and Albus smiled, glad that at least something could make her smile slightly.
"Muma!" Minaveara suddenly squealed excitedly, and Albus and Minerva turned to face her. "Yook, Muma, it's a kitty!" And indeed, Minaveara was holding up a stuffed kitten, the one she had lost only last night, the very same stuffed kitten that she could hardly sleep without.
Minerva and Albus exchanged a grin before turning back to Minaveara, praising her for her discovery.
The next few days were difficult for Harry. Everyone was convinced that he had put his name in the Goblet, and while many of the Gryffindors were extremely happy, the rest of the Houses had turned against him, and the Slytherins had taken to wearing badges that switched from Support Cedric Diggory! to Potter Stinks!. Ron and Andromeda were no longer speaking to him either, and even though Callisto apparently believed Harry when he said that he didn't put his name in the Goblet, she didn't sit with him and Anexandra and Hermione at meals, but with Ron and Andromeda instead. Hermione and Anexandra were at least on his side, and Harry was especially grateful that he had Anexandra, because Hermione wasn't in all of his classes like Anexandra was, and Anexandra could at least understand the publicity and the strange looks.
Anexandra also seemed to be giving Harry a lot of pep talks lately, explaining away people's behaviors and telling him to "forget it" every time someone was brave enough to shout something at him in the corridors, which was usually just Draco and Eliana. And then, a few days after the Goblet of Fire had spit his name out and turned his life upside down yet again, Anexandra took him for a walk around the lake.
"I usually come here to think," she was saying as she stood, leaning against a nearby tree and watching Harry as he kicked at the dirt a few feet away.
Curious, he looked up from the ground and turned his gaze to Anexandra as he said, "Oh, why is that?"
Anexandra looked out at the lake, which was glowing in the setting sun, a tentacle occasionally sweeping lazily out of the water. "It's…calming, I suppose," she answered him.
Harry looked out at the lake himself and thought about it. The lake was rather calming. They had journeyed farther from the castle than one usually would, since the Durmstrang ship was now rested against the bank nearest the castle, and no loud student voices drifted towards them.
"I see what you're saying," he said, turning back to Anexandra and walking a few steps to join her under the high tree branches. Then something occurred to him. "But don't you come down here a lot?"
Anexandra smirked and replied, "Intuitive of you, Harry. Well, I have a lot of thoughts."
Harry raised a brow and asked, "What kind of thoughts?"
Anexandra shrugged, a smile on her lips as she said, "Lots of stuff," and then waltzed past Harry to stand closer to the lake.
"That's not much of an answer," Harry observed, leaning against the tree trunk now, his arms across his chest and his eyes on Anexandra. It was now November, but it was unseasonably warm, and so Anexandra had shed her cloak and was simply wearing a tight, black turtleneck sweater and a pair of jeans. Harry had also left his cloak to hang on a nearby tree branch.
At Harry's words she turned back to him with a mischievous smile, and with a strange lurch in his stomach, he noticed how…well…attractive she looked. The sun made her dark hair shine and her green eyes sparkle, and he had always liked her smile. But he couldn't possibly think something like that. This was Anexandra Dumbledore. They had been friends since first year; she had told him what an idiot he was on many occasions; he had exchanged letters with her over the summer, some of which she had spoken to him about Daniel Star; and she was the daughter of the two most powerful people in the world, who were also his headmaster and transfiguration professor, who could expel him if he so much as looked at her the wrong way. Not to mention the fact that Severus Snape, the man who loathed Harry and was willing to do anything to make his life a living hell, was severely over protective of his young in-laws. Harry wasn't allowed to think any one of the Dumbledores were attractive.
It had been bad enough when, after having been harassed in a broom cupboard by Rita Skeeter, an article was published in the Daily Prophet of, not only the Triwizard Tournament and its champions, but more specifically, Harry's feelings on the matter, or rather, the feelings Rita Skeeter had made up. And then, of course, she had asked other people about him, and Colin Creevey had made the mistake of mentioning how much time Harry had been spending with Anexandra (poor Colin was now too terrified to go anywhere near any of the Dumbledores after the enraged glares he had received for that mistake). Needless to say, on top of the Triwizard hatred from students, the whole of the school now thought Harry was in love with Anexandra Dumbledore, which earned him many glares from boys he didn't know the names of, warning looks from Snape, a narrow-eyed talk from Pleis and Perseus about hurting their sister, and a strange jerky movement from Professor McGonagall every time Harry leaned too closely to Anexandra during class. So no, Harry could not think of Anexandra as attractive, not at all.
But then her voice broke into his thoughts, soft and caring, as it always was. "Are you all right, Harry?"
"Oh, er, yeah," he said quickly, blinking and shaking his head as if to get rid of his previous thoughts. He looked into Anexandra's eyes, but then quickly looked away. Her gaze was so piercing; her whole family had that same look, as if they could see right through him, and he didn't doubt that they could. His stomach squirmed uncomfortably at the thought of Anexandra being able to read his previous thoughts. She had told him before that she knew Legilimency or Occlumency or whichever it was.
And then suddenly her hand was on his shoulder and he looked up to see her only inches away with a concerned look on her face. "What is it?" said Anexandra softly, and Harry quickly tried to think of something, anything else.
Ron.
Yes! Ron. He was angry with Ron. He was angry at Ron and Andromeda for being angry at him.
"Is it about Ron and the others?" she asked, and Harry nearly sighed in relief, nodding somberly at her questioning gaze. "I told you before, Harry, Ron's just jealous, Andromeda's living in a dream world, and Callisto has no hard feelings towards you she's just closer friends with Ron."
Harry nodded again, glad that Anexandra hadn't figured out his previous thoughts. "I know," he said, "but I just…don't understand. I mean, I thought, if anyone, Ron would be on my side. And I know Andromeda likes Cedric and all, but I thought we were at least on some sort of good terms…"
Anexandra gave Harry a sympathetic smile and said, "I understand, but trust me, Harry, it won't last forever. Ron always comes around, he's just tired of being shunted aside, with us being famous and all and him having so many siblings, but I think he's at least handling multiple siblings better than Eliana. At least he hasn't run off to be best pals with Draco Malfoy. And Andromeda probably isn't all that angry with you either, but she's a Hufflepuff and practically dating Cedric Diggory, she can't exactly be seen to be friends with the one who's supposedly going to steel his thunder or she'll have no one to talk to in her classes, which, to me would be no big deal, but Andromeda hasn't quite figured out her priorities. She's actually gotten a lot better than usual though. I think the only good thing that will come out of this Cedric business is that she's actually starting to act a bit normal. I haven't heard her screeching in a while. But anyway, I know this will all be over eventually, and if not, Hermione and I are still your friends, as is Pleis and Perseus and Ginny and Io. And I'm sure you know that you and Aurora are already practically brother and sister. And no matter what happens between you and me I'll make sure we stay friends. I don't care if you spend the rest of our lives saying Severus is planning to kill us all – though I'll admit, I probably won't be too happy about it." She smiled, and all of Harry's worries about Ron seemed to dissipate.
He smiled in return, and then suddenly she had wrapped her arms around him and pulled him into a hug. Harry practically gasped in shock and his eyes widened in surprise, but instead of casting his eyes around fearfully for one of her family members stomping towards him with a murderous look, he gave in and placed his hands on her back, feeling awkward, yet content. It was strange, Anexandra was never one for this sort of comfort. She had spoken of Andromeda changing, but it seemed Anexandra was as well. Harry supposed it was just all of them growing up. Fourteen was a lot different than eleven.
A few moments later, Anexandra stepped back, her cheeks slightly pink. Obviously she had found the act a bit strange as well. "Feel better?" she asked.
Harry could only smile in response.
But then something occurred to him and, before he could stop to think, he said, "Don't you come here a lot with Daniel Star?" Anexandra's smile instantly faded, and Harry felt terrible for even bringing it up. He had no idea how Anexandra had taken that question, and he quickly attempted to fix his mistake. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean –"
"It's no big deal, Harry," she interrupted him, taking a step back. "You're allowed to ask questions, it's human nature to be curious, and it wasn't some sort of inappropriate question that I'm not allowed to answer or some such nonsense. That was your subtle way of asking about me and Daniel Star. Well, to answer your unsaid question, we are perfectly fine, but no we are not dating. He is a friend, no more, no less. Yes, I did come here often with him once upon a time, but only as a friend, and right now I would much rather keep you company. Is that a suitable answer?"
Harry felt a twinge of guilt at her somewhat subtle way of saying that she was spending time with him instead of Daniel Star because his other friend currently wasn't speaking to him and half the school was angry at him. But at the same time, a part of him was sort of…well…glad that she was spending more time with him instead of Daniel Star. But he shook those thoughts away and said, "You don't have to spend all your time with me. I've got Hermione and Aurora to talk to, and even if they're not around I'm sure I can handle myself for a while." His tone became a bit defensive towards the end, and Anexandra noticed right away.
"I know you can take care of yourself," she said, folding her arms across her chest and leaning against the tree once more. "But that doesn't mean being alone is any more pleasurable. And I'm not spending time with you out of pity or anything, I want to be here, with you. I've already told you, you're my friend and that's the way it's going to stay. Besides, if you must know, Daniel thinks you put your name in the Goblet, or that you're okay with it or something –"she held up a hand when Harry opened his mouth to protest – "I've already tried to convince him otherwise, but I suppose the real Slytherin in him has decided to show himself, especially now that he read that damn article. It's no big deal though, really."
Harry, deciding not to question her further, folded his own arms across his chest once again and leaned against the tree, beside Anexandra, and the two of them looked out at the lake without another word.
The next two weeks before the first task of the Triwizard Tournament passed in a blur. Isadora finally managed to find a wedding dress that she, Ororo, Minerva, Aurora, and even Minaveara approved of. Albus spent most of his time in meetings discussing Harry's involvement in the Tournament, leaving the castle early and returning late to find Minerva passed out in a chair in their sitting room with various parchment or books balancing precariously on her lap or already lying on the floor. Minerva and Minaveara were spending more time with Poppy and Rolanda to avoid the emptiness of their rooms when Albus was not around, and Minerva was doing her best to avoid Alastor all together so she didn't have to wonder at his curious behavior and the strange magical signature that now surrounded him. Unfortunately he seemed to enjoy speaking to her in between classes and at meal times, especially when Albus wasn't around.
Andromeda and Cedric were now officially dating, much to the chagrin of Albus and Minerva. Albus nearly had a fit when Minerva had told him about it, and repeated, "He's three years older!" at least twenty times. And Minerva was making excuses to swoop down upon the two of them anytime they moved too close. For the first week, Albus and Minerva were so preoccupied watching Andromeda and Cedric during meal times that they kept slopping food down their fronts. Ron and Andromeda still weren't talking to Harry, and Anexandra hardly spoke to Daniel Star, but Harry and Anexandra still had one another to talk to, and Hermione was around anytime she wasn't in the library. Callisto and Hermione were still bouncing between friends, which obviously was greatly annoying them because they continuously tried to force Harry and Ron back together.
Sometime before the Tournamen, Hagrid discreetly took Harry and Madame Maxime into the Forbidden Forest to show them that the first task was going to involve dragons. Harry was rather panicked until Sirius arrived at Hogwarts for a second time that year. Sirius had come to speak to Harry after he had first sent him a letter about his name being put into the Goblet of Fire, and he had come the second time to calm Harry when Aurora sent him a letter about Harry's anxiety towards the first task. Sirius also informed Harry that he would be returning to Hogwarts to see the first task. And so Harry was at least able to relax slightly and, after his talk with Sirius and another with Alastor Moody soon after, knew that he was going to be using his broomstick to get through the first task. However, he had not had very good luck with summoning charms what with everything that had been happening, and so he asked Anexandra and Hermione to help him out. And sure enough, by the time the first task came around, he had mastered the summoning charm and both Anexandra and Hermione assured him that he would be just fine.
And then the twenty-fourth of November arrived and Anexandra and Hermione could only reassure Harry for so long before he had to join the other champions in a tent at the edge of the forest. While Harry was nearly sick with nervousness when it was his turn to start the first task; in the stands, Sirius and Isadora clenched one another's hands painfully, Hermione's fingernails dug into her cheeks, Anexandra bounced her leg up and down repeatedly, Callisto gripped Ron's arm tightly, Ron himself was rather pale, Minerva was shaking, and Andromeda was squealing and hiding her eyes as she had when it had been Cedric's turn. Until at last Harry snatched the golden egg and Minerva rushed forward to usher him to a second tent where Madam Pomfrey was waiting.
By the time Madam Pomfrey had healed Harry's shoulder, a group of people swarmed upon him, including Hermione, Ron, Anexandra, Callisto, Andromeda, Aurora, Sirius, and Isadora. They all huddled around him, congratulating him and asking him if he was okay simultaneously.
"Harry, you were brilliant!" Hermione said shakily.
"I told you you'd do all right," said Anexandra, thumping him lightly on the back and giving him a bright smile.
"That was awesome," Aurora gushed with a grin.
"Are you sure you're all right, Harry?" Isadora asked him, gripping his wrist and giving him a weak smile.
"That was amazing, Harry!" said Sirius, gripping Harry's uninjured shoulder and grinning widely. "I knew you could do it. Your father would have been proud…"
And then Andromeda stepped forward and lightly punched Harry's arm as she said, "Good job, Harry."
And finally, Ron approached Harry and said, very seriously, "Harry, whoever put your name in that goblet – I – I reckon they're trying to do you in!"
"Caught on, have you," said Harry coldly, and suddenly the others in the group began to feel a bit awkward. "Took you long enough."
"Come on, you two," Isadora said to Sirius and Aurora, pushing them towards the mouth of the tent. "We'll come back and see you before we leave today, Harry…"
And then the three of them slipped outside with the last thing to be heard being Aurora's indignant voice saying, "But, Mum."
Harry returned his attention to Ron, who opened his mouth awkwardly, and before he could speak, Harry cut in, "It's okay. Forget it."
"No," said Ron, "I shouldn't have –"
"Forget it," Harry insisted.
Ron grinned nervously, and Harry grinned back, Hermione burst into tears, and Callisto said, "So are we all friends again or what? Because these ridiculous estrangements really get on my nerves."
When Harry and Ron continued to stare at Hermione in bewilderment, she shouted, "You two are so stupid!" and then stomped her foot, gave both of them a hug, and dashed away.
"Barking mad," said Ron, shaking his head.
"I'll go see where she went," Callisto said distractedly before following Hermione out of the tent.
"Come on, Harry," said Anexandra, "they'll be putting up your scores…"
After receiving his scores that Ron claimed tied him with Krum, and seeing the other Houses cheering for him, their hatred seeming to have dissipated as well, and spending the rest of the afternoon with Ron, Anexandra, Hermione, Callisto, and Andromeda, Harry was feeling much better overall.
