The next few days went by very quickly, like time was flying by just because of the tournament that was being held in a few days. The school had a very cheery atmosphere, and Hermione wondered if it was because of the tournament, or if they were positive Harry would win if he participated. Classes were on the regular schedule, but a day before everyone left, that all changed; classes were only a half an hour long. Snape seemed particularly hasty and rabid in potions class. He had taken off fifty points from Gryffindor, for Neville had spilled water down his front in Potions class. Harry, however, was trying his best to sound happier. Hermione wasn't fooled.

The school was not being cleaned as well; Hermione figured Flich didn't care as everyone was leaving in only a day. The pieces of wood from a bookcase Peeves decided to crash over Professor McGonagall's classroom was still littering the charms corridor, and Neville had already tripped on the bigger pieces of wood. Luckily, Harry and Ron were not to far behind, and seized him under the arms before he had landed on the sharp and pointy nails. When they had finished their feast that night, their plates were not cleaned immediately. They sat there a while, and disappeared, with the food still on them.

Nearly everyone seemed to be distracted and curious by one question: how were they going to Dryconderoga and where would they stay for the nights? This topic came up at Divination at the last class, and apparently, Professor Trelawney wasn't pleased. She predicted they would sleep in coffins. Nobody took this seriously, except for Neville, who was later on shaking all through the rest of his classes.

"I bet we'll get there by Dragon," said Ron wildly as he, Harry and Hermione left the Great Hall doors and down the slopping hill to the edge of the Forbidden forest where Hagrid's hut stood.

"Dunno," said Harry, "I bet any Muggle would see that coming."

"Oh, Ron, grow a brain," said Hermione, and smiled slightly to see Harry smirking at her, "We would never be allowed to go near a dragon!"

"Harry did!"

"That was different."

The argument seemed to last forever until Harry had started to walk ahead of them and reached Hagrid's cabin first. Before he could knock a third time, the door swung open, and Hagrid's hairy face popped through, his beady black eyes glinting in greeting.

"I was wonderin' when you'd come'n see me," he said, opening the door widely. At once, Fang the boarhound leaped off his enormous bed in the corner of the one room cabin, and lunched at Ron. Hagrid, however, was watching Harry, a great friendly smile shinning under his lengths of tangled hair. Harry stared back.

"You still look like yer father," he said proudly, before clapping a huge hand onto Harry's shoulder. Harry grinned weakly.

"Dumbledore said the same thing," he said simply. Hagrid had led them to a table where Harry, Hermione, and with much difficulty, Ron, wringing his robes free of drool, sat down.

"Never known Dumbledore ter lie," said Hagrid as his filled his kettle with water from a large pitcher, "He's tellin' the truth, yeh know."

Hermione watched Harry stare at the wooden table, his bright green eyes twinkling in the firelight as Hagrid put his kettle over the flames. Hagrid shuffled over across the room, and came back with a plate of rock cakes.

"Heard yer in fer another tournament, Harry," he said kindly, setting the plate onto the table, "The Tournament of Demontarity, is it?"

"Yeah," said Harry, raising his head, "Tomorrow."

"Heard who yer goin' against?" asked Hagrid. Harry shook his head.

"I meet them at Dryconderoga," he said, "Hope their someone bad."

Hermione looked at Ron, who helplessly stared back. His robes were soaking up more drool from Fang; he had his head on Ron's knee.

"How are the Flubber worms?" he asked, obvious that he wanted to change the subject. Hagrid, however, didn't notice. He looked as if he had been meaning to tell them after he forgot.

"Their thrivin'," he said, pouring them each a cup of tea, "Jus' gave em' some lettuce. Can't give em to much, I'll tell yeh!"

"Great," said Ron. Hagrid didn't notice the sarcasm.

"Yeah," he said gruffly, "Their not explodin' any more. I was going the teach yeh another lesson on how to keep em' as a pet, but I'm leavin' tomorrow."

"Your coming to Dryconderoga too?" asked Harry suddenly. Hagrid beamed.

"Yeah, I can't miss Harry, mind yeh," he said. After that, Harry smiled like he hadn't for days. He seems a lot more cheerful after that.

Harry, Ron and Hermione left Hagrid's cabin very late with pockets full of rock cakes they were to polite to refuse, and high hopes as Harry defiantly had a rapid change of personality. Hagrid immediately started packing his things into an enormous leather suitcase that had looked like it had been chewed up and spit out after they had left.

One Harry, Ron and Hermione reached the castle, they retreated up the marble staircases at once after they bid each other good night. Hermione stumbled off to her dormitory, now realizing how incredibly tired she was, and without another look at Lavender, Parvati or Ginny, she changed into her night gown, and slumped into her four-poster for a nights sleep.

…~'*'~…

A/N: Sorry it's so short… It won't ever happen again. Promise! (Har de har har!) Oh, and Harry does NOT have contact lenses. I try to avoid stories that have Harry wearing contact lenses (It sounds so weird) The answer how and why Harry has no need for glasses is in the future's chapters (one clue: Sirius plays a role in Harry's changes) I'm trying to make it not so boring, but if it is, think about this: wait till you hear how they get to Dryconderoga…