...GOoHS...

Chapter 10

Fire Hazards

It hadn't taken much to get Hermione to forgive Harry but she did make it very hard for him to chase her down. Harry was relieved when she told him that she wasn't angry at him for having done what everyone who was underaged at Hogwarts had failed to do. Rather, she was angry at him for making her think that he had purposefully joined to prove his ability and intelligence like a braggart. A reckless, irresponsible braggart who didn't even bother to explain his actions to her the next day and letting the entire school think he was an attention-seeking maniac.

She pestered him nonstop about the things he knew about the Age Line right after that as if nothing happened in between the Halloween feast and Harry's apology. Harry didn't mind sharing all he could. In fact, he missed bouncing off ideas with Hermione.

Hermione and Ron having his back was certainly very much needed, especially in dealing with the problems that arose after the Halloween feast. Almost the entire school had turned its back on Harry. They even went so far as to discredit Lucas too, calling him a lunatic just like his brother.

It had only been four days since the choosing of the champions but the harassment had already escalated to taunting Harry openly even at breakfast, when most of the students who stumbled into the Great Hall were bleary-eyed zombies and couldn't really comprehend what was happening.

This particular morning, Malfoy and his cronies had come to them sporting a large button pin that displayed the words 'Potter Stinks' in very bright colors. Lucas flicked him off, not having the energy to deal with him this early in the morning. The Slytherins just guffawed and yelled, "Potter stinks!" over their shoulders as they passed.

Harry groaned and let his head fall on the hard wood surface of the table. Hermione gave him a very sympathetic look but didn't say anything, knowing that nothing she could say would help. Ron, oblivious as ever, gave Harry's back some light pats and said, "Cheer up, Harry. Malfoy's probably just jealous". Hermione smacked him with her Ancient Runes book for that.

Harry didn't get up from his position until the owls started coming in. His eyes scanned the multitude of owls that were flying over their heads, hoping that he didn't spot a familiar one bringing in a howler. He then spotted his father's barn owl heading towards his direction, with a white envelope clutched in its talons. Harry briefly sighed in relief at the fact that it wasn't a howler. The howler he got alongside Ron in their second year was mortifying enough.

His father's owl dropped the letter gracefully in front of him before it landed on Lucas' shoulder. Lucas winced slightly at its sharp talons but gave the owl some water and some owl treats anyway. It nipped at the treats greedily and Lucas barely managed to pull away his fingers in time.

"Sidra, what the hell? The treats aren't going anywhere!" Lucas said loudly when the bird nearly bit off his finger at its eagerness to get to the treats.

Harry chuckled at them. He had never been close to the owl, Sidra, but Lucas was always so determined to make her like him. He had been trying for nearly five years now and Harry could see that there was a bit of improvement. At least she didn't leave immediately after dropping off letters and parcels now.

Turning his attention back to the letter, Harry took out the contents of the envelope and started reading.

Dear Harry and Lucas,

We're so sorry for only writing just now but you have to know we've been doing all we can to pull Harry out of the tournament. Your mother and I have gone to whoever we could possibly take this matter on to but we've had no luck so far. I've even scheduled an appointment with the Minister himself regarding this but it keeps being moved. I've had to stop Lily from blasting the doors to his office more times than I can count.

Harry's stomach twisted in knots. Well, he sort of expected that nothing could be done especially after Mr. Crouch's warning about the blasted contract. But to hear that even after going to the Ministry and all the experts they could talk to, no one could come up with a solution anyway.

"What's it say?" Lucas asked as he fed another treat to Sidra.

"Mum and dad's asked everyone they can about pulling me out of the tournament. No luck yet. Not done reading the whole thing though, hold on…" Harry replied, attention already back on the letter.

That being said, we can't come up to see you as we would have sorely liked but I've called in a favor to a friend at work and he'd promised he could set up a temporary connection to the floo network installed on the Gryffindor tower. He says it'll take some time, what with the paperwork and approval. He says it'll be top priority but still, it'd take two weeks at most. We'll write you again when he gets it done.

Harry, it's ridiculous that this even needs saying but we don't believe the nasty rumors that you put your name in the fire for any and all reason. Whoever is behind this is a sick and twisted ******* man.

There was a tiny scrawl over the struck-out word telling them that Lily ordered him to erase it. The penmanship after those words changed and Harry recognized it as his mother's neat cursive handwriting.

What your father means to say, boys, is that you need to keep an eye out for anything possibly dangerous or even suspicious. Someone has already gotten Harry in danger and I don't want something else happening to Lucas either. You boys keep each other safe. Lucas, keep watch over your brother. Harry, try not to put yourself in any more danger than you already are in. Not another toe out of line, I meant it.

The penmanship changed again and James' untidy scrawls followed Lily's message.

Mum's just very wound up right now.

The 'w' on the word 'now' had trailed off messily, suggesting that James had been hit by Lily when she read what he wrote over his shoulder.

We love you and miss you dearly, really. We'll write you again when we get the go ahead about that floo network thing.

Love,

Mum and Dad

Harry closed the letter and tucked it back inside its envelope, feeling relief wash over him. He had been anxious these past few days after the Halloween feast because of the lack of letters from his parents. It had been so long that Harry was sure they had composed a very long Howler each to send to him. Thankfully, they believed that he didn't put his name in. It took the immense weight off his shoulder.

Across from him, Lucas had already run out of treats to give Sidra the owl and so she left her perch on his shoulder and flew out of the Great Hall. Lucas muttered darkly about the bird being ungrateful before picking up the letter Harry had placed in front of him. While he read the letter silently, Harry turned to Ron and smiled brightly. Ron immediately brightened when he saw it. Harry had been very mopey these past few days.

"My parents believe me," he told him and Hermione. They both looked relieved at the news.

"Of course they would, I kept telling you but you wouldn't listen." Ron said but he looked as happy as Harry did anyway.

The clock tower's chime echoed around the mostly empty Great Hall signaling that it was eight in the morning now. Since it was a Saturday, the students moved at a more leisurely pace and woke up later than usual so the clock's chime didn't mean anything to them. But it seemed to mean something to Lucas because he swore loudly and stuffed his parents' letter in his pocket. He downed the pumpkin juice he had been nursing and snagged a piece of toast before rushing out of the Great Hall.

"What's he in a rush for?" Ron asked.

Harry turned back to his plate and simply answered, "Dumbledore's lessons."

"His what?" Ron asked in disbelief. "I didn't know Lucas' grades were that bad to be taking lessons from Dumbledore himself, blimey…"

Harry snorted. "No, it's advanced classes. Savior of the Wizarding World stuff."

Understanding dawned on Ron. "Oh"

As they ate in silence, Harry's head turned to look outside. It was a perfectly cloudy day and he only had one thing on his mind.

"Do you want to go flying with me after breakfast?" Harry asked Ron.

Ron grimaced. "Oh… no, Harry. I kind of had other plans. Charlie's asked me to help him out with something."

Harry's brow furrowed. "Charlie? Isn't he in Romania?"

"Yeah," Ron sniffed. "He wants my help on something. Probably wants to make me his messenger and ask teachers stuff regarding his job. Ugh, I don't even like talking to our teachers in class."

Harry felt sorry for Ron and almost pitched in to help him, were it not for the new wave of students that flooded into the Great Hall for breakfast. They all gave him that dreaded look again and it was only a matter of time before the insults started up. He wanted to help Ron but he also wanted to escape the everyone's eyes on him in the castle.

Harry looked down at his plate immediately and muttered, "You go help Charlie, Ron. I'll just… I'll probably take a stroll around the lake. Get some air."

Ron and Hermione started to notice the murmurs too and they nodded at Harry.

Harry found himself under the willow tree near the edges of the Black Lake with Neville after breakfast. He had found Neville knee-deep in the water, playing with a water plant and fiddling around with a Herbology book which he laid out on the shore. Harry would have preferred to be alone but he didn't mind Neville's company. He didn't accuse Harry like the rest of the people he shared their dorm room with.

Harry didn't really have anything better to do so he just watched Neville figure out the characteristics of the plant he was holding according to the book. Harry half-heartedly skimmed the book when he first arrived but quickly put it down and observed Neville instead. Normally he would have devoured any new knowledge but he just didn't find Herbology to be a fascinating subject.

A twig snapped from behind them and Harry turned his head in alarm. He was met with Ginny Weasley walking towards him, slightly out of breath.

"Thank Merlin I found you here. Ron just told me you were at the lake but didn't tell me where specifically. I didn't fancy walking around the entire lake, bloody hell," she muttered, sitting down on the tree root near Harry.

"Er… hi, Ginny." Harry said slowly, still surprised at her unexpected appearance. He faintly heard Neville say hello from his position in the water and Ginny waved back at him.

"What brings you here?" Harry asked.

Ginny gaped at him. "I-I thought Ron told you! He said you wanted to go flying but he had to help out Charlie so he sent me instead. Oh, that bloody git, I'll strangle him!"

She looked mortified and very red. Harry did his best to reassure her.

"It's okay, Ginny. Ron might've mentioned it when I left the Great Hall. It's my fault I wasn't listening. I'm sorry."

Ginny waved his apology away awkwardly and she cleared her throat. "No, no, don't apologize. You don't need to apologize to me for that."

Harry scratched his head sheepishly. "Um… but it kind of is my fault, I think. I let it slip my mind."

Ginny internally screamed at Harry's stubborn insistence. Noble and kind to a fault, that was how Harry had always been to her. If he said it was his fault then it was his fault. Unfortunately for him, Ginny was just as stubborn as he was so she didn't let him get away with shouldering all the blame, even if it was just for this one tiny thing.

"Look, it's no one's fault, alright?" Ginny said, rolling her eyes. "Don't add it to your pile of woes, Harry."

Harry laughed. "You're making me sound like a mopey idiot."

Ginny raised an eyebrow at him. "Are you not?"

"You wound me, Ginny, truly. And here I thought I had earned enough respect being a Quidditch coach to you these past few years."

Ginny laughed. "Quidditch is probably the only thing you've got going for you."

Harry laughed again and Ginny smiled widely at him.

They slipped into playful banter quite easily when it came to Quidditch, it being their common ground. Ginny didn't have to worry about the butterflies in her stomach as much. It was when things shifted from Quidditch that she had trouble controlling her emotions.

Harry looked at her gratefully. "Thanks for the laugh, Ginny. I needed that."

Ginny frowned. "That bad, huh?"

Harry shrugged. "I'm not Lucas. I'm not used to the attention. It's not even the good kind of attention. They look at me like I roasted their owls for fuck's sake."

Ginny toyed with the button on her sweater, not really sure what to say that wouldn't embarrass herself. She did get her fair share of accusing stares and open staring after the Chamber of Secrets fiasco, so she guessed she could understand what it felt like to be jeered at. Her situation wasn't exactly the same but like Harry, she was also caught in someone's evil schemes and it had endangered her life.

"I'm sorry you have to deal with their judgmental looks. It's the worst," Ginny said quietly, lost in thought.

Harry noticed the look on her face and realized she was talking about the time the school found out it was her who was involved in the reopening of the Chamber of Secrets. He grimaced at the thought. He had been spared from the gossip since the recognition was passed onto Lucas secretly but only Harry and Ginny truly knew what happened inside the chamber that day and they knew that the rest of the school had no right to judge.

"Hey… the diary thing wasn't your fault. We've gone over this with Dumbledore."

Ginny was startled to hear that he knew what she was thinking. "I-I know, don't worry."

"Good. I can't have you mope too. One of us is enough." Harry joked. Ginny laughed, thankfully.

Harry laughed with her. He didn't talk to Ginny much outside of Quidditch talks but he found it quite nice. Harry quickly learned that she had quite the sailor mouth, enough to rival Ron's. He didn't know how he didn't notice it but then again, he rarely talked to her for this long. Though, he shouldn't be surprised given that she grew up with six older brothers. Harry also discovered that she was quite adept at dueling spells. Ginny confided that she had started learning on her second year because she didn't want to be defenseless again.

They could have talked more, with Neville putting in his thoughts every so often, but they were interrupted by Ron's frantic yelling. Harry, Ginny, and Neville's attentions were all on Ron who ran towards them, eyes wide in panic and face looking very pale.

Ginny stood up to catch him in her concern. "What's gotten into you?"

Ron ignored her and rushed straight to Harry, shaking his shoulders. "Hagrid's looking for you!"

"What?" Harry asked, bewildered at Ron's frantic state. He glanced at Ginny who only shrugged.

"Hagrid's looking for you!" Ron repeated, louder this time.

Harry tried to remove Ron's vice-like grip on his shoulders but he just kept shaking him more and more. Harry yanked himself out of Ron's reach and stepped back, nursing his sore shoulders.

"Alright! Hagrid's looking for me! Why the hell do you look so scared?!" Harry yelled and then stepped back again when Ron made to grab onto him again.

"It's about the first task!"

Harry's eyes widened and he caught Ginny's surprised look behind Ron too. He turned back to Ron, now more confused at this weird turn of events. "How in the world did you know about the first task?"

"I know what it is!" Ron exclaimed. His eyes still looked crazed but he did seem to be a bit calmer than before. He swallowed thickly and then continued in a much more subdued voice. "Well… not really, but I do know what you'll be facing."

"Well, why do I have to meet Hagrid then? Just tell me." Harry said.

"No, you need to meet Hagrid, trust me. And I can't say. I've sworn not to say. I'm so sorry, Harry." Ron slowly made his way over to the tree and slumped down, taking deep breaths.

"Well… do the other champions know?" Harry asked.

Ginny had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. There he was again, kind and noble Harry Potter. He didn't even think of this as an advantage. Merlin knows he needed all the advantages he could get in this already unfair arrangement.

"I expect they do," Ron answered Harry. "I've seen the giant lady from Beauxbatons hanging around Hagrid this morning when I… mate, just go to Hagrid. He'll be waiting for you at his hut tonight at eight."

"Why do you look so scared? Is it that bad?" Harry asked.

Oh, it was bad. It was fucking bad.

Harry climbed into the portrait hole later that night. The common room was empty save for his friends and Lucas, who stayed up to wait for him to get back. They looked up expectantly when the portrait hole opened up and no one stepped in.

Harry slid off the invisibility cloak and looked at them hollowly.

"I'm fucked…"

A/N: I'm so sorry if it feels like we're moving at a snail's pace. I get so caught up writing the minute details. I need to work on that. Also, updates aren't as quick as before. I was on a Harry Potter high when I wrote chapters 3-9 so I was able to update every 1-2 days but the high has worn off now. I'm still writing but slower now lol