Okay I apologize if I kept you waiting longer than I hoped, but weekends are often busy or slow and it takes a little bit to get my train of thought on track. Also if you've noticed I've gone back and edited some things in the last chapter, just to be clear on that.

Now this one as the title says, there are questions and confrontations here regarding Harry's old/former friends. Dumbledore and Charlotte talk it out, and Snape gets a moment with Harry toward the end but how it goes, you'll just have to read along to find out.

Written by myself and my sister author AnnaBoleyna1536, and we don't own Harry Potter.

Enjoy!

"So you are here, finally deciding to show your cheating face?" Ron snarled at Harry.

"Just what I need too…" Harry groaned and wiped his eyes. "What do you two want?"

"Shouldn't you two be in your common room? It is after hours…" Sirius had on a stern face but the kids weren't looking at him.

"Since you're here you can tell us how you manipulated the goblet, wanting more attention no doubt?" Hermione's eyes were cold and hateful at him, but he couldn't care less.

"Cleary after three years of being friends you don't know me at all, I didn't do anything to that damned goblet so you can stuff it Granger."

"Harry…" Charlotte touched his shoulder.

"Not now mum, why don't you two bugger off and leave me alone? Oh wait…you already did when you said we weren't friends because I happen to be the blood son of Snape."

"Mum? Your mum is dead Potter, who's this woman?" Ron pointed at Charlotte. Harry was close to attacking the bastard with a painful stinging jinx.

"Not really your concern is it Mr. Weasley?" the two Gryffindors paled when they heard the voice of McGonagall behind them. "Five points each for being out after hours, and a week's detention with Filch starting tomorrow."

"Professor we were just…" Hermione started.

"I will hear none of your excuses; you broke the rules so you must face punishment. Now get back to your dorms, or I'll dock more points." the two glared at Harry one more time before they ran back towards the stairs. "Mr. Potter, is it possible we can talk?"

"No." Harry stood. "I'll see you all later, I have to get back." he turned away and made it back to his school's guest suites.

"Harry!" Viktor and the others were there to greet him.

"Guys…"

"Mate we heard, Viktor told us." Gerard stood in front of the crowd. "We know you couldn't have done this, they can't blame you." Harry was a bit surprised, but he was glad more.

"They do anyway…it's fine though."

"But what does it mean for the tournament?" Jean asked.

"It means I don't have to compete unless something happens to Viktor…which puts him in danger." Harry nearly whispered the last bit. "Damn…I need to see the headmaster."

"He's retired for the evening but he said he'll see me and you tomorrow before breakfast." Viktor assured him. "For now I think we should all get some sleep, we've got a lot coming to us soon and we'll need all the strength we can get."

"We'll help Harry, don't worry." Nikolai and Devon patted Harry's back. "If those Hogwarts students give you any trouble then let us know."

"Might be a bit late there guys…"

"Oh?"

"Two of my ex-friends caught me in the corridor, tried to say I cheated my way in. I swear I didn't." the boys all exchanged looks.

"What're their names?"

"Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley, but their head of house set them straight before anything could happen."

"Was your mum with you?"

"Yeah, but don't worry about it. Let's just get some sleep…tomorrow's going to be a hectic day." everyone just agreed and started getting ready. Harry curled up into his bed, and Viktor kissed him before going to his own. He stayed awake for about an hour before he felt tired, but after fighting about his mixed feelings on the tournament he couldn't help but wonder what Charlotte might do next.

Sirius & Remus private rooms:

"Harry will be fine, you know he will." after Harry left to the guest suite with his classmates Charlotte and Sirius left with Remus back to their own rooms.

"I know…I just don't understand how I missed this!" Charlotte was pulling at her hair, how could she have missed a huge loop like this evening?

"Fretting about it won't help Charlotte, I think you need a break." Remus handed her a cup of Earl Grey tea.

"I know…ugh I've got too much on my mind right now."

"We all do, now we need to keep an eye out for Harry and Viktor. Whoever put Harry's name in the cup will likely go after Viktor so he'll have to compete." Sirius sighed and collapsed onto the couch. "This isn't going to be easy…Charlotte do you know for sure if Voldemort will return?"

"I've seen it…and if I had to guess he may return on the night of the final task. I know he's out there, I know it's a graveyard…but I don't know which one there's a lot around this area."

"We'll look into it later, let's just get some sleep because I know that even when Harry starts classes tomorrow Dumbledore is going to try and talk to one of us before he can start with him. Snape too, but as far as I know he might not get the chance."

"I doubt it, I don't know the man but he seems quite adamant and persistent. Doesn't mean he'll scare me off." Charlotte sighed. "Either way boys, until we put the pieces together we're in for a long run."

"Oh bugger."

The next morning:

Harry ate breakfast with his classmates the next day, this time without the glamour on. People were giving him odd looks, plus the evil eye but no one said anything. He knew this wasn't going to be a fun trip, but either way he agreed to come and now he was stuck as was Viktor. He saw Ron and Hermione glaring at him from the Gryffindor table, but Ginny he saw looks of envy, and the twins…they looked like they wanted to say something but didn't think to approach him. He'd have to deal with that.

"You alright Harry?" Viktor whispered to him.

"Yeah." the meeting with Anton had been postponed until later that day, Anton had some last minute business with their ministry to take care of, but both Harry and Viktor knew basically what would be discussed. In the mean time they would stay close to each other, and the others would help.

"Don't let them get to you." Nikolai whispered and glared meanly back at the Gryffindors making their eyes avert elsewhere.

'Just gotta get through this…' Harry spotted Snape staring at him, and he knew the man would try anything to speak to him. Harry wasn't up for more hate and disgust from the man, but if it came to it then fine. Classes weren't until that afternoon, but Harry wanted to get some reading done beforehand.

"Harry…that's your owl." Harry looked up to see Hedwig flying over the students and landed in front of him with a red envelope, but not a howler.

"Who's it from?" Viktor asked.

"My mum." he opened it.

Dumbledore is going to try and talk to you, but if he does make sure you have Anton or your godfathers close. Snape will try later as well…right now I will be speaking with Dumbledore beforehand. Keep your guard up, and if you need me I'll know or you can contact me.

"She's just telling me to watch out." he folded the letter and stuffed in his pocket. "Here girl." he fed Hedwig a treat before she flew off again. Emerald the cat was still in the suite, but Harry left her breakfast and changed her litterbox just before he left. She could get out of the rooms to exercise, but she would no doubt go looking for him.

"We'd best get moving…come on." Harry walked out of the hall with his friends, but forgot to grab his bag and went back for it.

"So you're with the enemy Potter?" as he stepped back out into the hall he heard Ron and spotted him, Hermione, and Ginny in the farther end.

"Enemy? I seem to recall you fawning over Krum in the feast…I believe it was like, 'Blimey it's him, Viktor Krum.', or something to that effect?" he mocked Ron's dreamy voice and the redhead snarled at him.

"Watch it Potter…you're already on the line with your cheating arse."

"Ugh this again? Clearly you don't know me at all, hell I don't care about the tournament I only came because I was invited to. And I'm actually glad we aren't friends anymore, cuz now I know what kind of people you three really are."

"Oh? And what kind are we?" Hermione smirked.

"You Granger are a nosy little wiseass who thinks just because she has brains she can boss people around, like a mother but you're not a mother and with that poor attitude I doubt you'll ever be one….hell you'd be a nightmare for any man out there. Weasley you are a jealous prat and you judge people poorly because of old tales…that alone would be enough to keep anyone away from you. No real friends, no girls, no rewards, and hell you're just lazy and ignorant."

"Why you…!" Ron pulled out his wand but the moment it pointed at Harry several others were pointed at him directly.

"Got a problem here Harry?" Viktor plus Nikolai, Gerard, Devon, and several others all backed up behind Harry with their wands drawn.

"Not really guys, but thanks."

"You're friends with Krum, wait you were that kid in the hall!"

"Yep, and these guys are ten times better friends you were. At least at Durmstrang, we all stick together like brothers."

"Exactly." the guys all agreed.

"So unless you three want to wind up in the infirmary, leave Harry be." Ron didn't seem convinced.

"This isn't over Potter." he grabbed Hermione and Ginny, but Hermione got the last word.

"You will regret this Potter, everyone will know what a cheat and a fraud you truly are soon enough." what she meant by that Harry had no clue, but right now he didn't care because he could easily send a jinx her way if needed.

"Do you want me to curse her?" Nikolai offered. "I can make that bushy hair of hers into a huge fluff."

"And I can make that red haired kid's ears as big as elephant ears?" Gerard laughed.

"Maybe next time guys, let's just get some work done." Oh Harry had every intention of proving those three wrong, but it would have to wait.

Headmaster's office:

"Lady Prewett, I appreciate what you've done for Harry. I admit the boy looks much better since the last time I saw him." Charlotte glared.

"You mean small, scared, pale, thin, bullied and hurt?" Dumbledore grimaced a little.

"Yes, and let me start off by saying that I didn't know the Dursleys had been so awful to him."

"You never bothered to check, but Harry is with me now. I've taken care of him and I've given him a new life. Yes I asked if he wanted to transfer, and his name change was his choice, and he is emancipated so he can decide where he wants to live." that surprised the old man.

"He's taken up his family's lordship?"

"The Potter lordship yes, James left it to him as his heir and Harry has full access to his vault."

"I am surprised, I would assume you would make him your heir…"

"I'm still working on that…but it will be done. Now you listen well, nothing you say or do is going to get me to back down in protecting my son. Harry may be miffed at me now for breaking a promise but it's nothing compared to all the secrets you've kept from him over the years."

"And I regret that, I thought I was helping him but I was wrong. I already told you I have no intention of taking Harry from you, but it's not me you have to worry about."

"Snape won't stand a chance…Harry will say his peace later end of story." Dumbledore knew this was a dead end, Charlotte was stubborn like her father had been and she wouldn't let up.

"Charlotte, why did you run away?" she stared at him. "You left without so much as leaving a note, Molly was overwhelmed with you gone and your cousins missed you."

"I doubt Molly has, seeing as she didn't want me there in the first place."

"That's not true; Molly loved you very much and still does. Every time your name was brought up she would cry."

"She missed my father, not me. How do you explain all the times she ignored me, or just brushed me off when she gave her own children the love and attention? Arthur was hardly around, and while I was lucky enough to have Billy and Charlie to play with it would've been nice to have a mother figure."

"And that's what you're giving Harry?"

"Yes, I've given him everything he should've had growing up and that includes responsibility. He learned that on his own, but at least from me he doesn't have to worry about being beaten or sent to a cupboard with no food for days." twinkling blue eyes closed in regret. "What were you hoping for? A young boy made into a man too soon, to be cut off from his magical heritage by living with muggles who despised anything abnormal?"

"Speaking of which…we have been unable to take the mind block off the Dursleys. You wouldn't happen to have anything to do with that would you?" Charlotte smirked.

"I only had them sign over his guardianship, whatever else happened is beyond me. Harry is happier with me, he has new friends, true friends at that, and he has his godfathers with him. I don't know whatever else he could want, but when it comes to the right time he can make his own choices."

"What about his father?"

"You mean James, the man who loved and died for him despite the fact that Harry wasn't his son? Or the death eater who threw him away the minute he found out by accident?" Dumbledore sighed.

"Severus had been out of his mind trying to find the boy, even when I put him on probation. He kept asking if we had any leads, and during the summer he tried getting some help but all leads came up dead. He wants a chance to make it up to Harry."

"He lost his chance when Harry tried to die, he doesn't deserve a boy like him for a son. I don't even know why you keep him around, he's a monster to the students other than his Slytherins and I know that from my visions."

"All house heads play favorites; even I did when I was head of Gryffindor once."

"Favoritism only goes so far, Snape is just a bully. Now I have to go, and I'm going to return before dinner and I will be staying in the castle near Harry to watch over him. Also keep in mind that if anything happens to him here, I can summon my Minister in just a simple floo call." she leaned in close to say this.

"Yes I heard you are going to become his undersecretary…you've done well for yourself."

"I worked for it all, I didn't use my name or blood to make it this far. That's the problem with many of the wizards and witches on this side, they think names and blood can get them what they want but all it's going to do is annoy people. At the very least Bill and Charlie have become such hard workers, still with good hearts and the twins will do well also once they make enough money."

"You forget Percy has done well as well, he's been head boy and prefect and he makes excellent grades."

"But he's too uptight and foolish; all that will do is cut ties with his family and make him a self-righteous little prick."

"Must you be so crude?"

"Yes." Charlotte began to walk towards the doors. "I have to leave, and I know this won't be the last of our talks. Keep in mind that even if Harry did forgive you, you can never forget what happened to him because of your own poor choices." with that said Charlotte left the room, but as she made her way down the spiral staircase she was stopped by Snape.

"You." his eyes were hard.

"Me, you can go see your dear headmaster I'm done with him for the day." she moved to get past him but he grabbed her arm. "Let go."

"What have you done to my son?" he growled at her and she yanked her arm back.

"I've been a mother to him, a better guardian than you could ever be."

"You have corrupted him, he won't speak to me."

"Uh no, Harry has made all the choices this far on his own. For not speaking to you, you only have yourself to blame and you know it."

"You are going to let me see him; I have to talk to him."

"He won't be so open, and I doubt the other boys will let you get close."

"I made a mistake, I have to make amends! You are going to let me talk to him, if you don't I will take you to court and I will gain custody of MY son!" Charlotte didn't budge, she just glared.

"You know I can see the outcome if you do, I am a seer after all. Yes you could take me to court and you could say you didn't know he was your son; you could likely get the Ministry on your side and get temporary custody until Harry speaks his own words. He is an emancipated minor, and he has taken the lordship of House of Potter." Snape's eyes widened. "He can choose who he wants to live with, and if not me then his godfathers both of whom can testify he wouldn't want to be in your home. Even if you did gain custody your relationship would be strained after all you've done."

"You know nothing about me."

"I know that you're a jerk, and a git, and I also know you have your mind stuck so far in the past you can't see what's right in front of you. I am not naïve Snape, I know how you treated my cousins when they were your students, how you belittled them just because they were Gryffindors. You're nothing but a cold-hearted bully just like James, Sirius, Remus, and Pettigrew were to you in your school years."

"I am nothing like them!" Charlotte smirked.

"You're right you're not, James Potter was better. I think if he lived he would've grown up unlike you, and do you know why?" Snape said nothing. "Then you'll have to figure it out yourself. I will say this though, if you want to speak to Harry then I'll gladly give you a few minutes to do so, but what he says to you has nothing to do with me."

"He's my son…" his shoulders slumped slightly.

"Only in blood and from what I know…blood means nothing." she hissed in his face and left. Charlotte knew the man wouldn't give up until he spoke to Harry, and she wouldn't have a choice but to let him because a court case wasn't going to be good on the child.

Later that day:

During a free break in between Charms and Dark Arts homework Harry decided to take a walk by the lake. His friends were close by, but Viktor had been called up by Anton for a moment after getting a letter from his parents. He and Viktor would be seeing Anton soon enough, but until then Harry was just trying to unwind a little.

"Mm." he laid down against a rock and watched the surface of the Black Lake. It wasn't too cold today, but still enough to wear his lighter parka coat.

"Harry." Harry turned around to see Charlotte coming up to him. "Still mad at me?"

"A bit, what's up?"

"Can I sit?" he patted a spot next to him. "I had a run in with Snape today." Harry glared.

"What did he want now?"

"What else, to talk to you."

"Well I don't want to talk to him." he turned back to the lake.

"I know, but he's not going to let up honey. He's threatened to take us to court if I refuse to let him speak with you."

"Court? But he doesn't have a case…"

"No, but he could drawl it out and end up getting temporary custody until you speak. Also…he's back there." Charlotte pointed to a tree about thirty feet away, where Harry spotted Snape's dark shadow.

"He followed you here….dammit, might as well then." Harry stood up.

"Want me close?"

"Yeah, but let me do the talking this time?" Charlotte nodded and followed after him but she stopped about ten feet away. "What do you want?"

"To talk."

"Then talk, I don't have all day and you're already taking up my break." Harry was surprised the man didn't scold him on his 'language'.

"I'm sorry for what I said…I was upset but not at you. The words weren't meant to…"

"Meant to what? Hurt me? Belittle me? Degrade me? Cut down my heart at the one chance I thought I had to have a family?"

"I didn't mean them at all…I was just angry because your mother didn't tell me…"

"She might've if she lived…and so would've James." Snape's eyes hardened a bit. "Don't you start about my dad, he was a good man whether you'd want to believe it or not."

"What do you mean?"

"Sirius and Remus told me about how they bullied you, but unlike you they grew up. Yeah I know that when Remus attacked you on a full moon Sirius 'goaded' you to find out what the whomping willow was hiding and you almost got killed. You thought Remus was in on it, but he wasn't and James saved your neck."

"James Potter was an arrogant fool…"

"He was a teenager just like you, and as I recall teens always do dumb things. You keep blaming people for your misery, and you threaten them when they corner you; like threatening my mum with court?"

"She's not your mother…" Snape growled.

"Lily was my blood mother; Charlotte is my adopted mother so yeah she is. You aren't going to take me away from her, because I would rather rot than be your son." Severus' eyes widened and Harry saw the sadness.

"You would…I want to make things right."

"You lost that chance when you told me you would never want me as a son. Angry at me or no you can't take back what you said, because I'll never forget it. My mum may have had an affair with you, but she didn't love you and James Potter was a better man than you." Harry figured he may as well tell him. "Reasons being…he knew I wasn't his son." Snape's eyes widened.

"What?"

"He knew I wasn't his, but he loved me anyway. He had a condition that made him sterile, so when mum got pregnant he was just glad he would have a child. He planned on telling you if he lived, but he never got the chance. I know that he was partially responsible for breaking up your friendship with my mum, but you were guilty too."

"I…" Snape was at a loss for words; Harry could almost feel sorry for him.

"You already told me the truth; you didn't want me so congratulations you won't get me. I don't want you in my life, you called me a spoiled little whelp desperate for attention, only because you were getting back at a dead man I never knew. Good day." Harry turned around and walked back towards Charlotte, but as they both walked away they missed the look of pure anguish on Snape's face.

Well we got most of the confrontations done, but there will be more in future chapters. I know you probably wanted more against Ron and Hermione, but why do that right away when we can build up later?

Harry has said his peace on Severus, but is this the end of their talks or is Snape going to continue being involved even if it's just to watch over Harry? Viktor and Harry will figure out plans when the first task comes, but who's going to make it out? Harry's friends are behind him and Viktor, but what else lies ahead?

Next chapter we bring in the other Weasleys, or at least reveal Charlotte's last name and can you imagine the expressions on Ron and Ginny once they find out Harry is their adopted cousin? How is Charlotte going to act around her three least favorite cousins and Molly? Also the first interview with Skeeter towards the end, but you might expect some sparks from Harry before she starts spreading lies in the paper.

R&R

Later!