A/N: Updates are slowing down because A) I'm reaching the end of what I had kinda planned, and B) I'm literally in the middle of moving to a different country. So, uh, yeah bear with me. I also have a surprise fic or two on the way so be on the lookout for that. (Surprise as in surprise topics, not surprise as in you weren't expecting them because then I wouldn't tell you about them, would I?) To the… two of you who have commented, thank you so much for the support.

To the rest of you, thanks for favoriting and following. But maybe leave a review as well? Thanks.

Chapter Five

The clamor that was present in every class always seemed to somehow even make its way into the Potions classroom. But unlike its almost lifelike, roaring qualities in the other classes, it seemed more like a sickly beast on the brink of starvation, as is rustled through the tables. Harry couldn't help but always feel a little pit in his stomach when he entered this classroom, even though he knew the truth about Snape. For this reason, he always tried to block everything out until the time came to have to pay attention. Today, however, something startled him out of his reverie. Well, someONE did.

Daphne Greengrass slammed her cauldron onto the table next to him, and he shot up with a tiny jolt, causing her to smirk at him. He stared at her as she got her ingredients out. "Don't get me wrong, Potter," she said with a dry voice, "I'm just doing this because of how pitifully lamentable you are in every class."

"And you'll help me how, exactly?"

"You're not trash at Potions, Potter. In fact, you're mediocre."

"Why thank you for those words of high praise."

"Oh shut it, Potter. What I'm trying to say is that the only reason you score so poorly in Potions is because for some reason Snape hates you even more than he does other Gryffindors. More than any other in fact… except maybe Longbottom."

"He hates me because I look like my father and he and my father hated each other when they were in school."

"So Snape's even pettier than I thought. Anyway, if I'm with you he can't score you low marks without scoring me low too, and he always assigns teams."

"How do you know we'll be in the same team if we're at the same table?"

"It's always been that way. And since we're at the back, he won't notice till it's too late. If it's a good potion, he'll let us work together again."

"So, bear with me."

"Mhm?"

"Imagine his hate for me knows no bounds and he does refuse to let us work together."

"Seriously?"

"Just imagine it."

"Well, if we keep an extra bit of the potion, and it's a good potion, then when Snape — according to you inevitably — refuses to let us work together again, we can complain to the other heads of houses, and even Dumbledore, who you seem so very close with. We have the extra potion, so we can show them that it's good quality."

He looked at her with wide eyes. "You're a genius."

An actual smile crept over her face before she banished it. "Of course I am, Potter. I'm a Slytherin."

"So Gryffindors aren't smart?"

"No, not particularly."

"What about Hermione?"

"That girl should have been either a Slytherin or a Ravenclaw."

"She's muggleborn."

"That girl should have been a Ravenclaw."

Harry couldn't bring himself to be angry. Not with this girl who had just saved his sorry ass. Still, he had to say something. "You know muggleborns can be just as good as purebloods right?"

"Of course."

"Wait, really?"

"Yes. I know that. But do you really think your friend Granger would be okay once an idiot like Malfoy discovered her blood status? I don't think you want to even imagine the things that would happen to her in our house."

"I-"

"Just don't ask, Potter. Slytherin is a house I'm proud of, yes, but many of the people inside it are people who represent the worst of humanity. There is a system of abuse in place that many, especially boys, get away with."

"And Snape doesn't do anything?"

"What's he supposed to do?"

"Stop it!"

"Oh, and then allow for the Pureblood community to have a claim for abuse against their children?"

"THEIR children are the ones abusing others!" Harry realised he was shouting when he saw the stares he was drawing, and lowered his voice. "THEIR children."

"So? As long as it's their sons doing it or daughters receiving it, they couldn't care less. Most purebloods — purebloods who refuse to change, unlike my parents — don't care about their daughters. Those girls are like cattle to them, and anyone rich enough to breed their daughter is welcome to try."

"What about-"

Snape came sliding into the room, his voice grating through the room as every other voice quickly silenced itself. "Every table is a team, don't do anything overly stupid, LONGBOTTOM," he raised his voice when saying Neville's last name, "and you should be fine". Harry looked over at Neville, who seemed surprisingly calm. Harry realized he was looking at a table off to the side, where Tracey Davis was smiling at him. Harry poked Daphne and lightly motioned to Tracey. Daphne seemed to smile for a moment before closing off once again.

"Instructions are on the board," said Snape, sitting in his chair and staring around with beady eyes. It wasn't for another five minutes, however, that he saw Harry and Daphne working quietly at the back. He shot up in his chair, but seeing the potion giving off the pink smoke that indicated it was already halfway finished, he huffed and sat back.

Harry looked over at Daphne and nudged her with his elbow. "Hey," he whispered. "You're a genius, Daphne."

"I already told you, I know." She whispered back.

They had to wait half an hour for the potion to simmer, but once that was over they quickly finished the last steps, and Harry filled up a vial. Daphne secretly filled another vial with potion, and slipped it into her bag. Harry stepped up to Snape's desk, and as Daphne stepped up beside him, handed Snape the first vial. Snape looked conflicted. Continue his vendetta against Harry and damage his own house, or give the son of his enemy mercy and benefit his house as well? What a dilemma indeed. Finally, with a pained grimace, he took it. "Passable, Potter," he sneered, "but only because one of my own debased herself to help you."

"I couldn't agree with you more," said Harry. "Daphne really saved me, Professor Snape. She's truly incredible."

Snape seemed taken aback at this. "So you admit you're useless?"

"Well, I did what I was instructed and I did it right, but the planning was all Daphne, here. Would you mind if we left to lunch once we finished cleaning out our area?"

Snape almost seemed to stutter out an answer. "I- very well, Potter! But I expect your place to be spotless. If I see any stains whatsoever, I will count this as an unacceptable potion, understood?"

"Absolutely. Have an excellent day, Professor.."

"Very well."

As they walked back to their table, Daphne shot a glance at Harry. "How did you do that? You just kissed up to Snape better than Malfoy himself, and we all know Malfoy is the king of kissing Snape's rear."

"I don't even know. But it worked, didn't it? Plus, I said what I meant. You called all the shots, all I had to do was do as you told me."

"I'd better get stuck with you again, Potter, because you sure know how to take orders."

"That's what she said."

"Use that joke again and I'll stick you with a permanent wedgie charm."

"Yes ma'am."

"And I mean it, Potter."

He nodded sheepishly, but mockingly stuck out his arm, as he had the first time they had ever truly talked. "Shall we go to lunch, Madam?"

She took it. "Indeed we shall, my dear bucket of slime."

"Oh, I do love it when you talk down to me like that."

"You always were a little sleazeball."

And with that, arm in arm, they walked towards the sunset (A/N: COUGHCOUGH I MEAN, TOWARDS THE DINING HALL! You thought I was gonna end it on that? SIKE, BOIIII)

Chapter Six

To some who looked, it seemed to them as if Daphne had become a new Draco to Harry. To their friends, and even some strangers, whoever, it was clear that the two were merely flirting aggressively. Their entire circle had bets on who would realize they were in love first, and some of the most heated debates among them were on this topic. Harry and Daphne, of course, were completely oblivious. But this chapter isn't about them. This chapter is about the hilarity of human pride.

Fleur Delacour was quite proud of her pride. This might seem like a strange thing for someone to be proud of, but she was proud of it nonetheless. Pride was what showed that some people were above others. If one could maintain their pride throughout life it showed that they were truly superior. The way she saw it, everyone desired to maintain their pride — some were just better at it than others were. So, it had seemed ridiculous to her that a boy should not have tried to accomplish what he had denied trying to accomplish. As she watched him, however, she found herself more and more confused about what was going on. While she and the other champions seemed to be up to their elbows in extra work and working their tails off just in case a specific spell might help them, the little boy seemed to be completely relaxed. Not even Diggory, the happy boy who had been selected as Hogwarts' first champion, was looking particularly good, and yet a mere child was taking it easy!

She watched him as he went from class to class, laughing and chatting with friends, flirting with the little blond girl, and stuffing himself during meals. There were times when he seemed to disappear for a couple hours every day, but he wasn't anywhere in the castle. This was very suspicious. Had Dumbledore made a special training area for his favorite champion? (A/N: He hadn't, but knowing Dumbledore it was a very possible option when I was firs writing this out. The truth was that Harry was going into the room of requirement.) And in the mornings, he could be seen running around the lake, and sometimes even swimming in it with Krum (these were some of the Beauxbatons girls' favorite hours of the day), but he had not the wear that the rest of the champions clearly had. Every day he was fresh, laughing, excitable. But no matter how much she snooped, she couldn't find what the Potter boy's secret was. And so, as the days wore on and the time for the first task arose, Fleur stopped thinking about him and decided to concentrate on the task (A/N: heh, get it? Task. Lol.) at hand.

She was surprised when Diggory asked her, a week before the first task, if they could talk privately. She kept her wand at the ready, as usually boys asking to go somewhere private with her tended to end up doing stupid things. Her fears were assuaged, however, when Diggory stopped on an empty staircase. Private, but not secluded. Excellent. "So?" She asked. "What is it?"

Nervously, Diggory scratched his neck. "The first task is dragons."

"What?"

"Dragons."

"And you know this — pardon-moi if this is rude — but you know this how?"

"Harry told me. And showed me."

Fleur felt a fire burning inside of her. That cursed boy again, stealing her honor and her pride. She scowled and crossed her arms. "I do not believe this."

Diggory swallowed. "Harry actually said you'd say that. He said to tell you that he doesn't care if you believe or not, but that you should set your stupid pride aside for a moment, now that you can't help but be alerted to the danger, and be prepared for what's to come. But he also says it's your choice and- um- 'your ass on the line'." He made quotations marks in the air when he said that last part, and shrunk back as if expecting to be slapped. (He had good instincts, because that was exactly what Fleur felt like doing right then.) A primal growl left her, and she stomped away without a word.

"Um, I'll see you around, I guess!" Called Diggory behind her, and she ignored him.

It was harder to ignore Viktor Krum, though that was mostly because she bumped into him as she was turning the corner. "Idiot!" She grumbled. "Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas?"

"Forgif me," said the Bulgarian. "But, I vas looking for you."

"Oh, is that so?"

"Indeed. Haff you received news of the draigons?"

"Yes. And of course, it-"

"Makes sense, yes, I know. So ve should think about this, no?"

"I was GOING to say, you fool, that it's clearly fake."

"Vy do you call me a fool? I haff seen the draigons myselff."

Fleur might have smiled if the expression on her face had been on anyone else's. But it was on hers, so really all she was was angry. Angry at Krum, at Harry Potter, at herself, and at the entire stupid world for not working as she wanted it. But as angry as she was, the facts were now nonnegotiable, and as such must be taken seriously. She shoved past Krum, and made a fist. Harry Potter, I shall defeat you. The world shall bow before the name of Fleur Delacour! A scowl came over her face. It was time to pull out the big… what was it that muggles used? Ah yes. It was time to pull out the big guns.

Three hours later, she saw the boy walking around, with that smug smile on his face and arguing with that equally annoying smug girl who he was clearly in a relationship with. She smiled, a predatory smile. She would steal him from her, and then cut him off, and then they would both suffer. The distraction would allow her to climb the ranks. She stalked over to them, moving confidently, knowing she was about to go on the kill.

"Can I help you?" Harry Potter said.

She only smirked, and hit him with the full force of her charm. A mad giggle threatened to break from her throat. No one would be superior to her now! Even the strongest would-!

"I SAID, can I help you?"

The giggle died. She stared at this stupid, weak, apathetic boy who had somehow resisted the strongest burst of her charms. The girl looked at him. "Hey dumbass, she obviously just tried to use her charm on you. Thank magic we made those potions of resistance, am I right?"

"No kidding. I'm telling you, I never saw those Veela charms as a side-string of amortentia, but hey, great progress am I right? I told you Hermione would be useful for research!"

"Yes, well, Proffessor Snape was a big part of it as well, so you and your little friends don't get ALL the credit."

Fleur ground her teeth in rage. "HOW!" She shrieked. "HOW CAN YOU DO THIS!?"

"Um, I thought it was obvious, seeing as we were just doing a commentary on it. Veela powers are similar to the effect of amortentia. You make a counter-amortentia potion — a recent discovery — with long lasting effects and direct countereffects to Veela charm by using a strand of Veela hair, and since counterpotions will counter amortentia no matter how strong the batch, it stood up to what I assume was the full force of your little abilities." He turned to his evil minion and smiled sheepishly. "Did I say that right?"

"As much as someone with your sadly lacking brain cells could explain something as complex as that, yes."

The little brat had the gall to turn and smile at her. "Awesome! From her, that's a ringing endorsement, you know."

"I DON'T CARE!" She stomped away. Harry Potter, you evil mastermind — I will defeat you!

One week later, with Harry Potter the solid victor of the first task despite having received the hardest dragon, Fleur Delacour did something she had never done before — she gave up. Clearly, Harry Potter was a dark wizard with powers that she could not match. Someone would have to defeat him one day, but it would not be her.

Curse you, Harry Potter.

Diggory was just happy because Cho gave him his first kiss after he got out of the task safe but a little roughed up.

And Krum… well, Krum didn't really care either way. He had been forced into it anyway, and it was good fun regardless of whether he won or not.

Chapter 7

(A/N: Harry went to the ball with Daphne, and they yelled at each other the whole time… by which I mean they enjoyed themselves tremendously. Ron went to the ball with the Padma, but actually had a fun time instead of being a jealous a**hole. He was still deeply jealous, he just didn't allow it to ruin the night for him. Poor Ron gets a bad rap, you know, and I think he'd probably be a little more mature about things than ignoring his date literally the entire night. This will not affect the future timeline.)

The second task had been very, very easy. Harry still got the gillyweed, still waited extra to grab Gabrielle, and still got the tearful thanks from Fleur. She would be a helpful person in the future, after all, and there was no reason to drive her away. The third task was currently in motion, and Harry almost seemed bored as he blew his way through the challenge. He found Krum cursing Fleur and knocked the poor fellow out, before making it to the cup and holding on tightly. Just as he knew would happen, the cup spun in circles, taking him with it. His feet touched down on the grass, and without pause he went running towards the shadowy, hooded figure coming at him.

Clearly, Wormtail could have used more sparring experience because all it took were a couple chain-reaction spells to take him out. Harry strolled over to where Voldemort lay on the floor.

"How dare you!" Hiss-screeched the strange, twisted little creature. "DO YOU KNOW WHO I-"

Harry took Voldemort by the leg, and spanked him like he would a screaming child. "Now, now, Tom," he said. "What did we say about acting up and not having your nap? Tsk tsk."

The creature was clearly speechless, because it just gaped at him. Harry grinned at it and bundled it back up. "Now," he said, "we're going to show you off to the world. How about that?"

Clearly Voldemort's thoughts on the subject weren't at all positive, because he threw a fit all the way to the cup. Harry looked down at him. "Now, baby Tom, it's time to dress you up."

He transfigured a rock into a pacifier (he had practiced for hours to get this to work, for the sole purpose of this moment's victory), took the wrappings off Voldemort, and arranged them like a diaper around the ex-dark-lord-to-be. Easily, he then took hold of the cup, and away they went. They touched down surprisingly softly on the green of the starting area, to the cheers, followed by surprised murmurs, of the spectators. Harry pointed at his throat with his wand, muttered "sonorous" and his voice roared out.

"Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen! I have with me here a horcrux, a weakened version of Dark Lord Voldermort's soul, which was trying to get back to full strength!" Shrieks arose from the crowd, but Harry motioned for them to calm. "Thankfully, he's right here, though I happened to dress him up when I got the chance! Oh, and also, Peter Pettigrew is tied up and unconscious in Little Hangleton, so you aurors out there might want to handle that!" Cracks indicated at least a couple had been listening.

The shrieks turned to laughs as people saw what Harry had put Voldemort into. Voldemort hissed at Harry. "You will pay for this, you rat!"

"Actually, the rat guy is tied up at the moment, so I guess you have us confused which is honestly a little offensive, cause man that guy is ugly. By the way, I know where all your horcruxes are and I'm going to destroy them all and you'll be the last one left, so I suggest you cooperate with the aurors walking towards us at this very moment or you'll forever die."

Voldemort shivered with rage. "What if I would rather die than live like this?" He spat.

"You're wouldn't, though. You'll stick to life, hoping a time comes in which you'll be able to get your petty little revenge and get back at me. It's not like you'll actually get the chance, but you'll try and wait in case it does."

Voldemort could do nothing but sputter in response. "MY REVENGE WOULD NOT BE PETTY!"

"Yes, yes it would. Forget being a dark lord, Tommy, you're a lord of pettiness."

And then the aurors were there and Voldemort was carried away, nappies clinging to his legs and charmed pacifier shoved back into his mouth. He did look much like a hideous baby as he wailed his fury to the winds, and beat his tiny fists on the back of the aurors who were carrying him away.

That done, Herry turned to see a punch coming at his face. Holding his face and muttering curses (not literal ones, just bad words) under his breath, before turning to the owner of the fist. "DAPHNE, WHAT THE HECK!?"

"DO YOU KNOW HOW WORRIED I WAS ABOUT YOU, YOU IDIOT!?" She screamed right back.

"I KNEW WHAT I WAS DOING!"

"YOU SAID YOU KNEW WHAT YOU WERE DOING THREE DAYS AGO IN POTIONS AND WE BOTH HAD TO GO TO THE INFIRMARY AFTER OUR CAULDRON BLEW UP!"

"WELL THAT WAS AN ERROR OF MINE, ADMITTEDLY, BUT I REALLY DID KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING THIS TIME!"

"YOU WERE STILL IN DANGER YOU MORON!"

"I'm glad I survived so you could yell at me again."

"YOU- YOU- ARGHHHH!" Apprently lacking of anything to say, Daphne grabbed him roughly by the face and kissed him, pressing her lips to his.

Harry, startled, stiffened and then relaxed, giving into the kiss until Daphne cut it off. "I- That was-"

"Shut up, Potter." And then she stalked off.

Harry saw Ron grinning off to a side. "What's with you?"

"I just won myself ten galleons from Neville, that's what."

"How? Why?"

"She kissed you first."

"You were betting on when we'd get together?"

"Oh no. You two are far too insane to really start a relationship now. You'll probably awkwardly stumble around the subject for a while more. I'm sure it'll be great fun. No, we were betting on-"

"- Which of you would be the first to kiss, or spill their feelings to, the other." Finished Hermione, elbowing Harry and sliding into the space between him and Ron. "It was a great test of character. By the way, guys, what did you get on the last test?"

"Of course that's the first thing you talk about," snarked Ron. "Tests. You just want to flex how much of a bookworm you are."

"Listen, Ron," said Hermione, icily. "Just because you're an idiot doesn't mean the rest of us have to walk on thin ice around you."

"And just because you're a teacher's pet doesn't mean you automatically get to insult me for only getting average grades."

"Touché, Ron."

"What does that mean?"

Hermione facepalmed, and they began to walk away, Harry following behind with a wide grin on his face.

Outro A/N: I hope you enjoyed! Yes, things are a little insane, but to be fair that's exactly what I'm trying to achieve sooooooo… I guess I'm doing things right. There's one more chapter of the Harry Potter section left. Next (and last) up, due to two votes being cast through PMs, will be the Hunger Games. After that, due to a lack of interest in this fic, I'll be focusing on restoration of some others and writing of some new ones. Thank you all.