Disclaimer: This is based on J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter. Not mine.
A/N: Look, another chapter! No, really, I wrote another chapter. Aren't you proud of me? I am such a good person, I know. This chapter's title is Utada Hikaru's FINAL DISTANCE, a beautiful ballad, if I do say so myself. Just be forewarned parts of it are in Japanese (you can search youtube for it and see the video while you're at it) if you choose to listen to it. Anyway, just a little background: the song was originally Distance, from her second album. However, when a lunatic shot a school girl, a fan of Utada's, Utada decided to do something to remember her death, and in response, Utada changed around the lyrics and created this sweeping ballad. It's pretty. Okay, enough boring you. Oh, and thanks for the reviews!
Chapter 9: Final Distance
Sitting down for an early breakfast at the crack of dawn was not Harry's idea of a good start to a Saturday. However, Hermione insisted that they get up early and get down to the Great Hall, but she wouldn't tell Harry why. Sitting down, Harry couldn't help but notice the goblet that breathed a blue wisp of fire as though it were living.
That must be why we're here, though Harry. Looking around, he noticed it was hard not to notice the goblet. It turned out that all of the attention in the Great Hall was focused upon it, from the whispering Slytherin gossip mongers with their furtive glances, to a group of preppy Ravenclaws laughing hysterically at their clever quips, to a rather large crowd of assorted students that had gathered right around the cup itself. Taking his toast and Hermione along with him, Harry strode over to the growing group of people to see what all the hubbub was about.
"Sounds like someone's entering the tournament," commented Hermione, eagerly listening to the crowd. She took a bite out her toast.
"Yeah, but who?" asked Harry. Hermione shrugged and finished off her toast.
Pushing through the tightly packed people, Harry made his way towards the front, with Hermione right behind him. As Harry approached the clearing, he peered around to see a girl standing alone, taking deep breaths.
Once Harry caught sight of her face, he immediately recognized who it was. But Hermione beat him to the punch.
"It's that-that, pardon me, but, is it that bitchy prefect?" she said, fuming.
"Hermione!"
"You know it's true!"
"Yeah, but it's you! And that's a prefect."
"I know, but she abused her power. She was more than just overzealous, she went out of her way to be mean to us," Hermione shook her head. "I wonder why she'd even bother entering."
"It's not like being mean can keep you out," said Harry.
"Really, Harry, you need to read Hogwarts: A History. The Goblet chooses people on strength of character, not proficiency in charms, hexes, or defense. So being actions like that will definitely be to her disadvantage here."
"Oh."
"Shh," said a fifth year Slytherin. The crowd settled down, only whispering about Ruth Callum.
"That must be her. Ruth I mean," whispered Hermione. Harry nodded, and before he could say something else, the Slytherin shushed him again.
Ruth's chest was moving up and down rapidly as she walked past a faint, white circle surrounding the the pedestal. She paused once she had passed over it, sighed in relief, then strode right up to the goblet. She waited for a moment, studying the blue flames, and her usually stern face let worry pass over it. A few catcalls egging her on sounded throughout the room, and she took a deep breath. Then she curtly dropped the paper into the goblet, and watched the blue flames grow into tall, red pillars. And so she was accepted as a contestant, earning gentle applause from the growing group.
"Wow," remarked Hermione. "It's just the goblet, it's greater than I could have imagined. Words on paperreally can't do it justice. I mean, look at the side of it. I've never seen anything like it!"
"Yeah," answered Harry, even though he hadn't heard or read of the Goblet beforehand. And now, he couldn't help but study the intricate design. At first glance, it appeared to be just like any other wooden goblet Harry had seen. In fact, it looked completely ordinary down to the base from afar, except for its spouting flames. But now, peering closer, the details in the design came into focus. The design was so minute, yet so realistic with crowds of thousands depicted, all in the space of a few inches of surface. It was an amazing artifact, to say the least.
Before Harry and Hermione could lose themselves in thought over the goblet, another person stepped up to enter. As the crowd parted before the student, Harry saw none other than Cedric Diggory walk into the clearing of the crowd.
Damn, he looks good when he's worried, thought Harry. Cedric's face was flushed slightly, and from the look on his face, he was very deep in thought. Once everyone caught sight of him, they started cheering.
"Yeah Ced, put it in the goblet!"
"Make us Puffs proud!"
"Come on!"
"Yeah Cedric!" shouted Hermione, joining in. Harry looked at for a moment, and saw her smiling widely.
Harry glanced at Cedric to see him blushing. Otherwise, however, Cedric completely ignored the attention, and his eyes looked glazed. He stood still, and the crowd hushed.
There was another minute of whispering before Cedric's eyes glinted and he grinned, walking forward and earning quite a few cheers, including another one from Hermione.
"We believe in you!" she cried, getting caught up in the excitement, and earning an annoyed look from Harry. "Well, if you're not supporting him, I will for you!" Harry rolled his eyes, but smiled.
"Who says I'm not supporting him?" asked Harry. "You're going to win for sure!"
Cedric looked up, noticed Harry's voice among all others, and smiled. Harry saw Cedric look away and gracefully step over the age line. He flashed a grin at his friends. Harry smiled. Just a couple of more steps. He was almost there.
Cedric stopped, and with a casual toss of a small, seemingly insignificant piece of paper, he sealed his fate.
Harry smiled, Hermione clasped her hands together in glee, the crowd went, well, wild, and Cedric, Cedric winked at Harry, like the fight Harry had started never happened.
Hermione saw and smirked. But Harry--he could care less. Right now, his emotions swarmed. He was happy, hopeful, overjoyed, optimistic... he was floating above everything, everyone, above the loud applause, above the handshakes, transcending all else, looking forward to the future, to what was to come.
He didn't even notice Hermione dragging him away from the room until they came to the common room, where he yelled at her for making him leave Cedric. She told him Ron had come, and she had only wanted to avoid him. But still...
I wanna be with you now.
cHcHcHcHcHcHcHcHcHcH
The rest of the day was a blur. After Harry and Hermione had left breakfast, they had gone straight to work on their homework. After essays in Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, and History of Magic, Harry found himself and Hermione getting a quick bite to eat for lunch, then heading straight off to the library to research for their Herbology project.
In Harry's infinite wisdom, he had chosen one of the toughest plants in the fourth year curriculum, also rumored to appear on holes. He didn't expect it to be anything special. After all, how bad could grass be? But Jupiterian Grass was by no means normal. Like the Roman God Jupiter, the harmless looking grass blades had the power to shock you. Not only that, but Harry was appalled to find that large clumps of it could summon lightning storms to kill you, that is if you stayed around long enough to find out, as was likely to happen in the greenhouse. Luckily, Hermione had convinced him of the necessity to research the plant before they took care of it in class, as otherwise, he could have easily been electrocuted. She looked quite smug after Harry told her that she had been right.
After that brief excursion to the library, it was back to the common room to map out the rings of Saturn, and then fill in a whole dream chart. Hermione found herself with just as much work, with a whole series of Arithmancy calculations that she'd have to do. She seemed quite worried, and as she had to have all the correct so she could just take her test on Monday, she couldn't stop checking over her work. Needless to say, they were very happy when they got to their Care of Magical Creatures homework, hours later, which was to simply research an animal they think they should study in class and present it on Tuesday. Anything other than the blast-ended skrewts that Hagrid had forced upon them was easy to deal with at this point.
And with that assignment finally finished, Harry and Hermione discovered that they had worked up quite the appetite, and went down to dinner. When they arrived, they were surprised to find out that today was, in fact, Halloween. They had completely forgotten, and if it were not for Halloween staring them in the face everywhere they looked, they would have surely made it through the day without ever realizing it was a holiday.
Amidst the normal furnishings of the Great Hall they saw giant jack-o-lanterns skirting the House tables, foreign ghouls and ghosts flying around uninhibited, a stray banshee howling in a corner, black cats hiding underneath tables, a portable graveyard in between the Slytherin and Ravenclaw Tables, zombies falling over the Hufflepuff table, and a sky filled not only with stars, but also with plenty of black candles. Dumbledore had clearly outdone himself this year in the face of foreign visitors.
After taking in that breathtaking display, Hermione and Harry headed over to the Gryffindor table, where they noticed Ron sitting with Seamus and Dean. At this point, they decided it best to avoid him and instead, eat their dinner in peace. So they sat down near Ginny, Neville, and a few Gryffindor fifth years. Ginny looked especially happy to see them.
"You guys made it right in time," she said, passing over some bouillabaisse.
"For what?" asked Harry.
"The Goblet is going to choose the contestants for the tournament, I assume," said Hermione matter-of-factly, biting into a piece of German pumpernickle bread.
"Exactly," said Ginny.
"Ooh, we wouldn't want to miss that, now would we?" said Harry. Hermione's eyes looked at him, silently laughing.
"Oh look!" said Neville, pointing to the front of the room. "Dumbledore's standing up!"
Before Dumbledore could beckon the students to quiet down, the roaring drone of conversation in the room died completely. Everyone wanted to hear what Dumbledore had to say.
"I think it is time that we choose the champions," said Dumbledore. He walked along the teacherss table and strode out to the pedestal holding the goblet.
"I must thank all of you for showing such interest in the event. However, it is my grave duty to tell you that only three students shall have the opportunity to face mortal peril," said Dumbledore, his face serious.
"Now, without further ado, from Beauxabatons, the champion is--" Dumbledore held out his arm, and the goblet shone pink, sptting out a dainty, pink piece of paper. "Fleur Delacour!" The girl to which Ron had taken a fancy jumped up, looking quite pleased with herself. Harry looked at Ron and noticed that he, too, looked quite pleased.
"From Durmstrang, the champion will be--" Dumbledore held out his hand once more, and the goblet spurted a huge, deep purple pillar, sending a ragged, gray piece of paper zooming towards Dumbledore. He easily caught the projectile. "Viktor Krum!"
Across the room at the Slytherin table, a stocky young man jumped to his feet. He doned a snow white robe, which Harry assumed to be polar wolf fur. Striding to the front of the room, Krum looked like he had just achieved a victory. All of the sudden, someone else started "whooping," overjoyed at Krum's selection. Looking to the staff table, Harry saw the Durmstrang Headmaster grinning widely and making all the sound he was permitted. Krum then followed Fleur out of the room.
"And finally, I am proud to announce that the Hogwarts champion is--" Dumbledore stretched out his hand, and the goblet's flame morphed into a deep red mixed with dark oranges. Out of the flames soared a tiny, piece of parchment, and after circling around Dumbledore's hat, it plopped down in his hand. "CEDRIC DIGGORY!" A roar sounded out from the Great Hall as every single person in Hufflepuff got to their feet, giving Cedric a standing ovation and shouting at the top of their lungs. And best of all, Cedric walked right by Harry and actually grinned at him, filling Harry with a giddy, happy feeling.
But that feeling was not to stay. As Cedric neared Dumbledore and followed the other champions into a side chamber, the Goblet changed colors once more. Everyone in the hall hushed as the Goblet burnt green, spewing out a small paper airplane that seemed to enjoy itself as it flew towards Dumbledore. Dumbledore's expression, however, was anything but jovial as he caught the paper airplane.
"Harry! Harry Potter!" he bellowed, urging Harry to come up. It took a push from Hermione to shake him out of shook and get him walking up to the top, where he met a grave Dumbledore.
"Into the side room, Harry."
Harry walked forward, not knowing what else to do.
I wanna be with you, you, nobody but you.
Don't stop, don't you ever let me go.
cHcHcHcHcHcHcHcHcHcHcHcHcH
After being called a "child," doubted by almost every person in the room, yelled at for entering the tournament, threatened five times, and being frightened to death, Harry felt surprisingly happy. Walking away from the room, he couldn't help but smile. Despite all of the suspicious glares, all of the anger, Cedric had stood by him. From the moment Harry stepped in the room, Cedric had made sure that he stayed close to him, and Harry was glad. It made him feel safe and secure, despite the fact that someone might want to kill him. He grasped the heart around his neck, and he felt hope.
"Harry?" said someone behind him. He looked over to see Cedric jogging to catch up to him. "Hey, I just wanted to apologize for everyone in there, I mean, how could they think that you entered?"
"Believe me, they'll think of every reason possible. But you shouldn't apologize for them. And don't you at least want my explanation?" asked Harry.
"Why you didn't enter?" Cedric asked, Harry nodded. "No, I don't need to. I just can't see how you would want to put yourself in grave danger," said Cedric. Having Cedric believe him without even asking was such a relief. "Friendly enough for you?" Harry grinned, catching the reference to their quarrel.
"Yeah, although even good friends want explanations sometimes," remarked Harry.
"I want to be more than good friends," replied Cedric, instantly blushing. " I mean-- I think we could be best friends, you know?"
"Maybe," said Harry, his grin widening. "You can't force these things though. Just have to let 'em play out."
"Speaking of playing out, do you think you want to play some Quidditch tomorrow? I mean, the pitch should be open, and we won't get to play much this year, and..."
"I'd love to," said Harry, cutting off Cedric's nervous blabbering. Then Harry realized what he had just said. "Well-er-it sounds like a plan to me."
"Great," said Cedric, looking relieved. "See ya on the pitch at noon!"
"Sounds good, I'll see you then!" replied Harry, practically sprinting up the stairs to the Gryffindor common room to tell Hermione what had happened.
"Motus tumulus amplus!" Harry said to the fat lady, who instantly swung open despite being perturbed from being awoken from her "beauty sleep."
At first glance, Harry couldn't see Hermione anywhere. Looking around once more, Harry saw Hermione's frizzy hair in a corner by an empty chair. Walking over, he couldn't help but overhear her yelling.
"That's right, I'll hex you next time you try that! I told you, I'm saving that chair for someone!" she said, waving her wand threateningly. She looked towards Harry. "Oh, hi Harry. I saved you a seat."
"Thanks, but you didn't have to threaten someone with hexes just for me. I know that goes against your principles."
"Oh, don't worry. Fred and George were way out of line anyway, and I doubt I would have had to hex them had they charmed your chair. I mean honestly, will they want to the new Gryffindor hero into a toad?"
"They were planning what?"
"Don't worry about it! You have other things on your mind, I'm sure."
"Oh, yeah. I didn't enter the Triwizard tournament, you know."
"I never said you did," answered Hermione, clapping the book shut on her lap.
"Then do you believe me?"
"Of course I do. But some other people, well, you'll see."
"What? Everyone seems to want me to come celebrate, and you said it yourself. I'm the Gryffindor hero," said Harry, looking around the room. People were drinking butterbeer and having a lot of fun, it only seemed fit for all of them to wave Harry over to join them in their celebration for his entrance into the tournament.
"Yes, well, to start, they're all Gryffindors. You should have seen all of the other houses when you left. I don't think I've ever seen the Hufflepuffs that mad."
"What, but I didn't do anything?"
"You exist, and in doing so, you somehow came to be in the tournament and now they fear that you'll steal their glory. And the Slytherins and Ravenclaws are just as, if not more, pissed off. I wouldn't be surprised if they become belligerent."
"What?"
"They may even try to attack you now. It's doubtful, but they're quite angry."
"I had no idea," said Harry, shaking his head. "I don't even want to be in this tournament!"
"I know," acknowledged Hermione. "But that isn't the worst of it. Ron has taken this new development as a chance to declare vendetta on us."
"You're kidding."
"I certainly wish I was. Look, here he comes now," said Hermione, looking over Harry's shoulder. Harry looked behind him to see a fuming Ron marching over to him, looking ready to kill.
"Hey, mate," said Harry.
"Don't call me that," said Ron.
"Oh, sorry," said Harry.
"Don't apologize," commented Hermione. "He's your friend, and you should be able to call him that."
"Yeah right, like I'd be friends with such a show-off. Why didn't you even offer to help me enter the tournament? Oh that's right, because you want all the glory for yourself!" spat Ron.
"I did no such thing! Get your facts straight," replied Harry defensively.
"Well, at least a proud, snobby person like you who thinks everyone is below him is better than that fag, Diggory," said Ron. Hermione gasped, and Harry's mouth opened in shock.
"What did you say?" asked Harry.
"You heard me, he's gay. He's a faggot." Harry look hurt beyond all measure.
"Ron, you've stepped over the line!" said Hermione. "Not only are you the most superficial person I've ever known, but you're about as nice as a rampaging dragon!"
"Shut up, Hermione," said Ron, not wanting to her this.
"No!" she cried.
"I think I'm going to go talk to the Beauxabatons girls. At least they appreciate me!" said Ron. Hermione had had it. Ron had gone much too far.
"Inhonestas ulterius!" she said, her wand pointed straight at Ron's face. An ugly vomit green light flew out of her wand and covered Ron's body. Nothing happened. Ron laughed.
But then, an image of triumph flew onto Hermione's face as Ron's nose grew longer, he became lankier, his red hair turned into a dull, disgusting shade of amber, his freckles became wretchedly spotty, he became hunched, his eyes lost their glint of liveliness, his limbs became spindly, and his teeth became crooked and yellow.
Ronald Weasley had become the definition of ugly if Harry had ever seen it. Ron looked at himself and gasped in disgust.
"You'll--you'll pay Hermione!" rasped Ron, his voice now an ugly shadow of its former self. He grasped his throat, searching for his normal voice. He grunted and ran out of the common room.
"I think we all needed you do to do that," said Harry. "Including Ron. Thanks."
"Oh, don't mention it. I don't let anyone insult who my friends are, especially when they do it so unabashedly," answered Hermione, putting her wand away. "Like I said before, it's justice served."
"I-I just didn't expect him to hate what I am," said Harry.
"Well, he wouldn't have said it if he knew. But even so, he's disturbingly homophobic. He'll come around though, I just know he will," said Hermione.
"I hope so."
"He will. Cheer up!"
"Oy, how am I supposed to be cheery after that?"
"I know it's hard, but you have to keep going. What good thing happened to you today?" asked Hermione. Harry had almost forgotten.
"Oh, nothing big. Cedric asked me to go flying with him tomorrow."
"Nothing big! That's what we've been waiting for!"
"Oh, yeah, I guess!"
"You guess? Come on, you should be excited. This is your chance to get to know Cedric. To see if you're just infatuated with him or if you really like him. Too see if he likes you. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"
"It does...it's just, I don't like losing my best friend."
"Don't hurt me for saying this, but if he can't accept you for who you are, he isn't your best friend."
Harry looked up at Hermione, his eyes glistening. He was on the verge of tears.
"He'll come around, don't worry! I know he can be obdurate, but he is capable of change."
"I guess," said Harry, still depressed.
"Comeon, cheer up! You don't want Cedric to see you like this tomorrow, do you?"
"I don't."
"Well then, that's enough dwelling on the past. Let's think ahead. After all, there are much more pressing matters at hand."
"Like what?"
"Oh, we have so much to do! I never anticipated him asking you out this early."
"It's not a date Hermione. But what do you mean, stuff to do?"
"I know, I know, but it's close enough! Let's see, we need to get you cleaned up, get you some nice clothes, but not too nice, I think casual should do, and green, green brings out your eyes. And you may have to practice talking to him, so you're not too nervous..."
"Wow, I guess I never thought there was that much to do. I thought I'd just get my broomstick and go."
"You could do that, but don't you want to do this with finesse?"
"Aren't we being a bit superficial?"
"Superficial would be giving you a complete makeover from head to toe. We're just getting you some clothes and giving you a shower. Not too bad, now?"
"I guess... I mean, I would like to look nice."
"Let's get to work then!" said Hermione, eager to do anything to get Harry's mind off of his Ron's bastardly actions. And as Hermione and Harry searched for the right clothes (which they were having trouble finding), Hermione was satisfied to know that she was, in fact, keeping his mind off of Ron.
Harry was caught up in the moment, looking happy as ever.
I wanna be with you right now, that is all I want.
Keep it going, don't stop, don't you ever let me go...
A/N: Another chapter... I'm just sorry it was shorter than the last few. Ah well, there'll be some really HUGE ones coming soon. I won't split them apart. Just be forewarned, they're big. But for now, we have these nice, short, plot filled chapters. Yay. Well, see you next week! And thanks for the reviews.
I love reviews!