November 1, 1994
"Calm down, Black!" Hestia hissed, following behind her husband in the halls of Hogwarts.
"Calm down? Calm DOWN!" Sirius yelled. "That old git is setting Harry up to die! After everything Minnie and I have done to protect him! I will not calm down!"
"Calm down, Mr. Black," came McGonagall's sharp demanded.
"Yes, Ma'am," Sirius said, stopping in his tracks as McGonagall stood in front of the Head Master's office.
"Ah, Mister Black, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Dumbledore asked pleasantly.
"To what do you… Are you fucking mad?" Sirius asked, completely serious.
"Language, Siri, language!" Hestia yelled, holding her head like she was in pain.
"This isn't some children's book you're reading to the twins, Hes!" Sirius growled. "This is my godson's life!"
"You don't growl at me, Sirius Black," Hestia snapped.
"As entertaining as this look into your marital life is, can we get on with it?" McGonagall asked, directing their attention back to the matter at hand.
"Yes, Mister Black, why are you here?" Dumbledore asked jovially.
"Why is my fourteen-year-old godson in your Merlin forsaken tournament of death!?" Sirius yelled straight in Dumbledore's face.
"That is an interesting question you pose, Mister Black," Dumbledore answered calmly. "Could you shed some light on the subject?"
"Could I… You are crazy, aren't you? Unlike you, I know the dangers of the Tri-Wizard Tournament," Sirius scolded.
"I do understand the dangers of the tournament," Dumbledore explained. "Now, did you help Harry get into the tournament?"
"I did no such thing! Your age line was supposed to be enough!" Sirius yelled.
"I see," Dumbledore said, looking away.
"Speaking of, where is my godson?" Sirius asked.
"He's in an interview with Rita Skeeter of the Daily Prophet," Dumbledore replied.
"He's in- Shit this day keeps getting worse! You're the worst administrator in the history of this school! And that's saying something since Phineas Black used to be the headmaster! You don't leave fourteen-year-olds alone with reporters! Even the ones that media trained like Harry!" Sirius ranted, turning to leave the headmaster's office.
"This conversation isn't over, Albus. We'll discuss this more after we've rescued Harry from the clutches of that vile woman," McGonagall added, following Sirius away.
"Miss Jones, aren't you going to follow your husband?" Dumbledore asked.
"It's been Missus Black for some time now, and no, I won't be. Sirius has that situation handled, and Minerva has Sirius handled. It's time you remember why Black women, even the ones that marry into the family, are the ones you should fear," Hestia replied, an evil glint in her eye.
Rita Skeeter had been known for wanting the first scoop on everything. The Twi-Wizard Tournament wasn't an exception. As the four competitors stood together having their retinas burned, she took her quill and parchment out.
"Before we begin, can I have a few moments with Harry. You know, a heartfelt piece on our youngest champion," She smiled.
"No," Harry said, taking his wand and walking away.
"But Deary," she said shooing off the other Champions.
"No, I have better things to do," Harry said walking off. Rita quickly grabbed his arm with red, talon-like claws and shoved him into a broom closet.
"This will do."
"It's a broom closet," Harry glared.
"Exactly, now wouldn't it be tragic if you happened to be locked in here."
"Who would think of something as cruel as that?" Harry asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"Me," Rita said, smiling a huge smile, flicking her wand and locking the door.
"How about we just skip to the part where I leave, yeah?" Harry said.
"Now, now, sit," Rita said forcing him down onto an overturned bucket. "Let's talk about the heroic attempt of Professor McGonagall and Sirius Black saving you from a life of destitute with muggles and muggley things."
"That's the best word you've got?" Harry laughed. "One of my best mates is a muggle, you know."
"Back to the point, Mr. Potter," Rita said, pulling out her quick quill. "How do you think your parents would feel if they knew that their only child they died trying to save was in a tournament that could leave him squashed to a pulp?"
"I'm sure my father would be proud," Harry said folding his arms.
"And your dear mother," She asked, her quill scribbling away.
"My eyes are not sparkling with the ghosts of my past," Harry corrected, snapping Rita's Quik-Quote-Quill in half. "You have to be the most unprofessional reported I've had the displeasure of working with. And I've worked with plenty, I'm the Boy-Who-Lived."
"You'll pay for this Potter," Skeeter hissed, not seeing the door open.
"Not today, he won't," Sirius answered, grabbing Harry by the arm and yanking him out. "Also, you'll not be interviewing him again without the consent of the Black family press team. And his solicitor. Do you understand?"
Rita didn't respond, but she did start plotting her revenge. Now, she just had to get the information she wanted.
Team Potter
"Auror Moody is an auror!" Harry ranted. "There is no possible way to-"
"You are basing your whole theory on the fact that there wasn't enough time for Neville to send an owl to his parents, have them read the note, and have an owl fly back to Hogwarts before you fought with Draco like a prat?" Hermione asked incredulously.
"Hermione! You're supposed to be on my side!" Harry exclaimed, shocked.
"Hey! I'm a free agent! In fact, all three of us girls are! There is not enough evidence to support either of your theories, so until one of you comes up with some empirical data, leave us out of your lover's quarrel," Hermione said, holding her hands up in mock innocence.
"Yeah, this is all wonderful," Ron interrupted, arms crossed and a pout on his face. "I just want to know one thing. How'd you do it, Harry?"
"Do what?" Harry asked, the fight leaving him completely.
"Did you bribe an older student to put your name in?" Ron persisted.
"What?" Harry repeat unintelligently.
"Ron," Hermione said, glaring at the redhead, "is under the impression that you broke a vital rule of friendship when you entered your name in the Goblet without him."
"Ron! You can't honestly think I did this to myself, can you?" Harry asked.
"Yeah! I do! It's just like you! Come up with a way to break the rules, then think only of yourself!" Ron accused, not inaccurately.
"I do not!" Harry slung back, hurt. "You're just jealous 'cause you want to win your family enough money to make it through the year without having to sell one of their kids to afford Christmas dinner!"
Ron didn't say anything to that. He let his fist do the talking. Harry, knowing what he said was wrong before it even left his mouth, let Ron hit him square in the jaw. Harry lay on the floor as Ron stormed out of Hagrid's hut. He reflected that this was what Moony was talking about. Perhaps, he should actually make an attempt at being a better, kinder person.
Team Malfoy
"Neville, we believe you," Draco said pointing at Ginny. "Did you tell your parents?"
"I did, and they sent him an owl and said he was perfectly fine. They even had lunch together at Hogsmeade last week." Neville sighed. "Said he seemed tired, but overall, fine."
"Is he under an unforgivable? I mean, maybe his lesson was a cry for help." Draco suggested.
"No, my parents would have been able to tell," Neville said, running his hands over his face. "They said McGonagall is keeping a close watch on him."
"So, then McGonagall believes you," Ginny said.
"Yeah, but Dumbledore doesn't believe her," Neville said.
"Because of Potter," Draco hissed.
"Well, that only means one thing," Ginny said setting her quill down, looking at her friends. "We figure this out ourselves. Spy on him. Do you think we could get the map from Harry?"
"Fat chance he would let us look at it, it would prove him wrong." Draco said, rolling his eyes.
"Then that leaves you, Ginny." Neville said with a smile.
"I believe you, I really do, but I don't want to get in the middle of this." Ginny said looking down. "In fact, I refuse. I get it. Harry is a prat, and I'll help because I'm your friend, that's all."
"A little late for that," Draco said standing up. "I'm going to Slytherin, see what everyone else know."
"And get some of your status back?" Neville joked.
"Yeah, that too. We need to set up some meetings in private. You never know when that eye is watching."
"I need the map," Harry said sitting next to the twins in the common room.
"It'll cost you," George said looking up from the paper.
"How much?"
"A week's worth of chores or three galleons," Fred said opening a ledger.
"Can you charge me for my own map?" Harry huffed.
"Watch us," Fred said, picking up a quill. "Besides, Ginny already beat you to it. She gave us five galleons, but I think we all know where the money came from."
"Draco," Harry hissed.
"No. Selling everyone's underwear. Genius really. Wish we would have thought of it ourselves." George said, nodding his head in approval for their sister's business.
"I've got to put a lock on that drawer."
"Harry James Potter! I'm going to murder you!" Ginny screamed, sending most of the Gryffindors scurrying to the edges of the common room. Ginny had six older brothers, so the Weasley temper was well known in the tower.
"What have I done now?" Harry asked warily.
"'So poor your family will have to sell one of the kids in order to afford Christmas.' Sound familiar," Ginny yelled, yelled, in Harry's face. Harry flinched.
"I...I… I didn't mean it, I swear, Ginny. It just sort of came out. Ron said some hateful things to me and I reacted." Harry tried to defend himself.
"Angry words are sober thoughts," Ginny retorted.
"You're thinking of drunken words," Harry said foolishly.
"That- that- Bat Bogey!" Ginny yelled, flicking her wand and leaving the tower. She turned around and added, "Don't you dare insult my family, Potter. Watch yourself," she said between her teeth.
That was how Harry learned the true meaning of fear.
The Boy-Who-Lived to be Hogwarts Champion
Dear readers, you remember that this newspaper reported the reintroduction of the Tri-Wizard Tournament in September. On Halloween, Hogwarts hosted delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang schools. Champions for each school were chosen: Cedric Diggory of Hufflepuff to represent Hogwarts, Fleur Delacour to represent Beauxbaton, and the illustrious Viktor Krum to represent Durmstrang.
The twist in this fascinating story is that Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, was also named Champion in a twist of fate that no one at Hogwarts, or in the Black family, can seem to explain. This reporter interviewed Mr. Potter in an attempt to expose his plan. Said interview was disrupted by Sirius Black, head of the Black family and Potter's guardian.
That's not the only scandal Potter has involved himself in. An undisclosed source revealed that Potter and young Miss Ginevra Weasley had a lover's quarrel in the middle of Gryffindor tower after Potter made some unseemly statements about the financial security of the Weasley family. Miss Hermione Granger, a muggleborn close to Potter, was seen comforting him as he sneezed what appeared to be bats. Weasley then seemed to find comfort in the arms of one Draco Malfoy.
"They spend all their free time together, the four of them. It's so hard to tell who's going with who," an anonymous Slytherin student confided in this reporter.
"Last week, Potter and Weasley were together, now it looks like Granger is moving in on him and Weasley's moved on to Malfoy," a Ravenclaw student commented.
"Look, all that really matters is that Cedric wins and Potter finally learns that he can't steal the spotlight every year," Ernie Macmillian reported.
Looks like it will be an interesting year for the Potter scion. This reporter only wishes him the very best of luck on his challenges ahead.
Kat: 4.0, baby! I just had to give up my life and part of my sanity.
Gabs: And part of my life and part of my sanity.
Kat: No, that went to soil sampling.
Gabs: And your grad classes.
Kat: There were only five papers…
Gabs: Four of which were on grammar and language. That's six papers too many.
Kat: Thank you to all of you who reviewed. Part of the reason this chapter is late is because we stopped, slowed the story down, and plotted the majority of this book.
Gabs: I'm to blame for asshole Harry this chapter. Hopefully this event will be enough to get his personality back on track. You lot seem to think that's what needs to happen.
Kat: I voted to take it out, but well, we figured out when asshole Harry leaves for real..well, mostly.
Gabs: We own nothing, you love us, we love reviews, the end.
XOXO
Gabs & Kat
