Harry Potter : Electric Boogaloo
Though it was now November, the wards around Hogwarts allowed for it to remain mostly dry and not absolutely soaked to the bone wet as normal place might become.
Which is quite nice since Hermione, Ron and I chose to eat by the lake today. We figured that eating right in the sights of an opposing house may or may not be the smartest move.
Shame I couldn't get mail out here.
"Y'know," Hermione starts. She's bundled up in a thick outer robe and gryffindor scarf from where she acquired it, is beyond me. Actually I think I got a scarf as well, but it had all but just suddenly appeared in my trunk.
Mmm, magic.
"You should probably write to Snuffles about you getting dragged into this tournament yeah? Keep him informed?" She suggested, skipping a stone across the lake. It bounces four times.
She kept on her feet and moved as she got cold easily. Me and Ron were seated on a rock, our finished breakfast piled on the ground.
Ron decided to nab a stone, and tried to mimic Hermione.
He throws it, only bouncing twice.
It's been about 4 days since the choosing of champions, and that 'schedule' that Ron was talking about earlier seemed to already be working. Already I've got the summoning charm dialed in, with us now working on a sixth year water charm. Aquamanta? Something like that.
They also wanted me to start conditioning, which I thought was funny, as I'm probably the most fit thanks to quidditch, but I could use a bit of lean muscle on me.
"Mmm, yeah I reckon I should. Ron can I use your owl?" I throw an uneaten piece of stale toast into the lake. It floats for a moment, before a tentacle breaks the surface and nabs it, bringing it underwater.
"Yeah, sure mate. He should just be up in the owlery unless one of my brothers are using him, but I doubt it. I can come up with you if you want?" Ron bends down and picks up another stone, leans back, and releases his arm.
It skips 4 times. Very nice Ronald.
"Nah it's cool. I still have to write the letter, then go up to the owlery. You have an ink and quill? I've only got parchment on me," I say, rifling through my bag. Ron dusts off his hands walking to his bag.
"I've got an extra set, here," Hermione beats Ron to the punch. Digging both her hands into her bag, she retrieves the said set.
Holding my hand out, she sets the ink bottle into it with the quill on top into my hand.
Grabbing our share of plates, utensils, and cups, we pick up our bags and head back to the castle.
As soon as we entered our plates and such disappeared with a pop. I break away from the other two for the owlery. Waving, I turn and head down the hall, with more than a few dirty glares from Slytherins or Hufflpuffs. Shame that the latter were doing it, as I could care less if the Slytherins were.
Keeping my gaze steadfast, I continued up the tower and tried to identify Pigwidgeon, but he didn't seem to be present.
Hedwig came gliding down and landed on my shoulder. I pet her and feed her a treat I usually keep in my back pocket.
"Sorry girl, but this letter is gonna be for Sirius, can't use you today," I lean against the wall, pulling out a piece of parchment and my writing utensils, I brace my bag against my stomach and start to write.
Finishing it, I roll it up and grab a random barn owl, and tie it to his leg.
As soon as I release my fingers from the knot, he takes off.
Well, I can't say this tournament is doing me much good.
The first day of the week after the choosing, and I can already tell that tension between me and Hufflepuff has suddenly appeared.
I can't say I didn't see this coming, but it's still a bit of a shock when people like Ernie Macmillian, or Justin Finch Fletchly, which is a gnarly name, give me the cold shoulder.
It's not that we're good friends, but I still like them. Unfortunate really.
Herbology was a chore today, especially as Professor Sprout is head of Hufflepuff, I can tell she's rather distant with me.
Rubbing the bridge of my nose and yawning, I make my way down to Hagrids for his class, along with Ron and Hermione, who're as in love as you can be at 14.
Which is really, really, touchy love.
Ron was practically caressing Hermione, as much as you can in public without being shamed, and Hermione is eating all this attention up. Ugh.
I turn away before they start really going at it and just roll my eyes. Arriving at his hut, I see Malfoy is just as unsettled as I am with the two love birds behind me.
I turn to see just what they're doing now. Hermione's wrapped around Rons left arm, holding his hand as well, as they coo at each other. I can even hear Ron calling her "sweetie" and "babygirl". She was practically glowing.
He wasn't nearly as bold in the beginning of the summer. Ron and Hermione had actually gotten together pretty early into the summer, since they happened to be spending an uncomfortable amount of time together in the Weasley residence. I had arrived probably about a week before a quidditch game in America, and it was pretty clear that the two of them wanted the relationship to be as hush-hush as possible, even though the whole family knew about them.
During the time abroad, they tried to take in as much of muggle and magical America as possible. Maybe a bit too much though, as the fashion was something they took in stride. Bright, colorful windbreakers, with loose, cuffed denim jeans, and clean Nike sneakers, like Air Forces or Air Max lazily tied and slipped on. Not only that, but American Teen Magazines hooked Hermione in and never let go, as I still see them occasionally lying in the homework pile associated with Hermione.
But America gave more and more, and being the cool, broad shouldered jock appealed to Ron so much, that he even began to work out. Like start LIFTING and stuff. It must've given him a testosterone boost or something because he got reeeaaallly into Hermione all of a sudden. But as I said earlier, she doesn't seem to mind.
Turning back to Malfoy, who's making a face at them, he turns his attention to me, and raises an eyebrow.
"Mmm, so. Champion. Very well done. How'd you manage that Potter?" He lets a puff of air out of his nose after he says 'Champion'.
I shrug. "Dunno. Just gotta think about not doing something hard enough, then boom, it happens."
Malfoy just snorts. His two goons are by his side, looking confused and dazed as to why I'm making small talk with their boss.
"So how long do you reckon you're going to last then? I'm betting ten minutes." I roll my eyes.
"You and Ron have got something wrong with yourselves. Betting on my life like it's a sport," Malfoy laughs.
"At least I'm not dependent on affection from Granger to function. Really, it's frightening," Malfoy eyes the two from where he and I are standing, and I'm a bit more than inclined to agree.
Our conversation is cut short by Hagrid coming out from the back of his hut with a tower of crates, each containing a large Blast-Ended Skrewt, much to the horror of the class.
Malfoy and I just look at each other, completely straight faced, then return our attention to the long day ahead of us.
I let out a groan as I rotate my shoulder from that agonizing few hours of the day. Letting the ache subside as I breath deeply, Malfoy and I make our way back up to the castle. Ron and Hermione trailed behind.
He's doing much of the same, with his arms back as he stretches his back out.
We had a good talk today while working. One walked the Skrewts who, by the way, have a lot of strength. Even at one point dragging a kid along the ground as he had lost concentration, and his footing had left him.
The general topic of the day was me and the Tournament of course, but Malfoy didn't seem too concerned about it.
"So you've gotten yourself into this tournament, so what? I don't care in the slightest about the money, or the fame. Seems more trouble than it's worth in my opinion," he says, brushing his blonde hair back.
The next few days were probably among the most taxing I think I've ever experienced at Hogwarts, which is saying a lot considering second year and the Slytherin Heir fiasco. With the never ending tension from seemingly all direction, my anxiety over the first task and how little I know, and the fact that having double potions means seeing Snape for twice as long then I like, I'm feeling a bit stressed.
Oh, and I take it back.
Seems I've only pissed off 2 of the 3 champions, which I suppose is improvement.
Baby steps Harry, baby steps.
It's been about a week since the selecting of champions, and in that time I haven't really seen too much of the other champions.
Of course that could probably be attributed to the fact that they're 3 years in my senior.
Though I have seen quite a lot of Fleur. Seems she's the only one that I've seen. The other two probably don't want to be reminded that I got in for free, and that I lessen their chances of winning.
Anyway, she always seems to be walking down the same hall that I take to my usual classes.
At first she seemed surprised, and quickly made haste in her original direction with her head down and ears red, but that stopped after about a day.
Now I encounter her taking my halls with an air of lightness and is usually at a strolling pace. She waves and gives me that oh so adorable smile, for what's been everyday of the past week.
And maybe Ron was actually onto something, as when she does I feel the slightest of flutters in my stomach, but everyone around her seems to snap their attention to her and gape.
I wave and would give my own grin. I'm glad she doesn't seem to be ignoring me.
Speaking of which, there she is right now.
I'm walking down to the potions dungeon right after my transfiguration class.
Slowing my pace ever so slightly, I give her a mock salute and a lopsided grin.
She giggles, her shoulders shaking ever so slightly, and returns it with her own. Her face is ever so lightly flushed, and she makes eye contact with me.
Her eyelids droop, and her smile deepens. Her flush becomes a blush and she lets her hand down, letting it wipe a stray hair out of her face.
Breaking eye contact, she resumes down her path.
Only then do I notice I'm gripping my message bag strap tightly, and release it.
As well as feeling quite light. Well this is certainly a pleasant surprise, and not an unwelcome one.
Resuming my commute down to the dungeons with a slight hop in my step, I ponder.
Maybe I should take Ron up on that bet.
Arriving at the dungeons, Ron and Hermione are already there. I'm also greeted by a group of Slytherins, with each of them wearing badges on the front of their robes. I almost did a double take, thinking they were S.P.E.W badges, until I read what they said.
'SUPPORT CEDRIC DIGGORY - THE REAL HOGWARTS CHAMPION'
I should probably get one of those.
Malfoy sees me, and puffs his chest out.
"Like them, Potter? Pretty cool if I say so myself," Malfoy then tapped the badge. "Although this could use some work."
The message had changed to-
'POTTER STINKS'
I just raise an eyebrow.
"'Potter Stinks?' That's kinda lame," I give the badge an unimpressed stare.
Malfoy seemed to recognize that. Shrugging, he grabs a pouch from another Slytherins hands, who are all laughing at the badge change.
"Yeah, it was a last minute thought more than anything. Want one, Potty?" He digs around in the pouch for a moment, before digging out a badge and handing it out to me.
"Yeah toss it here." Malfoy flicks it over to me and I nab it out of the air. Fumbling for a moment against my chest to try and pin it in, I realise that there's no pin. Rolling his eyes, Malfoy walks over and snatches it from me and presses it himself.
The Slytherins and other students are staring at us. He slaps the badge and it seems to have stuck. Some sticking charm I guess.
Turning around, I puff my chest out to Ron and Hermione.
"Nice look mate," Ron glanced at the badge, then had his attention back on Hermione's hair. He was pawing his hands through it.
Hermione leans in, as much as she can, and raises an eyebrow. Tilting her head she shrugs and continues basking in the attention that Rons giving her.
"So Potty, what do you think I should change it to? I was thinking something along the lines of-"
Malfoy is cut short by the dungeon door opening, revealing a black, swaying robe. Snape raises an eyebrow at me and Malfoy, glances to our badges, then narrows his eyes. He turns back around and re-enters the classroom. The rest of us enter shortly, not without the Slytherins shoulder checking me and some other Gryffindors.
Ron shoulder checks one into the door frame as they try to go for Hermione. Grunting the Slytherin makes a move back towards Ron, but Snape snaps his head back from the noise being made and it stops him in his tracks. Ron just smirks.
Today's lesson was the brewing of our antidotes, as well as the testing of a classmate. That last part put me a bit on edge, knowing that this was Snape, and that practically half this class was Slytherin in nature. Rubbing my eyes any remaining drowsiness, I began my prep.
Not long into this prep however, there was a knock at the door.
"Yes?" is Snape's rapid reply. The door creeps open.
None other than Colin Creevey pokes his head from beside the door and makes eye contact with me, then with Snape.
"I'm - ah - meant to take Harry upstairs...sir," Colin states modestly.
Snape glowers at him.
"Potter has another hour to brew his antidote, he will be up when he is finished," Snape turns his chin up slightly and peers down his nose.
Colin, braver than he may appear, smiles.
"No sir, Mr. Bagman wants him. It's for the Champions. I think they want a picture...sir," Colin replies, and ducks back out of the door way.
I peer over the counter and look at Snape.
He looks disgusted, and spares me no more than a glance. He juts his chin out towards the door.
"Make yourself scarce Potter. Leave your things-"
"Actually, he needs to bring his things with-"Colin pokes his head back in.
"I see," Snape narrows his eyes and sends a sneer to Colin. He ducks back away.
"See yourself out Potter, you and your bags," Snape turns before he even sees me move. I shoot a glance towards Ron and Hermione.
"See you at lunch I suppose," I swing my bag over my shoulder, and on my way out nab another badge from Malfoy, much to the chagrin of the Slytherin. Pressing it against my shoulder and changing it to the Diggory side, I place my chin high and make my way out with Colin.