November 2, 1994

"So, I need help," Harry said, confronting Hermione, Ginny, and Luna in the courtyard where they were studying.

"You don't even know what the task is, how could we help you?" Hermione asked, looking up from her book.

"Not with the task," Harry clarified, ducking his head and creating patterns in the dirt.

"Well then, I'm out. I'm still pissed at you, Potter," Ginny said, gathering her things and storming away.

"What do you need help with?" Luna asked, ignoring Ginny's outburst.

"I can't talk to other humans without being a total prat," Harry informed the remaining girls.

"Are you also going to tell us that the sky is blue and water is wet?" Hermione asked, not even looking up from her book this time.

"Hermione, please. You have to help learn how to be a better person," Harry begged.

"Harry, you're a good person. You just have a problem expressing yourself," Luna shook her head. "Let's you and I go have a chat for a bit."

"Okay…" Harry replied, unsure of what would happen when Luna took his hand and led him away.

"That's an interesting pairing," Fred commented, coming up behind the brunette witch.

"It's not a pairing, it's a no-nonsense, hardcore lesson in politeness," Hermione replied, holding her hand out. "Do you have a blueprint or recipe for me to look over?"

"That we do," George said, handing her a piece of parchment.

"Puking Pastilles?" Hermione wrinkled her nose. "That sounds disgusting."

"It's a means to get you out of class. Of course, it's disgusting." Lee laughed.

"I'll look this over, but it doesn't seem safe," Hermione commented.

"No, the nosebleed nougats weren't safe. These are fine. You can run out of things to throw up before you die. Not so much with blood." Fred informed her.

"I'll look at this, but I still say it's dangerous," Hermione rolled her eyes.


"Potter!" Draco shouted, catching Harry's attention by flashing a Cedric Diggory badge at him in potions the next day. "Some of us support the real Hogwarts champion!"

"Quit being a wanker, Malfoy," Harry rolled his eyes, trying to avoid a conflict.

"You should just drop out. Oh wait, you can't. Maybe you can cheat your way out of this like you cheated your way in," Draco needled.

"I didn't cheat my way in, Malfoy, so I can't cheat my way out of it," Harry said through gritted teeth.

"Maybe you can get Hermione to do all the work for you, since that what she's been doing since first year anyway," Draco continued.

At that, wands were drawn and hexes were flung. Harry and Draco, being so attuned to each other's fighting style, dodged their curses. An inattentive Hermione and Gregory Goyle were not so lucky. Goyle broke out in boils meant for Draco, while Hermione's teeth grew outrageously long.

"What on earth are you four up to?" Snape asked, staring at the students wishing, not for the first time, that he had not joined the Death Eaters. Had he not made that choice, he may be a potions master, not a teacher.

"He hexed me!" both Draco and Harry yelled at the same time.

"Goyle, the infirmary," Snape said, sending his snake along to get help.

"Oi! What about Mione's teeth!" Harry screamed, gesturing dramatically to his friend.

"I see no difference." Snape instantly regretted his harsh words, true though they may be.

"Moony says I have to be polite to professors. But don't think I won't tell Aunt Minnie about your completely unprofessional comment. And Cissa." Harry glared, leading Hermione out of the room without waiting for permission.

"Hermione! Wait!" Draco said, darting out after them. Hermione turned back, tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean… I didn't know… I'm sorry."

Hermione didn't say anything, because she couldn't, she just shook her head at him and followed Harry to the infirmary. Madam Pomphrey wouldn't let Harry stay, but he had no desire to return to potions. It would only lead to trouble. Instead, he turned to the common room and wrote out a series of letters before heading to his head of house's office.


"He said that! He actually said that!" Ginny raved on Hermione's behalf, pacing the courtyard where she, Hermione, and Luna were enjoying the last few warm fall afternoons before winter. Students from all three schools were mingling and staring, having heard what happened in the fourth year Gryffindor/Slytherin potions class.

"He did, and it was hurtful, but the results are great," Hermione commented, smiling back into the mirror she kept around her neck after second year, rubbing her two front teeth.

"Put your newfound vanity aside and be enraged with me!" Ginny said, shaking her friend by the shoulders.

"I think you have that handled for the both of us," Hermione said, putting the mirror down.

"Hey, Ginny, Luna," a fifth-year group of boys said, breaking their conversation.

"Hi," Ginny said stopping her pacing for a moment. A small blush appeared on her face. Luna smiled vaguely in their direction like she knew something they didn't.

The three girls had discovered, as the year went on, that it was very different than the previous two years. Students were talking to them more. Always wanting to sit next to them in class, waving at them, wanting their attention.

The gorgeous blonde haired Beauxbaton champion took the liberty of sitting next to the three, causing the boys staring at them to stare even more. "Eet iz cute, how zey like you." She told them. "I 'eard about your potions professor. 'E was wrong, you know."

"Merci," Hermione smiled at her.

"Those boys," Luna said, looking at Fleur. "They're just-"

"Older zan you?" She said flipping her long hair.

"They're just being nice," Ginny said, shrugging it off. "It's nothing really."

"Yes, zey are. But eet iz a little more zan zat, don't you zink?"

"She's trying to say you're popular," Hermione said, setting her book down.

"All of you." The blonde went on, smiling. "You remind me of myself. You are friendz with ze two boys fighting, no? Eet must be hard to zee people you care for to fight. All of you."

The three looked at one another before putting their heads down.

"Yes," Luna said, breaking the silence, "We care about everyone."

"Zen don't let zis argument get een between you zree. Value your friendship more zan anything else." Fleur advised.

"We're trying," Hermione smiled wearily.

"Also, 'Ermione, ze new tees are fantastic," Fleur winked, causing several nearby boys, and a few girls, to swoon.

"'Mione!" Fred shouted, blowing past Fleur, not noticing the French beauty. Fleur gave him a look of appreciation. "I heard about Snape, the dirty bastard. Are you ok- Whoa! What happened to your teeth?"

"Are they growing again?" Hermione asked, hand flying to her mouth. Fleur left to rejoin her fan group and flit away.

"No, they-they're smaller than before," Fred stuttered as Lee and George caught up.

"Whoa, 'Moine, nice teeth," George said, sliding in next to his twin.

"So it's noticeable?" Hermione asked, looking worriedly into the mirror.

"Yeah. Isn't that the point?" Ginny asked skeptically.

"Not when you're parents are dentists! They wanted me to do it the muggle way!" Hermione ranted. "Is it hugely noticeable?"

"Look, if you still notice it in a few months, you'll have your answer," Ginny shrugged.

"Are you okay, though?" Fred asked.

"Yes… No offense, but why do you care? Aren't you dating that fifth year Ravenclaw?" Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow in his direction.

"I care because you are my friend, 'Mione. That's why we don't prank you," Fred said.

"Oi!" Ginny said, shooting sparks at her brother. "You prank me all the time! And I'm your favorite! Outside each other, of course."

"Yes, but you're our sister. We have to prank family," Fred allowed.

"Besides, pranking 'Mione would be suicide. She's too brilliant," George covered for his woefully ignorant twin.


Draco found Hermione studying in the library that evening. He didn't know what she was studying since she was caught up through Christmas Hols, but he knew he 'study face' and she was wearing. Deciding it was worth the risk, he approached her.

"Hermione, please, can we talk?" Draco asked. Hermione looked up at him and he noticed. "Oh, well, at least you made it work out for you."

"Yeah, I guess I should thank you for that bit." Hermione resumed reading.

"No, Hermione, you shouldn't. You shouldn't thank me for hexing you. You should punch me or hex me back. Yell, if you want. Anything." Draco offered.

"Harry didn't enter himself in the tournament. There is no way an underaged witch or wizard could have done it. Fred and George failed. That means someone is setting up Harry for failure, or death. Yet, you provoke him and hurl insults and hexes in the corridors." Hermione said, ignoring his pleas.

"I know he didn't do it, I'm just tired of that wanker getting into these situations. I mean, I would like a chance to try for glory, especially odds off, underaged, ill-equipped glory." Draco said, lightly kicking a nearby bookshelf.

"I'm sure you'll have your chance at it, I just hope it ends well," Hermione said, the statement less comforting than she intended.

"Anyway, I just wanted to apologize. I meant for Harry to get that kind of painful ending, not you," Draco said, shrugging his shoulder.

"I forgive you, if only because you're man enough to apologize. I'm sure Harry won't apologize to Goyle for his hex." Hermione replied. Draco nodded, not sure how to respond. They continued to sit in silence for a few seconds before Draco turned on his heel and left the library feeling substantially better.


A week after her interviews, Rita Skeeter's article came out. Cedric, Fleur, and Viktor felt left out, slighted at being sideshows in the Harry Potter Circus. Harry and Draco were upset at the insinuations made by the article. No one, however, was as angry as the Wonder Witches, Ginny Weasley, and Hermione Granger. No one.

"I mean, no one here is going to be surprised that Rita picked up on you, Harry and Draco, but adding me into this mess?" Hermione huffed, throwing the paper down over her morning meal.

"Welcome to my life," Ginny shrugged, taking a drink of her juice. "I just hope my mum doesn't take it seriously."

Hermione gave her a pointed look. "You're mother takes everything Rita Skeeter writes seriously, you know that."

Harry picked that moment to enter the Great Hall alone. Many students looked up from their morning meals/papers to give him a pointed look.

"What are they staring at?" Draco's voice came from behind.

Harry just shrugged and went over and joined the girls, taking a look at the front page. "Great, what does it say now?"

"Lies," Ginny said quickly before returning to her textbook. Being Hermione's friend was rubbing off on her. She also didn't like the stares the three of them were getting.

"Did you and Draco finally talk it out?" Hermione said looking up from the paper over to the Slytherin table.

"That would require any of my friends to talk to me besides you." Harry huffed. "Neville and Ron are avoiding me in the dorms, hell, they are avoiding each other. Ginny refusing to talk to me about anything other than the task or classes. Fred and George glare at me."

"Well, the morning paper won't help any of that," Hermione stated, handing him the paper.

Harry skimmed the paper, his mouth slowly dropping with each paragraph he read. "Shit," was his only comment as he set the paper down, looking over at Ginny, then to Draco, finally landing his eyes back at Hermione. "This is ridiculous!"

"At least you're not one of the girls in the situation and are being told not to be a floozy, or have a poll out on your non-existent love life," Ginny said.

"Technically, it is my love life too," Harry said with a smirk.

"Oh, goodie," Ginny said crossing her arms. "I'll just poll in right now and place a vote in!"

"Sounds great, do I get to see? Can I show it to Draco as well? He can see who the better man is." Harry asked with a mischievous grin.

Ginny fought back a smile, so she did the next best thing. She threw her juice in his face. "Lesson number three in not being a prat, don't gloat. Or make assumptions." Ginny turned on her heel and walked out.

Hermione held up the paper, a grin on her face.

Harry wiped his face off as a note fell into his lap, "Professor Moody wants to meet about the task when I have free time. Why would a professor, someone who assigns homework, assume that I would have free time?"

"Did-did that girl just glare at me?" Hermione asked, staring at the retreating girl's back.

"I'm sure she didn't. No one's going to take this seriously this soon. No one's had time to read the article yet." Harry tried to reassure her.

"I've read the article, Harry. So has Ginny, Luna, Draco, and, by the looks of it, the twins. It was nice knowing you, bye." Hermione said, gathering her pile of books and fleeing the Great Hall. Harry shook his head. He knew this could only get worse before it got better.


Two days later, Hermione hunted Harry down near the Black Lake. It was one of the very last stands of autumn against the winter air and Harry was determined to enjoy it before he died in a couple of weeks.

"Harry, I'm supposed to tell you that Ron told Dean to tell Seamus to tell Neville to tell Luna to tell me to tell you that you need to meet Hagrid in his hut tonight." Hermione sighed, staring at the boy while Ron lurked in the shadows nearby.

"Oh, yeah? Well, tell Luna to tell Neville to tell … Oh, forget the mind games. Tell the wanker that I'll be there. And you can also tell him to mind his own business." Harry shouted at Ron over Hermione's shoulder.

"Hermione, tell him that even though I hate him, I still have to deliver messages sent by the teaching staff; and if that's how he really feels, I'll let him die!" Ron shouted back. Hermione dropped her head into her hands, rolling her eyes.

"Yeah? Well tell Ron…" but that's all the further Harry got before Hermione threw both hands in the air, pointing at both boys and whipping her head back and forth to glare at both of them.

"No! I'm done playing your silly games. I am not an owl! I will not be in the middle of you two! I've already told both of you that I'm neutral in this fight! So stop trying to break me in half!" Hermione screamed. She then turned to storm away. Before she got too far away, she turned to yell, "And yes! That is a hint!"

Harry and Ron watched Hermione storm away, clueless as to what her mystery line meant. Once she was (presumably) out of earshot, Ron turned and said coldly, "Don't forget the invisibility cloak, asshat."

"Fine, dickhole," Harry responded with all the class and maturity of an emotionally hurt fourteen-year-old boy.


"Professor, you wanted to speak to me?" Harry asked, knocking on the door to the DADA professor's office.

"Ah, Potter. I've been keeping an eye on you as a favor to Black, one auror to another." Professor Moody said as a greeting. "Get in here, we need to talk."

"What about, Professor?" Harry asked, stepping into the office fully.

"About you. You've spent the last week and a half nattering about, bickering with unimportant peons when you should be focused?"
"Focused on what, Sir?" Harry asked, embarrassed that his fights were so well known amongst the teaching staff.

"Focused on the first task!" Moody shouted, throwing a quill in Harry's direction, but missing. "After you've gone to see Hagrid tonight, come see me again tomorrow. It's time to petty fights about hair bows and dresses behind you. You've got a task to win."


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