"POTTER"
bellowed Malfoy as he entered the hall. Harry looked up in surprise, at the source of the commotion. Before he spotted Malfoy, hiding a smirk and schooling his features back to an impassive bored look.
Malfoy stormed to the Gryffindor table. More than a few heads turned; Present teachers too feigned an exaggerated dis-interest. Snape always with a disdainful expression as usual. Harry's lackey Ron, stood up;
"What is it Malfoy, you Slytherin git?!" boasted the red-head.
Harry rolled his eyes. He hadn't spoken to the red-head properly in months, yet here he was. "Saving his honour" Probably trying to earn a name for himself.
"Ron sit, let him speak." uttered Harry, with utmost nonchalance, almost as if he were bored.
"What is the meaning of this?" shrieked Malfoy once more, removing the camera from his robes.
Harry alas couldn't hold back his smile "Why it is a Wizarding camera Draco, I'm sure you would know considering-"
"Save the cheek Potter, I leant it to you as a favour, a-and y-ou" Draco stumbled Merlin he should have thought it through, better. Just then Parvati entered the Great Hall, and Draco went beet red.
Harry followed Draco's gaze and smirked
"Morning..What's this about?" she asked innocently, as she scooped bread and buttered it.
"Draco was just about to tell us," grinned Harry as he cocked his head slightly, in challenge.
"Parvati you know how Harry used the camera…?" asked Draco, certain she wouldn't-
"Hmhm Ahh yes, Harry asked me to help capture clues" Parvati froze for a semi-second, then caught herself before others let on. Her tan prevented others from blatantly seeing her blush creep up.
The students of the great hall were now getting confused; they couldn't understand what the big deal was. Cedric Diggory, the second Hogwarts champion chuckled, at the creative use Potter had found for deciphering the second clue.
"Merlins ruddy ballsack" muttered Draco . "Keep this camera, I do. not. want. such..such things."
"Cheers mate I'll try some more angle-"
"NO! No more! Hand it back!" shrieked the poor blond indignantly.
Harry returned it with ease "I suppose you can process them for us Drakey?"
Malfoy was red in embarrassment and anger as he realized he'd been played. He stormed away just as quickly as he entered.
Hermione entered for breakfast then.
"What was that all about?" she looked curiously
"Hell if I know." muttered Harry, returning to his food.
"Parvati?" asked Hermione
Parvati shook her head in response and spent the rest of her breakfast in silence.
"Anyways Mione," started Harry as he tossed her a scroll of paper, "We managed to figure the nature of the second task,"
She raised a brow
"C'est submergé" added Patil its submerged
"Library?"
Harry and Parvati nodded, and off they went.
/
"...Next thing I know, I'm wet, freezing but I look up, into his emerald green eyes, and I know I'm safe,"
Parvati was at the center, chatting amiably with their house. Recounting her coveted experience. The crowd cooed collectively, she was of-course, correct. Despite their anticipation of the challenge, they had valid cause of concern.
The common room was a rush of noise. They had music playing, and like always; Jordan, Weasley and Weasley had snuck in various snacks and beverages. A few other houses were present too. Ravenclaws. No Slytherins, to be clear.
"Oi! Potter get in there!" as one of the Weasley twins pushed Harry forward. Harry shot him a mini-glare before he played his part for the crowd. He had to play this role for the majority of Hogwarts and the tournament, he would now have to do it in the common room as well.
He held her hand, which caused another sound of delight from the crowd, and he let go, just as fast.
"So, what magic have you cast on princess Patil over here?"
"To be clear, she's the one whose cast the magic on me, I don't know, we'll see where it goes,"
Oohs and Aahhs echoed around them
"Oi' you need to give us more than that! Let's have a kiss!" some tactless dick shouted
In seconds "Kiss, kiss, kiss" rang around them like a chant.
Parvati stretched and shot him a chaste kiss on his cheeks "Thanks for saving me Harry,"
His eyes softened as he whispered something, and rushed away to get a drink.
"We didn't even think you lot were dating,"
"Since when?"
More useless questions were thrown in his wake, but Harry had no patience and he was sure Parvati would answer them well, with sufficient airiness. He found Hermione at the drink table, observing the crowd from afar.
"What dangerous thoughts do tread on your mind Milady" he teased
"I'm wondering, when you'll tell me more than the vague bullshit you tell everyone else," she said in a falsely cheery tone.
He noticed her directness coming from the glass of firewhisky she'd chosen to indulge in "I thought Parvati shared things with you,"
"But Harry we're friends, I-I was hoping it'd be you…"
"You want details from me?"
A faint blush appeared on her cheeks "No, but your feelings..Merlin Harry we barely talk anymore."
"Mione I'm dating now, I talk about these sappy things with Patil. Plus, it's not like we used to sit down and share feelings to each other…"
"Well maybe we should!" exclaimed Hermione, a couple heads turned their way.
Harry eyed her, finger pointing toward his dormitory. She nodded and led him upstairs
"What's this about? Ron?" he guessed, as they entered the empty room.
"Ron? Ronald? What? Do you two even talk?"
"Yeah we're good, we hang out." shrugged Harry
Hermione eyed him skeptically,
"You too right?" he asked
She scoffed "You're kidding right? I haven't talked to him properly, ever since he insulted me, at Yule"
Understanding filled Harry's eyes. she was likely lonely. Couldn't trust her roommates? She longed for the old days, when it was simpler. His eyes shone in genuine care,
"Maybe that's not such a bad thing," came Harry's reply after a moment
She opened her mouth, accusation in her eyes when he cut her
"No, let me finish..We don't have the same priorities, between the tournament, Parvati and actual studies I don't have time to ruddy play chess."
"No, not even exploding snap?"
A playful smile graced his lips "Not even that," Harry took a breath "but 'Mione I'm always there for you..and you can talk to the girls"
She sighed "I-I suppose, it's not easy…" her voice trembled. Harry opened his arms and she fell comfortably in his embrace.
"Don't I bloody well know it" muttered Harry, "But promise me you'll try?" She nodded against his shoulders. He provided comfort for the mess pertaining since the break.
"So..Malfoy?"
"Harry-"
"I'm not implying anything, just what's going on?"
"He hasn't talked to me in ages, I don't know what he wants. I don't care, I've also got to focus on my studies and helping you out, and Occlumency,"
"I see…" his tone serious,
She squinted at him "Do you know something?"
"No-" he began immediately,
"No, tell me, how did you cast the tracing and bubble-head charms? Now that I think of it, its not even on our syllabus,"
He felt her probe in his brain "Hermione," he warned
She huffed and slipped out, "I'm heading back" she made to the door, "Oh and Harry?" she turned
He looked in her eyes and she slammed into his mind, both practiced Occlumency and Legilimency on each other, she focused on his memories of Draco, she saw flashes of his white blond hair in a large bathing area, in an argument with Harry before he morphed into-Parvati?
Parvati and him discussing Draco, and then solely Parvati, half-naked, naked, lying on the edge of the tub, sitting on his lap, on her knees screaming yeess-
No! screeched Hermione before she abruptly pulled away, slipping to her knees. She fixed the ground as she ran over the memories
"Good defense chosen one," panted Hermione.
Harry, also exhausted from pushing her out, tried to calm his breaths.
"How much of that was staged?" demanded Hermione.
"Would you believe me if I said none?" replied Harry, his tone calm, despite eyes conveying his hostility and unease.
Hermione chuckled getting up, before looking in his eyes. Hers moistened.
"Oh Harry, I'm so sorry, its just..his behaviour is so confusing, I-I genuinely thought he wanted a friendship,"
"I can't speak about that, Draco and I just trade favours…"
"So he's speaking with you? His arch-nemesis, but not me?"
"Do you want him too?"
"Hmm?"
"Hermione," shot Harry, as if reprimanding a toddler
"Dammit how are you so good at it?"
"I'm not probing like you, it's like a break-in to a secured house, it rings all kinds of bells, I simply scan the area,"
"The frontal scan?" she gasped, it was mentioned towards the end of the text, one could scan the forethoughts supposedly when one had mastered the deliberate art of Legilimency. He nodded. She could only stare in surprised silence.
"So you practiced with Malfoy in the bathrooms?" she rushed
"That's not an aspect of my sexuality that I'm exploring," he started. A faint blush appeared on Hermione's cheeks "...but essentially yes, Draco helped me out. Listen, we're just trading favours. I will get him-er help him get something if he can help me with Potions…"
"Unless we you get a green tie, there isn't much anyone can do,"
Harry opened his mouth to retort but closed it, "Merlin you're brilliant Mione!" as he got to his door with speed
"Erm I know that?"
"Listen..you'll get there, keep practicing and-"
"Wait Harry!" she shouted but he'd long gone, vanished from his dorm.
Hermione returned to her own room to find her dormmates already inside.
"That was fantastic Parv! Really fantastic," exclaimed Lavender. Parvati took the compliment gratefully like she did the entire evening.
"Did you guys really practice in the prefect's bathroom?" pressed on the blonde.
"No-no not like that, Hermione was there too, I cast bubble-charm around me and sunk to the bottom, Harry cast the tracer,"
"Yes, I'm sure all your private practices went much in the same way," muttered Hermione.
Still dismayed by the extent of sexual activities she'd seen in the deepest recesses of Harry's mind. To divert her attention off Malfoy, he'd conjured thoughts of the both of them. In the dark, as she lay in her bed her thoughts returned to Harry's mind shield. Curious as ever, she continually pondered what was reality and what conjured. And of the strange trade-off the boys had. What could Draco possibly want, which required Harry's help?