Disclaimer: I wish they were mine, but all the rights on Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling.

A/N: So I'm back with another chapter! I once again thank everyone who responded to my work. This work is now posted on ao3 too.

I'm in need of a beta right now. So if anyone's interested, they can PM me.

Chapter-3

Start changing things

Harry hummed lightly as he made his way to the room where wand weighing ceremony was going to be conducted.

Technically, it has been three days since he and his soulmate came back in time. However, both of them spent more than a week in these three days, thanks to the room of requirements. The time chamber idea was a boon. It gave them ample of time to learn more, and also execute their plans. They were getting used to their young bodies quite well. Both of them also got over the difficulty of using advanced magic with their young bodies. After a couple of days of practice, they were comfortably able to perform all the magic they knew.

As for their training, they started doing physical exercises every morning as they planned. They also started practicing battle transfiguration. Harry knew they were going to master it soon enough as both of them were practicing transfiguration mastery in the previous timeline itself and it didn't take long for them to catch up. Meanwhile, Hermione also started tutoring him in ancient runes. To start practicing warding, both of them need to be at NEWT level in knowledge. Harry already knew some basics about Runes, through the mind link he and Hermione shared, he was learning it quite fastly.

As good as the things were going, there were also a couple of problems for them. Harry and Hermione soon found out that the paintings and house elves were spying on them. They were doing their best in maintaining their appearance normal. Neither of them made their knowledge about the room of requirements as a secret in front of the spies. It will be complicated for them otherwise.

Ron was also becoming a problem for Harry and Hermione now. Of course, when has he not been a problem?

Even though he didn't bother Harry, he was always hovering around Hermione. It seems that he thinks Hermione is still friends with him. She snapped at him a few times, yelling at him to go away and give them some space. But, he keeps coming back within a minute or two. Hermione tensed every time he came near and that made Harry's blood boil. If it wasn't for Hermione, he'd have already ripped that bastard's head off. Harry thought he need to do something about him. He shook off all the thoughts of Ron away as he approached the room where the ceremony was being conducted.

He noticed that the room was in the same way as last time remembered. It was a airily small classroom; most of the desks had been pushed away to the back of the room, leaving a large space in the middle; three of them, however, had been placed end-to-end in front of the blackboard and covered with a long length of velvet. Five chairs had been set behind the velvet-covered desks, and Ludo Bagman was sitting in one of them, talking to Rita skeeter.

Viktor Krum was standing moodily in a corner as usual and not talking to anybody. Cedric and Fleur were in conversation. Harry looked at the photographer, who was ogling Fleur from the corner of his eye. He was leaning against the door, smoking his cigar. Harry gave a light flick with his wand in his direction, which made his legs slide and he fell on his back, knocking out the camera setup in the process.

Harry smirked at him and turned to lock eyes with Fleur who had a raised eyebrow. He gave a small smile to her and she nodded back at him with a smile of her own. Harry then met Cedric's gaze and nodded at the older boy. He gave Harry a curt nod.

Suddenly Harry remembered a conversation he had with Fleur in the previous timeline.

Flashback:

"Oui. I 'ad a small crush on Cedric back zen." Fleur said.

"Really?" Harry asked. Fleur nodded again.

"You and Cedric were the only students that were able to stand my allure back zen and I was always curious about you two."

"So you had a crush on me too huh?" Harry asked with a grin.

"Non 'arry. You were a leetle boy, and leetle boys are not my type." Harry groaned as she laughed.

"Won't you ever get bored of it." He said with a scowl.

Flashback end.

"What do you think love?" Harry asked Hermione mentally. "They do make a great couple."

"You mean, you want us to play matchmakers between them?" Hermione asked.

"That's the plan." There was no reply from Hermione for a moment. "Count me in." Harry grinned at that.

Harry was snapped out of his conversation when Bagman spotted him. He got up quickly, and bounded forward.

"Ah, here he is! Champion number four! In you come, Harry, in you come...nothing to worry about, it's just the wand weighing ceremony, the rest of the judges will be here in a moment.

"We have to check that your wands are fully functional, no problems, you know, as they're your most important tools in the tasks ahead," said Bagman. "The expert's upstairs now with Dumbledore. And then there's going to be a little photo shoot. This is Rita Skeeter," he added, gesturing toward her. "She's doing a small piece on the tournament for the Daily Prophet..."

"Maybe not that small, Ludo," said Rita Skeeter, her eyes on Harry.

"I wonder if I could have a little word with Harry before we start?" she said to Bagman, but still gazing fixedly at Harry. "The youngest champion, you know...to add a bit of color?"

"Certainly!" cried Bagman. "That is - if Harry has no objection?"

"I don't have any objections." Harry said.

"Lovely," said Rita Skeeter, and in a second, her scarlet-taloned fingers had Harry's upper arm in a strong grip, and she was steering him out of the room again and opening a nearby door.

"We don't want to be in there with all that noise," she said. "Let's see...ah, yes, this is nice and cozy."

It was a broom closet, like last time. Everything until now was happening like it was during last time... Everything except him. Last time he was nervous, unsure of what was happening and very fearful. Not this time though. He tried not to grin when he thought about what he was planning to do.

She unsnapped her crocodile-skin handbag and pulled out a handful of candles, which she lit with a wave of her wand and magicked into midair, so that they could see what they were doing.

"You won't mind, Harry, if I use a Quick-Quotes Quill? It leaves me free to talk to you normally..."

Harry nodded.

Rita's smile widened. Harry counted three gold teeth. She reached again into her crocodile bag and drew out a long acid-green quill and a roll of parchment, which she stretched out between them on a crate of Mrs. Skower's All-Purpose Magical Mess Remover. She put the tip of the green quill into her mouth, sucked it for a moment with apparent relish, then placed it upright on the parchment, where it stood balanced on its point, quivering slightly.

"Testing...my name is Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet reporter."

"Lovely," Rita said, yet again, and she ripped the top piece of parchment off, crumpled it up, and stuffed it into her handbag. Now she leaned toward Harry and said, "So, Harry...what made you decide to enter the Triwizard Tournament?"

"Ah Rita, already made up your mind that I entered myself?" Harry asked. Rita looked taken aback at it. She didn't expect such a reaction from him.

"What can I do now? Whatever I say will be now twisted to make the readers believe that I entered myself." Harry said. "I've read enough of your articles to know about it."

Rita smiled at him. But she didn't comment. She waited for what he was going to say next.

"Perhaps we can come to an agreement Rita? A mutually satisfactory deal?" Harry asked with a confident smile.

Rita did not expect this from him at all. From what she gathered, Harry Potter was very shy and introvert in nature. He rarely spoke with anyone outside his friends. But, the boy in front of her was completely different. She was wondering what his deal would be?

"I'm afraid that won't be possible Harry. I have some ethics and I can't agree to such agreements. I vowed to myself that I'll always be honest in my articles." She said

Harry gave a slight pause. "Oh. So using your animagus form to spy on people is ethical in your opinion?" Rita's eyes widened comically at his statement.

"Wh-What are you talking about? I'm no animagus."

"A water beetle." Harry said with a evil smirk. Rita's eyes were wide as saucers. She immediately pulled out her wand, only for him to pluck it from her hands.

"Tsk, tsk Rita. Don't you think it is rude to draw a wand like that on others. Not to mention that the person is sole heir to an ancient and noble house." He said.

"What do you want?" Rita asked, all color drained from her face.

"Patience Rita. I'm coming to the point." Harry said. He looked at the quick quota quill, which wrote down everything till now. With a flick of Rita's wand, the quill and parchment burned into ash. Rita was shocked at it. It was some impressive piece of magic.

"Of course being an animagus or spying on people is not against the law. But not registering your self is a punishable offense I think. And moreover, Merlin knows how many lives you've ruined. What will they do when they find out about your secret huh?"

She was visibly shaking now. Harry gently shook her arm. She took a deep breath and composed herself. It seems she got some idea to get out of this.

"So, can we talk about the deal now?" Harry asked. "I can promise you that it'll be beneficial to both of us."

Rita nodded. She slowly unbuttoned top two buttons of her blouse, revealing her cleavage to him. "Oh Harry, I'll do anything you want me to. Please keep this a secret?" She said in a low seductive voice, scooting closer to him. She smiled seductively as her hand went to his thigh and squeezed him. Harry felt anger bubbling up from Hermione

Harry laughed at her and pushed her hand away. "Oh Rita, such ethics you have? Trying to seduce a minor?" Harry said. "You can't use sex to buy me Rita."

Rita looked miserable as her plan failed. "I'll not tell anyone about you Rita. In return you'll write your articles in favor of me. I also promise you to give you some sensational news to write, which will shake the magical Britain to its roots." Rita stared at him as if thinking that what sensational news a fourteen year old will have.

Harry chuckled at her. "Don't worry Rita. I assure you that you'll be extremely willing to write the news. I'll even give you personal interviews on a later date. As I said earlier, this'll be mutually beneficial agreement."

Rita looked very doubtful about it, but nodded nonetheless. She did not had any other choice. "Now compose yourself. Dumbledore's coming." Harry said. Rita hurriedly buttoned her blouse and took her wand from him. She waved her wand on her face and her makeup reappeared. It was pretty much ruined due to her sweating.

"And also remember that you are never going to write any article that slanders someone close to me. I won't tolerate if my friends suffer because of you." He said. She nodded her head.

"I'll contact you soon." He said to her. She nodded again. Suddenly the door was pulled open by Dumbledore. Harry looked around, blinking in the bright light. Dumbledore stood there, looking down at both of them, squashed into the cupboard.

"Dumbledore!" cried Rita Skeeter.

"How are you?" she said, standing up and holding out one of her hands to Dumbledore. "I hope you saw my piece over the summer about the International Confederation of Wizards' Conference?" Harry was really impressed by Rita. The way she fell back into her original self like nothing happened was truly amazing.

"Enchantingly nasty," said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling. "I particularly enjoyed your description of me as an obsolete dingbat."

Rita Skeeter didn't look remotely abashed.

"I was just making the point that some of your ideas are a little old-fashioned, Dumbledore, and that many wizards in the street -"

"I will be delighted to hear the reasoning behind the rudeness, Rita," said Dumbledore, with a courteous bow and a smile, "but I'm afraid we will have to discuss the matter later. The Weighing of the Wands is about to start, and it cannot take place if one of our champions is hidden in a broom cupboard."

Harry hurried back into the room with Dumbledore. The other champions were now sitting in chairs near the door, and he sat down quickly next to Cedric, hooking up at the velvet-covered table, where four of the five judges were now sitting - Karkaroff, who was scowling at him, Madame Maxime, Mr. Crouch, and Ludo Bagman. Rita Skeeter settled herself down in a corner; Harry saw her slip the parchment and another one of her Quick-Quota Quill out of her. Spreading the parchment on her knee. She grimaced at the absence of her quick quota quills, which made Harry smirk. She pulled out a normal quill and started writing with it, with a scowl on her face.

"May I introduce Mr. Ollivander?" said Dumbledore, taking his place at the judges' table and talking to the champions. "He will be checking your wands to ensure that they are in good condition before the tournament."

Harry smiled at the elderly man.

"Mademoiselle Delacour, could we have you first, please?" said Ollivander, stepping into the empty space in the middle of the room.

Fleur Delacour swept over to Ollivander and handed him her wand.

"Hmm..." he said.

He twirled the wand between his long fingers like a baton and it emitted a number of pink and gold sparks. Then he held it chose to his eyes and examined it carefully.

"Yes," he said quietly, "nine and a half inches...inflexible...rosewood...and containing...dear me..."

"An 'air from ze 'ead of a veela," said Fleur. "One of my grandmuzzer's."

"Yes," said Ollivander, "yes, I've never used veela hair myself, of course. I find it makes for rather temperamental wands...however, to each his own, and if this suits you..."

Ollivander ran his fingers along the wand, apparently checking for scratches or bumps; then he muttered, "Orchideous!" and a bunch of flowers burst from the wand tip.

"Very well, very well, it's in fine working order," said Ollivander, scooping up the flowers and handing them to Fleur with her wand. "Mr. Diggory, you next."

Fleur glided back to her seat, smiling at Cedric as he passed her.

"Ah, now, this is one of mine, isn't it?" said Ollivander, with much more enthusiasm, as Cedric handed over his wand. "Yes, I remember it well. Containing a single hair from the tail of a particularly fine male unicorn...must have been seventeen hands; nearly gored me with his horn after I plucked his tail. Twelve and a quarter inches...ash...pleasantly springy. It's in fine condition...You treat it regularly?"

"Polished it last night," said Cedric, grinning.

Ollivander sent a stream of silver smoke rings across the room from the tip of Cedric's wand, pronounced himself satisfied, and then said, "Mr. Krum, if you please."

Viktor Krum got up and slouched, round-shouldered and duck-footed, toward Ollivander. He thrust out his wand and stood scowling, with his hands in the pockets of his robes.

"Hmm," said Ollivander, "this is a Gregorovitch creation, unless I'm much mistaken? A fine wand-maker, though the styling is never quite what I...however..."

He lifted the wand and examined it minutely, turning it over and over before his eyes.

"Yes...hornbeam and dragon heartstring?" he shot at Krum, who nodded. "Rather thicker than one usually sees...quite rigid...ten and a quarter inches...Avis!"

The hornbeam wand let off a blast hike a gun, and a number of small, twittering birds flew out of the end and through the open window into the watery sunlight.

"Good," said Ollivander, handing Krum back his wand. "Which leaves...Mr. Potter."

Harry got to his feet and walked past Krum to Ollivander. He handed over his wand.

"Aaaah, yes," said Ollivander, his pale eyes suddenly gleaming. "Yes, yes, yes. How well I remember."

"One of my finest creations.." Ollivander said, examining the wand like a kid who found his lost toy.

"Nice and Supple. Eleven inches, Holly wood and Phoenix feather. Quiet an unusual combination. But very powerful."

Ollivander spent much longer examining Harry's wand than anyone else's. Eventually, however, he made a fountain of wine shoot out of it, and handed it back to Harry, announcing that it was still in perfect condition.

"Thank you all," said Dumbledore, standing up at the judges' table. "You may go back to your lessons now - or perhaps it would be quicker just to go down to dinner, as they are about to end -"

"Photos, Dumbledore, photos!" cried Bagman excitedly. "All the judges and champions, what do you think, Rita?"

"Er - yes, let's do those first," said Rita Skeeter, whose eyes were upon Harry again. Harry gave a snort and waved her away. "And then perhaps some individual shots."

The photographs took a long time. Madame Maxime cast everyone else into shadow wherever she stood, and the photographer couldn't stand far enough back to get her into the frame; eventually she had to sit while everyone else stood around her. Karkaroff kept twirling his goatee around his finger to give it an extra curl.

The photographer seemed keenest to get Fleur at the front, but Rita Skeeter kept hurrying forward and dragging Harry into greater prominence. Karkaroff and Krum snorted at it. When Harry gave a pointed look, she winced a little and let him stand wherever he wanted. Then she insisted on separate shots of all the champions.

Harry left to the dinner after the photos were over, with a satisfied smile on his face.

Two days after Wand weighing ceremony, in Room of Requirements :

"Yes, keep stirring it like that." Hermione said, nodding approvingly at her soul mate's work.

"Do that for one more minute." She said. Harry nodded and continued to stir the jet black looking potion.

"Stop." Hermione said after stirring one whole minute. "Leave it like that for one hour, it will be ready." She said with a smile. "You made it perfectly. It is exactly in the colour its supposed to be." She beamed.

"All the credit goes to my guide only." He said with a mock bow.

"You're really good at potions when Snape is not looming over you." She said, approaching him and wrapping her arms around him.

"Mmm." He hummed into her hair.

Harry's thoughts were pulled back to the potions master at his mention. He and Hermione had no idea on what to do about him. Both of them agreed that he was a bad teacher, and should be out of his teaching position as soon as possible. But that also brought them to a problem. He was very crucial during the last timeline and they knew that his role was going to be equally important during this timeline too.

They needed him on their side. They need to make Voldemort believe that Snape was still important. But if they remove him from the teaching position, there is a big chance that Voldemort won't trust him as much as he did in last timeline. Also if they were too harsh, he may even switch sides. Harry knew that the greasy bastard can never be trusted completely.

"Why don't we just leave that to Dumbledore?" Hermione asked suddenly.

"Huh?"

"Why don't we just leave that job to Dumbledore? He knows how important Snape is. Even if we get him fired, Dumbledore will do everything under his power to secure his position as spy."

Harry thought about it. That much was true. Dumbledore was more intent on securing Snape's position as spy than gaining anything from the position during previous timeline. Hermione snorted at it.

"You are right." Harry said nodding approvingly at her.

"Come on. We can think about him later." Hermione said, dragging him to the study area. "You need to complete third year runes by next week. Let's study"

Harry obediently followed her. He'd study with her until the potion was ready.

"Is it ready?" Harry asked, as Hermione was examining the potion.

"It is." She said, "We need to administer it as soon as possible. "It'll lose it's effects unless it's ingested within six hours." Harry nodded as he got up from the couch and approached her.

"Do you think it will work?" Harry asked.

"I think so. You did everything perfectly. It should work. There won't be much problem even if it doesn't work. After all its Ron only. Who cares about him?" She said with a grin. He grinned back at her. The potion was popularly known as Bad luck potion, the exact opposite of Felix Felicis, with long lasting effects. They were planning to administer it to Ron. It lasts for two weeks, which is far longer than Felix Felicis.

Brewing that potion was actually illegal according to the ministry guidelines. The person can even face Azkaban if it was administered to someone with high profile in society. But the soul mates didn't care. This potion was a long lost knowledge. They only found it from the books provided by the room of requirements. No one can detect it and most of the population hardly knew about it. They weren't going to face much problem for administering it to Ron. They were planning to brew more batches if possible and administer them to the other traitors too.

Harry and Hermione were near the green house along with a few other Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, waiting for Professor Sprout to arrive. In the meantime, there was something that was annoying the soulmates a lot. As usual, a few puffs kept flashing POTTER STINKS badges at him. So far they were successful in ignoring them and minding their own works. However, right now, it was really annoying for both of them. Especially Ernie McMillan, who was shouting and laughing all the time.

Finally Harry had enough of it.

"Umm, McMillan, do you mind telling me why exactly do you think I stink?" Harry asked.

The boy looked taken aback, clearly not expecting such a question. "B-because you cheated!" He spat.

"So you are saying that I myself entered my name into the Goble of Fire?" Harry asked.

"Yes." The boy said with a sneer. They now had the attention of everyone else there.

"So you are saying that Harry is more powerful than Dumbledore himself?!" Hermione asked with a raised eye brow.

"What?" The boy frowned in confusion.

"That's what you said." Hermione said. "Harry somehow found a way to get past the age line drawn by Dumbledore himself and then he was able to confund the Goblet, which is one of the most powerful articrafts in the history, into throwing out his name as the fourth champions, while it was only meant to throw out the names of three champions only."

"I-I..."

"That's what you said." Hermione said with a smirk.

"Clearly McMillan, your theory makes no sense." Harry chuckled to himself.

"Let me ask others. Why do you think I stink, Finch-Fletchey?" Harry asked the muggleborn wizard.

"I.. I mean-I-you..." The boy stuttered.

"Is your theory the same?" Harry asked. He then laughed as the boy did not reply. "Does everyone think the same?" Harry laughed again, and this time his girlfriend and few other Gryffindors joined him.

The laughter died out as Professor Sprout entered into the scene. She went to the door of Greenhouse and opened the lock, all the while apologising for being late and not opening the door sooner for them.

Hermione was about to move to the back of the greenhouse, which was their usual spot in every class these days. Almost all the teachers found it odd to see Hermione sitting in the last bench.

Suddenly Harry grabbed Hermione's hand and steered her to the middle of the class where Neville was sitting alone. Harry was trying to hang out with Neville more these days.

"Mind if we join you?" Harry asked the surprised boy.

"Of-Of course not." Neville replied and scooted to a side to give them both some space to sit.

"So, what are we learning today, hmm?" Hermione asked to no one in particular.

"Bouncing bulb." Neville answered her.

"Really?" Hermione asked, opening her copy of curriculum to check. "This class is going to be interesting."

"Why?" Harry asked.

"It is plant that bounces around if its not restrained. Controlling it is quiet hard and it may some times lead to embarrassing moments." Neville answered with an amused smile.

"Young ones aren't that hard. It's only the matured ones. I doubt if Professor Sprout would want us to try them." Hermione said with a shrug.

"True." Neville said.

Hermione continued to talk about the lesson and Neville was talking so freely and comfortably. Sprout hadn't arranged the things for the class yet and was doing it. It gave Harry and Hermione some time to talk to Neville more. However, Harry found it harder to keep track of their conversation. Herbology wasn't his best subject and he felt like an alien between two prodigies of the subject.

Hermione laughed at Harry's expression. "Let's talk about something else Nev. Harry looks like he's feeling bored." Hermione said. Neville blushed a little at Hermione's use of his name in short.

Suddenly Neville's expression darkened and he grimaced.

"What's wrong Neville?" Harry asked.

"I-Uh-It's nothing." Neville said.

"You can tell me, you know." Harry said.

"It's-Uh-Ron." Neville said. Harry and Hermione turned to look at the glaring red head. They had to stifle their laughter at his appearance. They were successfully able to administer the bad luck potion to the boy and it was taking a heavy toll on him. He was currently sporting a black eye, thanks to the fight with Dean and a swell on his head for something else. He turned his head away upon making an eye contact with them.

"What about him?" Harry asked.

"He does not look much pleased about me hanging out with you." Neville said.

"He's not pleased about a lot of things. Don't worry about him." Harry waved it off.

"May be I should sit somewhere else." Neville said.

"No!" Harry said. "You don't need to do that Neville. Not for Ron." Hermione said. Harry turned to Ron and gave him a glare. The red head turned away again.

"He's behaving the same ever since my name came out of the Goblet. He believes I cheated." Harry said. Neville gave a curt nod.

Any further conversation was halted as Sprout started the lesson. Harry and Hermione amused to note that almost half of the Hufflepuffs removed the badges.

"Harry." Neville called after a while. Sprout completed teaching the theory part and she told the students to pot the plants.

"Hmm?" Harry asked.

"A-About the tournament." The three of them paused. "I believe you Harry. I believe that you did not cheat. You do not cheat." He said.

Harry smiled warmly at the taller boy. "Thanks a lot Neville. That means a lot." Harry said.

"It's not because of your rant in the common room." Neville said. "I believed you before that too." Neville said. Harry bumped his should with him and said thanks again. Neville gave an awkward smile before going back to the work. He did not see the smile Harry and Hermione shared.

Suddenly there was a loud scream. Everyone turned in that direction to find Ron trying to fight with a mature bulb. The class laughed loudly as the bulb came and smacked Ron hardly on his face.

"Fiendfyre." Harry yelled out loudly. Small tendrils of fire erupted from his wand, which slowly merged together and started forming something huge. The next second there was a huge dragon made of fire. Harry waved his wand around as the dragon followed his movements.

"That's it Harry. You're doing great." Hermione encouraged him from his side. Harry let out a brief smile before his face turned into a frown of concentration. He was trying his best to hold the dragon under his control. But the dragon was slowly slipping out of his magic. He held the wand tightly and focused his magic on the dragon. But it was getting harder to keep it in control. The dragon was deviating from the path he wanted it to move from.

"Come on, come on!" He muttered. But the dragon wasn't listening to him.

He gave out a loud gasp when he completely lost the control of the dragon and the beast made of fire, lunged at him and Hermione.

Harry immediately dropped the wand in his hand and the dragon vanished.

"Phew" He sighed.

"That was far better than last time." Hermione noted.

"But that's still not enough." Harry replied. "Why is this so hard? This can't be any tougher than patronus charm." He complained.

"And you took months to learn that." Hermione replied. "Compared to the patronus, you are doing far better here."

"But this is just the stimulator only." Harry said again. "It's going to be tougher when we do it with the real wand."

"It will be. But this is our only way. We have to learn it." Hermione said determinedly.

"If only we could visit the chamber." Harry grumbled. Dumbledore put a series of wards around the chamber of secrets, which will let him know if anyone ever goes there. That made them unable to visit the chamber and collect basilisk fang.

"It's not just for horcrux Harry. Learning how to control it will definitely come handy in future." Hermione said.

"Yeah. You're probably right." Harry replied.

"And also, I think it'll be easier when you unlock more of your magic." Hermione said, looking at his bracelet. It has been ten days since they came back in time. But they spent around twenty days in the room of requirements. From the signs on the bracelet, Harry concluded that his magic has been doubled since he put on the bracelet. From Hermione's calculation, his magic will be completely unlocked by the first task. Harry hoped may be then he could control the fire and destroy the Diadem of Ravenclaw in the room of requirements.

Harry and Hermione together exited the carriage in Hogsmeade. It was a Hogsmeade weekend.

Harry maintained a confident façade in public and they noticed that it worked to an extent. While the SUPPORT DIGGORY badges were still at large, not many people were flashing POTTER STINKS. There were a few annoying Slytherins and Hufflepuffs still doing that quite often in front himself and Hermione. But Harry and Hermione were able to shut their mouths.

The little incident with Ernie McMillan was quiet popular and actually made many students think about everything again. Many began to realize that Harry cheating his way into the tournament didn't make that much sense and were very confused about what exactly was going on. Most were only wearing the badges because of peer pressure.

The only problem was Krum's behavior. It seems like the Bulgarian Seeker is encouraging Slytherins to wear the badges. A few of the Slytherins completely removed SUPPORT DIGGORY part from the badges. Krum's behavior was very confusing. It was completely contrasting from last year's. Harry once remembered Krum telling him in the previous timeline that he thought all the badges thing was very childish and he warned his classmates to not to wear them at all. That was very contrasting from the way he was behaving in this timeline. Harry and Hermione couldn't understand what brought change in him.

The way he was behaving with Hermione was also a big concern. He was trying to flirt with her whenever Harry wasn't around. A few of his fangirls noticed this and soon rumours started flying around Hogwarts that Hermione was double-timing both Harry and Krum. Harry had to restrain himself from hexing everyone of them to St Mungo's.

Despite the negatives, there was also something positive, something both of the soulmates enjoyed a lot. The bad luck potion that was administered to Ron was showing fantastic effects. Ron had to visit hospital wing nine times in last week alone due to different accidents. A couple of them made him stay overnight too. He also managed to get three months worth detentions with Snape. He had a nasty fight with Dean and Seamus, which made him practically friendless.

The couple came out of their musings and searched around once. They found an elf following them. Both of them went to a deserted alley and then confounded the elf to go back to the castle.

"Mister Potter, Miss Granger." She greeted. "Your host is waiting for you in room number 15. Ring the bell if you need anything." Harry nodded at her and steered Hermione with him to the said room.

There were a couple of auror guards on the either side of the door to that room.

"Your wands please." One of them asked, while the other started scanning them for carrying anything dangerous. Harry and Hermione gave their wands for the check up.

"You'll get them back after the meeting is over." The guard said.

"I'm sorry sir, but I may be needing it during the meeting." Harry said.

"What for?" The guard asked.

"I can't tell you that." Harry replied.

"What is it Taylor?" Came a feminine voice from inside the room, which was filled with authority.

"Your guests are here mam. But they are saying they need their wands with them." The guard said.

"Then let them." The voice said.

"But mam-"

"No buts. Just send them in. If they want their wands with them, then let them carry." The woman said.

"Yes mam." The guard yelled. He turned to Harry and Hermione and returned their wands.

"I'm sorry for that, young sir, miss." He said.

"It's okay, auror." Harry replied and took his wand. Both Harry and Hermione entered the room, after Hermione took her wand too.

Inside the room was the person they were going to meet. Amelia Bones, the head of the DMLE was sitting on a couch near the coffee table in the room.

"Greetings, Madam Bones." Harry greeted the woman with a smile.

A/N: Hope you liked the chapter. Please review.