Hello everyone,

This is my first complete fanfiction. Its completely edited and hopefully you can all read it easily enough. As I was going through I found so many mistakes I apologise profusely for everyone who got on at me for my spelling, punctuation and grammar though I did warn you!

This work is completely fictious and all characters and names etc belong to one JK Rowling.

Hope you enjoy.

The simple things in life were the best, it could work the other way round of course the best things in life are also the simplest. Harry Potter mused. I'm not used to the best in life or the simplest and it's been proven for the millionth time by the situation of the last week; the boy himself thought as he rested his head back against the large oak that sat by the lake outside of Hogwarts. Since his name came out of the goblet, he had spent most of his time down here or the library trying to avoid the talk behind his back and the general hostility of the school that he considered his first real home.

Flashback

"Harry Potter"

Harry had started in surprise and immediately looked over to Hermione and Ron, what was on their faces told him how they felt. Ron, his best mate for almost four years was looking at him practically green with envy, hate and betrayal sparked from his eyes. Even when he'd made seeker, he hadn't looked at him like that, not when people had thought him to be the heir of Slytherin and killer of muggleborns. The emotions practically sparking from his gaze had him turning to Hermione desperately hoping that she would at least have a glimmer of trust or disbelief in them. Nothing. Only disappointment was present in her gaze. She'd never looked at him like that, not when he would get a T on his potions essay's or get in another fight with Malfoy, the utter blankness of her gaze tore him. They'd watched silently just like everyone else as Headmaster Dumbledore had called his name again and again until he had finally risen, the jeers and calls had started about half-way down the aisle. Calls of cheat, brat, used to getting his own way etc. The Hufflepuff's had been the ones to start but as soon as the Gryffindors joined in then the other two tables came to life. He had walked alone into the chamber refusing to meet anyone's eye and had stayed huddled in the corner while those around him had decided his decisions for him and hadn't listened when he stated his innocence.

Flashback ended

He had gone through the motions ever since, when he had returned to the common room that night everyone, not one single person had believed him they all looked the same way at him and all demanded in loud voices to tell them how he had cheated his way in. Ron had been his biggest objector and had held nothing back from spitting at his former friend to outright yelling insults to his face when Harry continuously said he didn't do it. The rest of the Weasleys had been just as bad with the twins pranks turning outright scary and violent, only yesterday had they charmed him to trip at random intervals and it was only sheer luck that he'd caught the staircase in time before falling down the flight. Ginny had changed from the blushing, shy red head to the flushing, angry red head and was heard telling her friends that he would never be allowed in their house again, that he was entirely too stupid, the Boy-Who-Lived would never be such a coward and she couldn't believe she'd ever liked him. Hermione had taken to simply ignoring him, after trying to convince her of his innocence she had merely shaken her head and said "just another way for you to get attention isn't it." Even Peeves seemed to be making more of an effort to disrupt his life, with dungbombs and water balloons being thrown almost daily now, the Poltergeist also seemed eager to steal his belongings. Neville had been the only one who had tried to speak up for him, but the shy boy had quickly shrunk under all the attention and had stayed quiet, though it was only thanks to him that Harry wasn't thrown out of the tower on the first night.

That had been a week ago and since then he had re-entered hell. Shoves in the corridor in plain view of the teachers who of course did nothing as they also didn't care, Snape had been worse than ever, snide jabs about his fame, his parents and his work. This naturally encouraged the others to participate in berating him. After the first three days he had simply ceased going to all lessons except DADA after all no one was going to go against Moody. Even Professor McGonagall, his own head of house refused to believe him and when he went the first time with complaints and she'd scolded him for making up for stories he hadn't gone to her again, Herbology was the most terrible though with Professor Sprout outright glaring at him and even when Ernie and Justin had set a baby venomous tentacula on him she'd only rolled her eyes and half-heartedly came to his rescue and by that point he was bleeding heavily. Madam Pomfrey had clucked her tongue sympathetically at him but with the increase of students suddenly in her care there wasn't much she could do except heal the worse ones and tell him to be careful especially when Harry refused to name the perpetrators. I just want it to all be over he had thought morosely. I mean is there really any point any more.

He had avoided her he couldn't bear it if she also believed the worst of, a part of him believed she wouldn't, but another part caused him to cringe in fear of what she might say. He should have known he couldn't hide for long.

"Harry."

He flinched but turned his head to look up at the beauty who was Daphne Greengrass.

He looked tired. That was the first thing she noticed. He had large black bags under his eyes and his skin was paler than it was before. She wasn't sure when he had become Harry instead of Potter. It may have been when he had stood up to Draco and his goons whilst protecting her sister Astoria last year, or when she had failed to find a quill in her bag one Charms lesson and he had handed one to her with a grin 2 years ago. Whenever it had happened, she hadn't been able to stop, the lion had wormed his way through the Slytherins Ice Queen's heart. She had hoped he would come to her on his own but after the storm of hate from everyone over the past week she supposed she could understand why he had been reluctant when his closest friends had deserted him.

"You've been avoiding me."

She sat next to him and he turned away to stare over the lake, he had been doing his best to avoid her and everyone else too, he knew it couldn't last long. He wasn't even sure when they had started becoming friends until one day, he found himself wanting to talk to her, to see her, have her opinion and just to talk. And now she was sitting with him when all he wanted was to break apart and staring at him with eyes that held no pity or hate but concern and care. He tried to move his mouth into forming words but after opening and closing it a few times he gave up and stayed silent, what could he say? What was there to say? His companion signed and tucked herself closer to him.

"Harry, talk to me."

Harry turned to look at her and she caught the glimpses of fear and stress before his gaze cut away and moved back over the lake.

"I just..I don't even…" He let out a sigh as his head dropped down and he couldn't help wondering why she was still there.

"Harry, please." There was a soft note of reassurance and pleading in her voice and it was then the words came tumbling out.

"What do you want me to say, Daph? That I'm sick of it all? That I'm handling it? I'm clearly not! I thought this year would be different. I actually thought for one moment when it was Cedric's name that came out that finafuckinly I would catch a break, that it wasn't me. I got no warning, no help and no one here is fucking listening! Dumbledore is useless, my own head of house is turning a blind eye and my supposedly best friends think that I really am just an attention seeking, cheating bastard who doesn't care about anyone but himself."

Daphne's hand found his and he gripped it hard feeling her nails digging back as though proving she was still here.

"I'm scared Daph, I'm terrified of what is to come and I can't…I can't even pretend otherwise…I'm so scared that I can't make it through, I'm alone…again, I can't even see the end of it all, you know. I just don't know if I can do it this year, I can't go through it again. In second year, I at least had Ron and Hermione but now its like nothing and and I can't."

For a moment all was still, as though the world was holding its breath waiting to see if another would turn against him.

Suddenly her nails bug even deeper in his palm and he recoiled from her turning in shock finding her still staring at him, fire blazing in her eyes.

"Harry I am still here, only a fool could see otherwise. And before you even think otherwise of course you're innocent! Anyone with half a brain can see you weren't happy with it on Halloween and you're not happy about it now. Dumbledore has never had your best interests at heart, we both know that. McGonagall is just a lackey, she follows orders and if something makes her uncomfortable she turns away from it. Weasley and Granger…I don't know; he's always wanted the limelight, Harry. He will always want to be you and Granger, well she has too much respect for authority, if they think something then it must be true."

She took his face in her hands.

"I am here, and I am terrified for you and we can work through this, we can practise and research and you can break apart and I will hold you just like you've held me, okay? We will get through this."

He broke. And Daphne held him. They stayed there as the sun turned the grounds gold, red and purple. The colours darkened and the shadows lengthened and still the two stayed until the moon rose above the forbidden forest and the stars came out.

It was only when Daphne started to shiver that they rose from their curled positions around each other that offered warmth and comfort, Daphne slid her hand around his and though he flinched slightly he tightened the grip as he avoided her gaze and together, hand in hand in a silence that no longer felt too still or too empty but with a careful hope present they headed up to the castle.

"Daphne what do you want to do?" His voice was loaded with doubt and concern for her, he knew it wouldn't be easy in the Snake pit and he certainly didn't want to be the cause of any pain for her.

She looked at him for a moment and then smirked.

"I can handle Malfoy and anyone else from the Slytherin end. I will not be shamed into moving from your side, I'm perfectly comfortable where I am thank you very much."

Harry squeezed her hand and smiled happily, his fears evaporating.

"Do you want me to walk you back to the snake pit?"

"Trying to procrastinate?"

"You have no idea."

Daphne laughed, the sound washing over Harry and causing his eyes to spark. She tugged on his hand and they started to wander down to the dungeons together, chatting about nonsense things and making remarks about the portraits they were walking past. They stopped round the corner from the common room.

"Okay, I will see you at breakfast, please don't kill anyone before then and stay safe."

She reached up and kissed his cheek before backing away.

"I'll be good." He said with a smile

He watched as she turned the corner and left to, feeling indifferent rather than hurt at the Ravenclaw who scowled at him as he passed. As he nearer the Gryffindor common room however the feeling of dread returned to his gut and he couldn't help the nausea that rose as he stood in front of the Fat Lady. She looked down on him sympathetically as he came to a standstill.

"Be careful in there, young man, there's a lot of them."

"Thank you, my lady. Leo Fortis"

"Chin up, it'll get better soon." And as the portrait swung open Harry held onto the thought of Daphne's open and honest gaze, the determination in her face and her belief in him. Squaring his shoulder's, he walked through and immediately registered how quiet it had become, instead of scurrying through with his head bowed as he had before he now stood tall and walked confidently through to the stairs. He was not the one at fault he reminded himself. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the red headed twins shoot a spell at his feet but finally he'd had enough and quickly jumped over it nimbly as well as shooting a silent Expelliarmus at them – their wands spun out of their hands and landed a few feet away before casting a Protego around himself.

Climbing one of the stairs he turned to look out over the common room decked in red and gold. Most of those there were glaring at him or just staring blankly but none made a move as the twins were staring from their hands to their wands to Harry and back, shaking his head in disappointment he turned back and carried on to his room. Ron and Dean quickly shut up as he entered but the red head in all his intelligence started up again quite soon.

"I agree, there's no way Potter is smart enough to have discovered a way in he must have had some outside help. I mean the guy is so pathetic its a wonder I've actually stayed friends with him so long."

Harry did nothing but quietly got ready for bed and shut his curtains with a snap, the pain that usually accompanied the words wasn't quite a strong as it had been earlier. Seeing that the object of his ire wasn't reacting at all Ron stormed downstairs to rant to those that would listen and agree with him not noticing that Neville was looking at the closed curtains with a mix of longing, fear and confusion on his face.

Inside the warmth of his bed Harry unfolded Sirius's letter that had arrived a few days ago, he'd kept it on his person since, needing the proof that someone had believed him. The sight of his godfathers curling scrawl made another weak smile appear on his face.

Prongslet,

Of course you didn't do it, this was supposed to be the first normal year for you and don't worry I know you're not stupid enough to enter a tournament nor want the extra attention. You should check out '100 facts on Magical contracts and their loopholes' by Casper Wallace and if there's nothing there you've also got 'Magical Tournaments and Tasks' by Toberius Huntington, they might help you prepare. If you need anything else let me know, and I might be able to send some more helpful books to you in time.

As for me, I'm doing well, I made my way out of England just fine with a little help and I'm now nice and comfortable. I have obviously got plans to come back to England but need to do some bits and bobs here so don't worry I'm not on my way to raise hell for the idiots.

On other news, Moony is freaking out about whether or not he should write to you. Apparently, he's been trying for years to visit but Dumbledore has refused to let him for various reasons including that your aunt and uncle wouldn't like it? And then last year he was just being ball-less because he didn't know how to start or something like that. Anyway he wants to but he's also hella busy trying to find work now that his furry little problem is out and about so yeah his whining is starting to raise my hackles but he is wanting to get in contact so don't consider him a lost cause.

Stay safe and remember you've got people. Oh and I know you have the map so please explore it! We had so many good adventures and it would do you good to remember different certain passageways maybe memorise rooms…like the kitchen…

Love ya kiddo

Snuffles

He had retrieved the books from the library under the watchful and more than slightly suspicious gaze of Madam Pince, the first hadn't be too helpful as it was mostly about writing them but it gave Harry more of an idea of what he was 'bound' to do, the second gave him clues of what tournaments had been like in the past and what the tasks could be. He'd also started to thoroughly keep an eye on the map especially after last year with Pettigrew and had found the kitchen where an ecstatic Dobby had greeted him, apparently the little elf had managed to find work there and was even getting paid. The knowledge that he had an adult figure who not only believed in him but was also helping him, gave him more hope. He was glad Remus had at least tried and though he could have done more last year Harry did understand the fear of rejection very well, still knowing that he had another person who believed in him was nice and as he settled down to sleep, he decided to make sure they all knew how much he appreciated it.