Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the Harry Potter Franchise or characters. All characters used are the property of their respective owners.

Special Thanks: tweety-src-clt9 for helping me flesh out the story beats. If you love Harmony (Harry/Hermione) go read, her stories. If you just like excellent writing, go read her stories.

Note: For plot convenience, I have shifted the dates of the second and third tasks to later than in the books. The second task now takes place in April and the third task takes place in July.

Also, for reference, if a location change occurs and there is no accompanying date, those events are taking place on the same day.

Dangerous Part 2


Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft

Gryffindor Fourth Year Boys Dorm

Boxing Day (December 26) 1994

Harry groaned as he rolled onto his back, he cracked an eye open, glaring at the sun through the privacy screen surrounding his bed. He went over again onto his side, facing away from the morning sun. He initially wondered why he was still in his dress robes and why dried tears stained his cheeks, then it came flooding back, the memories of the Yule ball, dancing with Hermione, and that horrible moment at the bottom of the stairs.

'Just friends…'

Those words tore at his heart, the one he'd been working up the courage to give Hermione last night, but she didn't even let him ask. He wanted to pretend that she didn't know what he was about to say, but Hermione Granger was the smartest witch of their age. She knew exactly what he was going to say, and she'd thrown it back in his face. Hermione wanted them to stay just friends, but he knew that couldn't happen, not after last night, he wouldn't be able to look at her the same way again. He would never be able to see her as Hermione Granger, his best friend, she would always be Hermione Granger, the woman who broke him.

Harry lifted his head off the pillow and rolled back, so he was lying supine on the bed as Neville peaked through the curtain. "Hey, Harry, it's almost noon…" Neville paused taking in Harry's dishevelled appearance. "Mate, what happened?"

Harry bowed his head, rubbing the back of his neck. "Hermione and I…" Harry took a deep breath. "Nev, I appreciate you trying to be a good friend but I'd much rather you didn't ask."

Neville frowned. "You looked so happy at the ball…"

"Yeah, well the ball is over, it was a dream, nothing more…" Harry replied, climbing out of bed and snatching up a fresh set of robes from his trunk and storming into the bathroom.

Twenty minutes later, Harry emerged, Neville was gone, and he was once again alone in his dorm room. He dumped his dress robes and his washbag in his trunk and locked it. Harry walked to the door of the dorm but paused about half a step away from the stairs. He turned around and retrieved the Marauders Map, activating it he quickly found Hermione, where else but the Library.

Harry's hands shook, he was angry, but there was something else below the anger, fear. He was afraid of looking into Hermione's beautiful brown eyes, he didn't want her to know how much she'd hurt him, she'd do something stupid like offer to be his girlfriend. He didn't want that, or at least he didn't want her to do it because she pitied him. Harry still had a small shred of pride left.

Harry stomped down the stairs now carrying the Map and his Invisibility Cloak in the pockets of his robe. He felt slightly childish taking around the cloak so he could hide from his supposed best friend, but Harry couldn't bring himself to confront Hermione yet. He would leave things as they were for a few days before he tried to talk to Hermione. Besides, he figured, it would serve her right to stew for a little while.

As Harry crossed the Common Room, he was called back by a patronisingly familiar voice. "Oh look, it's Prince Potter, you come down to make an appearance then?"

Harry sighed, not in the mood for Ron's attitude today. "Piss off Weasley."

"Oooh, what's wrong Princy Poo, didn't Granger rub one out for you?"

Harry quickly crossed the distance between himself and Ronald, stopping a few inches away from the lad. Ron expected a punch in the mouth. Instead, Harry just smiled and tugged on the front of Ron robes to smooth them out and picking some imaginary lint off his lapels. "You should give up on throwing insults at people Ronald, you suck at it. Maybe you should spend more of your time studying and maybe with a bit of luck, two hands and a flashlight you two may find an ounce of whit in an otherwise barren field."

Harry walked away and down to the Great Hall, where lunch was about to begin. He stopped at the door, he'd never resented a hall before, but Harry guessed today was the day to try new things, resenting a hall, hating Hermione...

He sat down at the thin end, in terms of people, of the Gryffindor house table. Harry noted that Neville was sitting with Daphne, Tracy Davis, and Blaise Zabini at the Slytherin table while Viktor was sat beside Draco, with Pansy, Goyle, and Crabbe sat opposite. Fleur was in her usual spot with Cho, who had Cedric beside her and Marietta Edgecombe, but Roger Davies was at the other end of the table sporting a black eye and singed hair. Cho waved a blonde second year over and made Cedric budge up to make room for her. Harry recalled she was a friend of Ginny's from Ottery St. Catchpole.

Just as Harry had finished filling his plate, he felt a presence drop into the seat opposite. He let out a shaky breath when he saw it was Hermione. Harry immediately dropped his fork onto the table and stood. "Excuse me..."

Hermione blinked. "Harry, where are you going?"

"I suddenly lost my appetite," Harry grunted in response.

"O-oh, w-well then just let me grab some toast and I'll, HARRY!" Hermione yelled as he simply walked away, ignoring her words and the shocked expression on her face. The entire hall was now drawn to the Harry and Hermione's relationship drama.

"Harry, wait, damn it stop walking!" Hermione demanded as she ran after the raven-haired boy.

"Why...?" Harry drawled angrily.

"B-because you're supposed to wait for your friends!" Hermione replied.

"I would have if I'd been sitting with a friend," Harry replied coldly.

"W-what?"

Harry turned away, unable to look at the visibly hurt expression on Hermione's face. "Look, just leave me alone, ok?"

"Why are you acting like this?" Hermione demanded tearfully.

Harry scowled. "If you don't know, I'm not going to tell you."

Harry left a crying Hermione standing in the Hogwarts Entry Hall. By the time she'd recovered enough to chase after him, he was long gone. Whether he'd taken one of many short cuts or just thrown on the invisibility cloak, Hermione couldn't say.


Great Hall

27 December 1994

Harry had hidden out in an abandoned classroom for the rest of Boxing Day, he spent it reading while sitting under his Invisibility cloak after swiping a book on defensive spells from the library. Occasionally glancing at the Marauders Map to see Hermione back in her usual spot in the library. Harry ate a meagre dinner in the Hogwarts kitchen before returning to Gryffindor tower long after curfew, and after Hermione, who had been waiting in the Common Room to ambush him, had been shooed to bed by a Prefect.

Hermione entered the Great Hall the next morning to find that every pair of eyes at all four house tables were locked on her. She walked around to sit at the Gryffindor table with Neville only to find that morning's Daily Prophet dropped in front of her by her last remaining friend. Hermione's brain came to a screeching halt as she tried to process the headline.


Harry Potter's Yule Ball Heartbreak!

By Rita Skeeter

It is with a heavy heart that your intrepid reporter Rita Skeeter brings you the story of young heartbreak for the valiant points leader after the first task of the Tri-Wizard's tournament, the Boy-Who-Lived, Harry Potter (14).

Our beloved hero was the dashing and debonair champion of many witches' dreams as he waltzed with many a young lady at the Christmas night soiree inside Hogwarts castle. (Analysis of Harry Potter's ability on the Dance Floor, Page 5) He deftly negotiated the spotlight thrust upon him with grace as he danced with many of Britain's most eligible witches.

Alas, our hero's night was not to end in happiness, however. As, once they had taken their leave and returned to the Gryffindor Common Room, Mister Potter's date for the evening, Muggles Born witch Hermione Granger (15) proceeded to crush young Harry's dreams.

Harry, in an act of Gryffindor courage, was steeling himself for a confession of his deep and abiding feelings for the witch when Miss Granger made it clear she only considered them friends. When Harry sort clarification of her statement, Miss Granger further reaffirmed her view that they would only ever be friends.

A heartbroken Harry Potter then bid his date goodnight and climbed the stairs to the Fourth Year Gryffindor Boys dorm and began to cry.

Clearly, Miss Granger, a plain-looking Muggles Born witch, had no further need of our hero after being seen on his arm at the hottest party on the Hogwarts calendar.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a fellow student was quoted as saying. "She's mental that one, she even asked him to be her date. Potter didn't even get much say in the matter. I bet she did something, she's always been brilliant, but she's never been a good-looking bird."

We can only hope that Headmaster Dumbledore will investigate these allegations of Miss Granger ensorceling the poor boy and that the good witches of Great Britain will step in at our Heroes time of need.


Hermione sat, struck dumb by the article as Ron Weasley roared with laughter. "Hey Granger, want me to read it out so everyone can hear how you broke Potter's heart!"

"Mister Weasley, that is enough!" Professor McGonagall shouted from the heads table.

"Now, now Minerva, the boy is just having a bit of fun," Snape retorted sneeringly.

McGonagall was about to supply her own retort when another voice cut in. "I think," Dumbledore began. "We've heard quite enough from Miss Skeeter today."

With a flick of his wand, the Headmaster made the offending paper disappear from not only his own table but every table in the Great Hall. The silence was only broken by the strangled sobs of one Hermione Granger.

"Minerva, I think this would be best done in private," Dumbledore offered, to which Professor McGonagall nodded and quietly led Hermione from the Great Hall.

Neville, who had left Hermione to read the paper, walked up the other end of the Gryffindor House table to where Ron was seated with Seamus Finnegan and Dean Thomas. He placed a hand on Ron's shoulder and leaned into his ear. "If I ever find out you were Skeeter's anonymous source, I will spike your Pumpkin juice with a plant that will make you think spiders are crawling under your skin. And I will do it every day for the rest of our time at Hogwarts."


Professor McGonagall's Office

McGonagall led Hermione into her office, sitting the crying witch down on one of the seats in front of her desk and calling for some tea to be delivered. After a few minutes, the crying subsided and McGonagall pressed some tea into Hermione's hands. "T-thank you Professor."

"You're quite welcome, Miss Granger, however, I fear we must discuss this article."

Hermione nodded and allowed her Head of House to continue. "Is the article accurate?"

Hermione frowned. "I-I asked Harry to the ball, b-but I didn't…."

"I know Miss Granger, putting aside Rita Skeeter's aspersions on your character, are the passages in the article about what happened on the night of the Yule Ball accurate?"

Hermione nodded slowly. "He was saying something, but I talked over him, I never meant to hurt him, Professor, I didn't know what he was going to say…"

McGonagall frowned at the way Hermione kept her eyes downcast towards the floor. "Miss Granger look at me please," She asked, and Hermione complied looking up at McGonagall. "Are you sure you didn't know what Mister Potter was about to say?"

Hermione looked away. "No, I had no idea."

McGonagall took a breath. "Thank you, Miss Granger, you may go."


Hogwarts Kitchens

Harry sat, staring at the paper on the table in front of him. He was even angrier now than he'd been before. His private life was once again tabloid banter. Unfortunately this time he couldn't dispute the facts. Well except the parts where the anonymous source claimed that Hermione wasn't good looking and that he'd had something done to him to make him agree to take her.

He knew that Hermione would eventually come and find him to try and make things right between them. He didn't want that, he wanted to be left alone. The hole she'd torn in his heart couldn't be patched over. So, Harry had decided that he just wanted to be alone, he'd do the work, get the best grades he could achieve and then once he'd completed OWLs he would leave. That way he'd only have to put up with being near Hermione for another 15 months, not counting the Summer Break.

Harry was lost in thought when a pop of apparition announced the arrival of his hyperactive House Elf-friend, the only friend he had left in his mind, Dobby. "Great Master Harry Potter is here! Great Master Harry Potter be in the kitchens with unworthy Dobby!"

Harry sighed. "Hi Dobby, have you been well?"

"Great Master Harry Potter ask if Dobby is being ok, Great Master Harry Potter is being the best Master a House Elf could have," Dobby replied tearfully.

Harry groaned, running his fingers through his hair. "I'm not your Master, Dobby, I'm your friend, remember?"

"Dobby be remembering. Dobby honoured to be friends with Great Master Harry Potter sir!"

"Yeah..." Harry replied, thinking for a moment. "Dobby, I need a place to train..." Harry said quickly explaining the tournament to Dobby.

"Oh yes, Dobby knows where Great Master Harry Potter can train, Great Master Harry Potter can be using the Come and Go Room."

"The Come and Go Room?"

Dobby nodded, causing his overly large ears to flap. "Yes, Come and Go Room on the seventh floor there be a picture of dancing Hippos on the other wall. All Great Master Harry Potter be doing is walk back and forth three times and thinks of the room he be needing."

Harry shrugged. "Worth a try I guess, thanks Dobby."


Great Hall

December 28, 1994

A miserable Hermione Granger sat down to breakfast the next day opposite Neville, Daphne, and Tracy, who had joined them, over Snape and Ron's protests, at the Gryffindor House Table. The dark red rings under her eyes indicated that she'd cried herself into a fitful sleep the night before. Neville dutifully piled her plate with food and silently urged her to eat. Hermione sat quietly picking at her food for a while until the Owl mail started arriving.

Hermione squeaked in surprise when a full-court descended on the Gryffindor House table and precisely where she was sitting. She was about to reach out for one of the letters when a booming voice snapped her hand back like she'd been slapped. "Miss Granger, do not touch anything!"

The entire hall looked towards Dumbledore, who was standing with his wand out. "Professors McGonagall and Flitwick, please scan the mail that Miss Granger has received and tag each Owl before they leave. Any Owl that has something that may harm Miss Granger is to be sent directly to the Department of Magical Enforcement, anything else of a threatening or abusive nature is to be first examined and then forwarded to the DMLE as well. I will floo Madam Bones after breakfast and explain the situation."

Dumbledore then turned to observe the broader student population as McGonagall and Flitwick carefully collected the mail sent to Hermione. "I have been remiss in the past in allowing bullying and abuse to go largely unpunished at this school. Even this year I have let myself be distracted by the internal politics of the Wizengamot and allowed Mister Potter to be bullied by the wider student population for something that wasn't his fault, I will no longer allow that to happen to any student. If a Professor believes the situation warrants it, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement will be consulted on issues of serve bullying. This is not an idle threat and I implore you to not test my patience."

Dumbledore, having said his piece, resumed his seat. "You may continue your breakfast."


Fourth Year Transfigurations Lesson

Thursday 5 January 1995

Harry walked up to the Professor's desk from the back of the room, which was his new spot since his falling out with Hermione. McGonagall considered him carefully. "Is there something I can help you with Mister Potter?"

"Yes Ma'am, as I am not taking exams this year, I would like to take the rest of the year's course work as self-study."

"Oh, and is there a particular reason for this request?"

Harry thought he had a damn good reason, avoiding Hermione Granger, as childish as it was. Ever since the article, she'd become withdrawn and mopey. The only person who spoke to her aside from the Professors was Neville, but even he struggled to get more than a few words out of her most days. It hurt Harry to know he was the cause of her suffering, but whenever he thought about trying to patch things up those words and the memories of that night came roaring back in his head.

"None of my subjects this year focus on preparing me for the tournament. I am three years behind the other competitors, both physically and academically. I need to make the most of my time between tasks to learn as much as I can. I was exceedingly lucky to survive the first task; I'm worried I won't get that lucky again."

'Especially without Hermione's help...' He added mentally.

"I will discuss it with the other teachers and Professor Dumbledore; however, I fear Professor Snape will be entirely unimpressed."

"Professor Snape is entirely unimpressed with anything that isn't dressed in Slytherin robes..." Harry muttered before he could catch himself.

The Professor allowed herself a moment to smirk before her face became a passive mask once again. "I believe we're done, Mister Potter."

"Yes, Professor," He squeaked out before scurrying from the room.


As Harry walked down one of the dungeon corridors towards the kitchens for dinner, he tensed as he heard someone shout his name from behind. He turned around cautiously but relaxed a bit when he realised it was Cedric and Cho who wanted his attention. "Damn Harry, you're a tough guy to find these days."

Harry shrugged. "I prefer keeping to myself, especially since well…" Harry made a handing waving motion that was meant to indicate the Yule Ball article.

"Yeah, seeing Hermione cry like that…" Cedric commented making Harry wince which caused his girlfriend to jab him in the ribs. "O-oh, right, listen, have you figured out the egg yet?"

Harry shook his head. "Nope, well actually, I've figured out that if you leave it open for too long, you get a whopper of a headache."

Cedric chuckled. "I can't dispute that; can I offer you some advice?"

"Sure."

"Take it for a bath."

Harry blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Just what I said, take it in the bath, in fact, use the Prefect's bathroom, consider it a preview of what you'll get next year when McGonagall names you a Prefect."

Harry snorted a laugh. "Right, like that will happen…"

Cedric slapped Harry on the arm. "Have some faith, the password is Bath Bubbles."

"Oh-kay, thanks Cedric," Harry replied sticking his hand out for the older boy to shake.

"Us Hogwarts boys have to stick together, right?" Cedric replied, returning the handshake.

When Harry let go of Cedric's hand, Cho stepped forward and gave the younger boy a hug. "Please be careful, Harry, you're a sweet guy. Plenty of girls would have been thrilled to have you confess to them."

Harry blushed, rubbing the back of his neck as Cho took a step towards Cedric. "Thanks, I try not to think about that night…"

"Skeeter was right about one thing, you were very dashing," Cho replied as a naughty smirk crept onto her lips. "In fact, if you ever need it, I know a few girls who would be happy to let you cry on their shoulder."

Harry's blush deepened as Cedric rolled his eyes. "Come on Cho, you're just teasing him now…"

"I'm just trying to make him feel better."

"Uh-huh…" Cedric replied taking Cho by the elbow and leading her in the direction of the Great Hall. "Hey Harry, come upstairs and have dinner with us at the Hufflepuff table!"

Harry smiled sadly and shook his head. "Thanks for the offer, but…"

Cedric stopped and nodded. "I understand, consider it a standing invitation then."

"I will thank you."


Gryffindor Common Room

Harry frowned standing under the invisibility cloak and staring at the Marauders Map, he could see the dot labelled Hermione Granger sitting at the foot of the stairs to the dorm rooms. She'd been there or near there all night, even after the rest of the house had retired to bed. Usually, she'd be shooed up to bed by one of the prefects around midnight, but it was now two in the morning and she was still there, waiting.

Harry thought about turning around and returning to the Come and Go room and just asking for a bed to sleep on, but he knew that if morning came and his bed was unslept in, Ron would seize the opportunity to get him in trouble. That was the kind of relationship they had these days. So, Harry steeled himself, giving the Fat Lady the password and entered the Common Room. As soon as Harry was inside, and the portrait hole was closed, Hermione cancelled her Disillusionment Spell and revealed herself. "I know you're here Harry, I set up a ward on the Portrait Hole that would wake me when you came back from wherever you've been hiding. There's no point in cowering under the cloak. You're not going to get past me until we talk."

Harry's response was silence as he crept along the wall to put as much distance between himself and Hermione. "Harry, please come out and talk to me, you're my best friend, I care about you, I thought… I thought you cared about me…"

Once again, Hermione's only answer was silence. "Did I hurt you that much, is your pride wounded so badly you can't even talk to me?!"

Hermione's hands curled into fists as she stared at a space on the wall, she thought Harry might be. "Well, screw you Harry Potter, how do you think I've felt, the entire school knows what a bitch I am! I broke the heart of the Chosen One! Everyone thinks I'm scum, even Hagrid doesn't acknowledge me! But the worst part is my best friend doesn't even want to be the same room as me, the best friend I took care of for three fucking years and now because I said something stupid, he hates me!"

Tears were now rolling down Hermione's face as she screamed into what appeared to be an empty Common Room. "Well, fuck you Harry Potter, I hate you!"

Hermione didn't even notice that Neville had walked down the stairs as she sprinted up to her dorm room in tears. Neville was about to return to bed when he heard Harry's quiet sobs from the base of the stairs. He paused, frowning, he knew what he had to do.


Office of the Headmaster

Friday 6 January 1995

After breakfast the next morning, Neville walked from the Great Hall, up to Professor Dumbledore's office. The Gargoyle that usually protected the entrance was gone and instead, he was able to walk straight up to the door to the office. He knocked and after a few beats, Professor Dumbledore called Neville into his office.

"Ah, good morning Mister Longbottom, what can I do for you this morning?"

"Professor, I need your help, it's about Harry and Hermione…"


To Be Continued…

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