Over the next couple of weeks, Harry established a nice rhythm. He would study and do his homework in the mornings, practice with Viktor and Professor Selwyn in the afternoons, and then reading in the evenings. Besides the occasional quidditch match, the duelling club, and meals Harry was practising in some form for the task. Duelling club had been going well, and every week he was assigned to a different age group. He found the Hogwarts second years to be his favourite, they weren't as new as the first, and yet they had not had time to establish bad habits. Also, he had met Daphne's little sister Astoria. Astoria was quite bubbly and charming, she constantly brought out laughter. Due to that Harry had begun to spend more time with Daphne at meals. And, he found that he enjoyed spending time with her. Not only was she drop dead gorgeous, with her long blond hair and piercing blue eyes, but she was easily one of the smartest people Harry had met. She had been particularly interested when Harry mentioned he was taking a class on rituals. It appeared she knew a couple family ones, and had always found them to be interesting. This spurned the conversation into the theoretical, and then into anything and everything. Over the weeks Harry could safely say he had indeed made a true friend.

One of the more awkward times before the task was when Sirius Black finally introduced himself. It was the Friday after the selection, and Harry had just finished having lunch with the Slytherins. As Harry was making his way down the hill towards the ship a voice called out.

"Hey Harold, wait a moment," turning Harry saw the senior auror chasing after him. Once he arrived he was quiet for a second before starting, "So, umm, Hi! I am your Uncle!"

Harry couldn't help but raise his eyebrow, "Yes, and I am your nephew. How do you do, sir?"

"Oh, you can call me Sirius. I was just wondering if you had a moment to chat?"

Harry looked around. He knew that there was still time before meeting with Viktor and Professor Selwyn, so he nodded his ascent. "That is fine, I have some time before my training for the afternoon. And, you may call me Harry if you wish." At that Sirius seemed almost taken aback for a moment, then nodded. They made their way over to a nearby tree and sat down.

"So, I hear that your mom passed away from Dragon Pox. I am sorry."

"Not your fault, and I was young. Aunt Dorea helped me through it."

"Still. I should have been there for you. Can I ask why your mom went to Dorea? Why didn't she go to my mother or one of my grandfathers?"

"Oh, well your mother was dead I believe, mom got sick in 88. And, she felt that I would be better off with Aunt Dorea. I mean her and Uncle Charlus were not as involved in the war, and so seemed the most stable choice. What's the point of leaving me with a person who may end up being arrested or dying?"

"Hmm, I guess. Well, I heard that you are an amazing duelist. Managed to hold off old Mad Eye for bit even. That is quite the accomplishment. I know many aurors who could not do as well." The conversation continued, becoming easier for both of us on the shared interest. Eventually though, it drifted to Harry's time at Hogwarts. "So, make any friends here yet? I still find it slightly odd that Dorea sent you to Durmstrang, but how are you liking Hogwarts?"

"It is alright, I find the structure of the classes and even those offered very limiting. As for friends, well Daphne is definitely one-"

"Oh Daphne is it? A hit with the ladies, nice. Daphne? What is her family name?"

"Greengrass, I believe," that seemed to deflate Sirius' excitement a bit, "and, for other friends; well I guess there is Draco and Blaise. Tracey is nice, too. There are a few others, but those are the main ones." Sirius' face went from slightly happy to concerned by the time Harry finished.

"Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini?" Harry nodded, "You can't hang around them. They're dark, especially Malfoy! His father should be in Azkaban, but he bought his way out, No! You are forbidden from seeing them. You should hang out with Henry, and some other Gryffindors!"

"Excuse me? For one thing you have absolutely no right to tell me who I can spend my time with, or any other aspect of my life. I remind you, Auror Black, that you were unaware of my existence until a week ago. Now as to them being dark, I really couldn't care. So long as they do not do anything illegal, it is not any of my business."

"Lucius Malfoy was a Death Eater! He killed and tortured dozens of people!"

"But, not Draco. Or Blaise. Both were only a year old at the end of the war."

"They are blood-purists!"

"I have gotten that impression yes. However, they have not said anything in front of me. I don't stand for bigotry, and they would know it if they said anything. However, they have not said or done anything where they have let the personal beliefs impact their decorum in my time with them, Something that I can not say about your godson and his little friends. You want to know why I do not "hang out with them" is because they are just as bigoted and have been extremely rude. The first time I met them they ran into me and they called me a dark wizard! Next time they insulted not only myself but my classmates as being dark lords. One of those classmates, her grandfather died personally duelling Grindelwald. So, if you want to talk about bigots, maybe you should look to your own house first!"

"That was a misunderstanding! The Potters are a good family! They are different from the Malfoys and the Blacks!"

"Oh really? What is it that the Blacks did with squib children?"

"They abandoned them! They were removed from the family!"

"And how is that different from the Potters? Aunt Dorea told me about Henry's twin. Pray do tell what happened to the squip son? What did they do to him? Because I have seen no reference to him for the past 13 years. So from my perspective there is little difference. Now good day Auror Black, and please do not speak to me again!" With that Harry pushed past the shocked man, and made his way down to the Skithblathnir. Since that conversation Black had stayed away. Occasionally he would pass him the halls and attempt to speak, but Harry would just ignore him and move away as quickly as possible.

The other auror was much better. Tonks had also become someone Harry could see as a good friend. She was light, funny, and mischievous. She must have known Harry was not speaking with her partner, but never asked what had occurred between the two, which Harry greatly appreciated.

One afternoon while training, Harry was summoned to meet with the Highmaster. Upon entering he found Viktor there as well, which meant the meeting was about the Tournament. "Come Black. It is time for the Weighing of the Wands."

This was not something that Harry was familiar with, "Weighing of the Wands? Sir, what is that?"

"A simple ceremony where the wands are examined by an expert to make sure they are in working condition. There will also be a reporter; the British Ministry wishes to use the tournament to show their vitality and thus has sought the use of a local one." Soon the group made their way to a classroom, upon entering Harry found that they were the last group to arrive. Present were not only the other champions and their respective school leaders, but Mr. Ollivander, a blond woman in very bright robes, a cameraman, and the ministry men.

The jolly man, Bagman quickly addressed the group, "Ah right, time to begin, when you are called up, hand Ollivander your wand. Simple!" The man seemed quite chuffed with himself for doing so little, and moved out of the way.

First up was Fleur, whose wand contained a hair from her grandmother, who was a full blooded Veela, then Cedric with his ash and unicorn hair, then Viktor with his Hornbeam and dragon heartstring, then des Cartes was up who had an ash and thunderbird feather. With Henry's turn, Ollivander looked at the wand in detail and for longer than the others.

"Ah, 11", Holly and Phoenix feather. Ah yes, taking care of it?"

"Umm...I try to sir." From Henry's response Harry got the feeling that the wand was not well kept. Like the others, Ollivander cast spells, this time conjuring birds. Harry wondered if the others were amazed as much as he was, this man cast all the spells silently and with no wand movement. All with someone else's wand, too. Ollivander was a very talented and skilled wizard, there could be no doubt of that. Finally it was Harry's turn. Approaching he handed the wand over.

"Ah, the young Mr. Black again. I hope you have been taking care of it."

"Yes, sir." Harry handed it over. Ollivander began examining it. He seemed to be taking more time with it than he had with the others, even Henry's.

"Yes, yes. Blackthorn with Thestral Hair. I have often wondered how my father made some of these last ones. The skill and craftsmanship is just exquisite. Do tell, how is your aunt?"

"She is doing well, sir. We spent some time in Bavaria this last Summer."

"Good. I tell you she is a remarkable woman, why I remember this one time in fifth year -" Whatever anecdote Ollivander was about to go into was cut short by the reporter coughing. Ollivander's eyes snapped to the woman, "Ms. Skeeter 10", Chestnut with a Dragon Heartstring. You may wish to see a healer about your throat," The reporter nodded, and Ollivander turned back to Harry. He quickly used it to transfigure a quill into a miniature owl and back. An, "Excellent condition," and he was handing it back to Harry.

Harry moved back and was about to leave when the reporter shouted, "Picture time!" She quickly manoeuvred everyone a group picture. The different school champions were grouped with each other with Fleur and Jacques in the centre and the younger members slightly in front of the older ones. Once the picture was taken it was decided that individual ones would be taken while Skeeter interviewed the champions one on one. She of course started with the-Boy-Who-Lived and dragged him to a side room. The individual pictures did not take long and it soon left the other five champions standing there. It was an awkward silence until Dumbledore started talking about some candy. That seemed to break the tension and smaller conversations began. Harry found himself talking to Jacques about a small town in southern France that they had both visited.

After several minutes Henry threw the side room's door open and stormed out. Skeeter soon followed and smiled asking for Viktor this time. Several minutes later he too came out, looking slightly annoyed, but nowhere near Potter's frustration. As Fleur took her turn, Viktor walked over and spoke to Harry.

"Be careful, that is one of the worst reporters I have ever met. If she starts getting annoyed, tell her she must speak to the Highmaster." With that advice he too left the room. After Fleur, it was Cedric, then it was Harry's turn.

"Ah, Mr. Black please come this way." Going into the side room Harry found a little table with two chairs on each side. Sitting in the one closest to the door he waited for her to take her seat. "You do not mind if I use a quick quill now do you?" She obviously had not expected any problem as she had gotten the little thing out right away.

"Yes." She seemed startled for a moment, then sent a questioning look. "I do indeed mind if you use a quick quill."

"Now come, Ha-"

"Mr. Black." While Harry did not read the Daily Prophet, he knew enough not to let Rita Skeeter have control of the interview, and to let her have a close familiarity with him.

"I… Alright then." She quickly took the spelled quill away and took out a standard one. "So, Mr. Black, how are you feeling about the Tournament? Are you excited? As I understand it you were chosen only after Henry's name came out as well. How do you feel about that?"

"I am excited in my chance to represent my school in the tournament." Skeeter seemed to be waiting for Harry to continue after a moment, she prodded him a little more.

"And, what about Henry? Your opinion? How do you feel that you have to face the-Boy-Who-Lived?"

"I have no opinion about Henry Potter, and know little of his skills. Now, excuse me, but I must be off to my classes. If you have any additional questions please speak with Highmaster Kirillovich to arrange possible future meetings." Harry quickly got up and left the room. He would not be caught speculating about Potter, it would do know good, and just cause gossip. Harry proceeded down to the ship to continue his training.