HHH

Of course, even after the tournament nothing really changed for Harry. Not at Hogwarts at least. The students never stopped their consistent bullying of him not that he had really expected differently. Still, he couldn't help but remember the thrill of having been part of something, even just for a day. It let him better ignore the pain from there cool jibes or the loneliness that had become part of his everyday life. It didn't stop it from hurting entirely though, returning to Hogwarts was still a harsh reminder to him that nothing had really changed. He was still the Hogwarts loser no one wanted to be friends with, no one cared about, and it hit him hard. Not even the thrill of dueling could take away that hard truth.

However, something did change as now, after seeing him at the competition, Adrian had an interest in the first-year duelist. He thought that he was an enigma. How could someone who lit up so strongly on the field be so meek and mild everywhere else. It did not make sense to him, until he saw it. He watched for two weeks straight following the competition and quickly concluded that he knew why the student was not the one he saw on the dueling platform.

What he saw in those weeks was no one ever joining him in the library or lunch. He was always alone. A few times he saw other students approach him before he realized that their intentions were far from pure. Usually ending with him being tossed to the ground, his things ripped, or a number of cruel words tossed his way. All the younger duelist did was look down at his feet and flinch away, pick himself back up and gather his things before continuing as if nothing happened.

He honestly didn't blame the kid for shying from touch since he watched as he was slammed into walls, shoved, smacked, kicked, hexed all for merely being there. Quick tongues were worse than sharp strikes in Adrian's opinion and it was clear that Hogwarts had no lacking of people who were willing to turn their words on the first year.

Adrian watched as his homework was destroyed. When people slammed into him and demanded apologies as if Harry was the one in the wrong. Even though it had been their fault, Harry gave what they wanted, apologizing despite doing absolutely nothing wrong. Never raising his hand or his wand in defense of himself.

It pissed off the Slytherin. The boy was capable of better. Finally, having enough he approached the first year who was picking up all the books that had been tossed onto the ground. Before even seeing who it was he flinched away apologizing softly as if he had done something wrong. What that could have been Adrian didn't know. It was quite likely the boy was just so use to apologizing he did it on reflex now.

Adrian chose to confront him, wanting answers about how the boy could just stand back and let them treat him so horribly when he could easily do something about it. "You kicked ass in dueling, both magic and Staff, you stood in front of a crowd of over 100 people and owned the stage, never flinched as soon as your feet hit the arena," Adrian said causing Harry to glance up. "Why the fuck do you put up with it."

"I...I... well...I..." It was clear that Harry had no idea what to say.

"Potter, you just take it, why," Adrian demanded. Harry looked down at his feet shifting awkwardly. "Look at me when I'm talking to you Potter. Not at your feet at me." Adrian hated people cowering in front of him and the first year had earned his respect. He of all people should not cower.

Harry looked up at the older student shaking slightly not knowing what he was doing wrong. "W-w-what do you w-want me to say?"

"I want an answer to where the hell did the kid who faced me in the dueling arena go," Adrian returned. "The kid with so much potential he ranked 2nd and fourth and got a third rank over all in his first competition. Why let them walk over you?"

"Lets not fair," he whispered. He didn't just let them walk over him. He didn't get a choice in the matter. They did what they wanted.

"Can't hear you Potter, speak the hell up," Adrian returned coldly and even a little cruelly causing the first year to flinch away. He didn't feel bad about it. He was a Slytherin, they weren't known for their kindness and he couldn't stand how weak the boy looked. He was better then that.

"W-what do you want me to say," Harry asked not sure how he could make the other boy happy. He was angry at something and Harry just didn't understand.

"I want to know why you let them walk all over you," Adrian returned.

"I don't have a choice," Harry said angrily. As he picked up the last of his books. Even in his anger, his voice was surprisingly quiet. "Do you think I like being slammed into walls till I'm black and blue or dodging stinging hexes and punches everywhere I go. Do you think I want to have to explain a dozen times a week I don't have my homework done or having them hex all the dishes at dinner to run away so I can't eat? I don't want this."

At least now he was fighting back some but his answer wasn't approved by the Slytherin. "Then why don't you fight back? You are talented enough."

"I tried," Harry said desperately. "But it made it worse. Everything I do makes it worse. From the moment I walked into Hogwarts everyone hated me. If I answer a question right in class I am a know it all, if I get it wrong I'm an idiot who doesn't belong in Ravenclaw. Everything I try turns out wrong. If I fight back it becomes a challenge. They beat me up twice as badly, twice as long. If I don't fight back, a couple bruises, some mocking words, they get bored and walk away."

"You owned the arena," Adrian protested.

"A duel isn't the real world," Harry said wishing it was as he was so much happier dueling then being at school. It was the only place he truly felt happy, but a duel and a fight were not the same thing. "It is not the same. One on one. A fair fight when all that matters is who is more capable, who is quicker, stronger, who knows more spells. It's about the magic, the fight but its not the same as here. Here I'm outnumbered, usually by people who know more magic then me, twice my size and I have no chance. Just...The boy in the dueling platform is someone else. Someone who's not me." He walked off not saying anything else. There truly wasn't anything else he could really say.

Adrian just watched him go wondering how he was so broken he didn't have a lick of fight left in him. Over the next few days, he continued watching the boy, seeing just how bad the abuse from other students were. On more than one occasion he witnessed him slip into Flitwick's classroom to receive quick healing from injuries he shouldn't have had. Flitwick would just shake his head, give him a sad smile and ask who it was this time.

It wasn't just his housemates, or the Slytherins or Gryffindor's but all of them together who went out of their way to give him a hard time. It was well past the point of bullying, even past the point of abuse. it was torture.

Finally, Adrian had enough when he saw a group of students surrounding him, shoving him back and forth as he asked them to please stop. "No, we don't want to Freak," Draco Malfoy returned. "Why doesn't the pathetic little Ravenclaw make us."

Adrian stepped forward, tired of standing back and allowing it, it was dishonorable to fight as they were, "Or I can," Adrian returned causing him to jump in surprise. Adrian shoved two first years out of the way. "Leave him alone, Potters cool." He offered Harry a hand and Harry took it hesitantly getting pulled to his feet.

"Him, cool," Draco Malfoy demanded shocked that anyone would defend pathetic Potter least of all a Slytherin, "He's a freak."

"Yes him," Adrian returned coldly refusing to be challenged by a first year, even if he was a Malfoy, "Potter, want to join us for dinner, I want to introduce you to a couple friends of mine."

"I wh...what," Harry said surprised, no one ever helped him and then to be asked to sit with them for dinner, he didn't know what to think about the sudden kindness.

"You know the tables are just a suggestion outside of feasts," Adrian said. "Your allowed to join us. Coming?"

He nodded hesitantly as one of Adrian's friends grabbed his books, "Thanks," Harry whispered taking it as they left. "W-w-why did you do that Pucey," he asked surprised.

"I get," Adrian said finally realizing that he understood why he gave up fighting back. "I might not agree with you, but I get it. I won't hold Hogwarts Harry against Harry bloody potter from the tournaments. Maybe you think that Harrys a fake, I disagree, I think that's when we really get to see you and I happen to like that kid. This is Marcus Flint, he is in the second level school aged comps for the most part, fourth through seventh year though after he takes his OWLs he will probably jump up to the adult competitions. The age lines get screwed up after like third year. This is Carista Knott, also a dueler though she's actually in my year. One of the very few girls in competition but don't let the pretty face fool you. She kicks arse and is stronger than she looks. I know she's taken me down in a fight and I am man enough to admit it. She missed these competitions, so you didn't get to see her duel. Just didn't get sign in quick enough and is waiting for summer. This is Endric Ectoven, again our comp but didn't make it to the comps this turn around. He is a second year. Guys this is Harry Potter, first year claw. He got second in staff dueling, fourth in wand ending with third overall."

"Really," Carista said surprised since the kid didn't look like much. "Well, I like the unexpected. everyone thought I would suck at dueling, called it a man's sport. Till I kicked their arses. How'd you get into dueling kid. Your parents?"

"M-m-my parents died when I was a baby," He admitted surprising Adrian who tried to think of what he knew of the Potter family before realizing that they were all mostly wiped out in the war. He didn't know of any Potters around anymore. He had at first considered a muggle family by the same name but that was clearly wrong. "Um Master Flitwick got me into dueling."

"Oh, did I forget to tell you," Adrian said smirking glad to know something that this group didn't. "This kid is being mentored and sponsored by Professor Flitwick."

This caused them all to freeze, no one had expected him to say that. They did not know what to think about the revelation. "Your serious," Endric demanded wanting to be sure the older boy wasn't pulling their legs. "Professor Flitwick took you as his first apprentice in pretty much ever."

Harry nodded shyly hearing the judgement in his tone, why would anyone choose him after all. "See, you sound like Edmund," Adrian said mockingly. "he thought similarly...then he got his ass handed to him. Kids wicked fast. You have a chance if you can hit him, but he'll hit you twice as many times as you even try to hit him, while in the end, you might get one or two." He turned back to face Harry, "We sometimes use an old classroom for go arounds or outside by the forest in warmer weather. The professors don't really approve but we also rarely get caught. Your free to join us. Diggory tends to along with a few others who are into dueling."

Harry nodded hesitantly expecting a trick but the idea that he'd actually have someone to hang out with...it was too good to be true. He wanted it to be true, but he didn't believe it, he couldn't let himself believe it.

Adrian found Potter in the halls having been searching for him, "join us," he suggested having a feeling he'd be too nervous to join on his own. He could honestly not blame him.

Harry followed hesitantly to the boarder of the forest, there was Marcus Flint, Carista Knott, Endric Ectoven, Ceddrick Diggory and a Gryffindor he didn't recognize but Adrian named him as a fourth year Kyle Barnes. "So, kid, rumor has it your pretty good," Kyle said looking him over. The same judgement most others used. He didn't look like much. Looks could be deceiving but they honestly thought one good strike with a staff and he'd break.

Once again Harry was only looking at his feet shrugging. Trying to look small though that in itself was not much of a task. These people could do the most damage to him of everyone at Hogwarts.

"He is scary good," Diggory offered giving him a careful smile. "I think he'd give even you a run for your money. His staff work is...you can't keep track of him. You aim one place and he's already in another. He gets you so spun around you cannot keep up with him."

The group weren't sure they believed him, thinking he was exaggerating the child's skill. "Alright then, let's see it," Kyle agreed. "Pucey you judge," he asked. He waved his hands and a visible line appeared on the ground, going around making a rectangle. "Here's the platform kid. You got your staff.'

Harry summoned it to hand instantly. "Go easy on him man, you don't want to actually hurt the kid," Marcus Flint laughed.

Adrian looked at Harry smirking, oh they'd all see a show. Diggory was also chuckling looking forward to seeing the looks on their faces. "I put five galleons on Potter," Adrian returned causing Harry to look up surprised. "Any takers?"

"You know I love to steal your galleons," Carista stated. "No way the kid can beat Kyle. I know he might be good, but sadly my votes on the Gryffindor. I'll take your bet. No offence kid but you're like 11 and Kyles good. He is strong enough that he topples people over with single strikes."

"Yeah but you have to hit him for that," Adrian returned, "Any other takers."

Diggory looked at the two, Kyle, relied on pure strength, Harry pure speed. It would be an interesting fight, "I got five on Harry," Diggory admitted shocking the first year with his support.

"I'll match, five against each of you," Carista said.

"Agreed," Marcus returned. "Five against each of you."

"I'm in if you all are up for it," Endric Ectoven agreed. "You'd have to pay out fifteen to our ten."

Adrian returned with a smirk. "Potter can take him," Adrian returned. "I got faith in him. Besides I need a new staff."

Harry bit his lip but got into place. aArian counted them in. Harry however smiled slightly, it was a duel and a fair one at that. He stood up straighter at every passing count. Becoming a completely different child. As soon as Kyle Barnes made a strike Harry was already moving and hit him twice in the side causing everyone to gape. Every move Kyle made, Harry dodged, using his strength and the power of his swings against him since Kyle put so much power into his strikes it took him a moment to reset his position and by that time, Harry would already hit him twice or three times. Sides, in the knees, shoulders.

Kyle began getting annoyed since he couldn't keep track of the kids position. Harry however just got more and more into the duel. Smiling as he went. Finally, Harry got the other teens feet from under him and had his staff knocked away putting his own to his chest. "Damn," Kyle said shocked staring in absolute amazement to the staff at his chest. "That was impressive."

Harry offered his hand to help him up. Adrian and Cedrick cheered before holding out their hands and they were paid up. "Shit that's a lot of galleons," Endric said shaking his head. "You played us..."

Harry however just returned to the meek hesitant first year who looked ready to jump out of his skin. "No, you let appearances deceive you," Adrian returned, they had clearly said he was good, the others just didn't believe them. "Good job kid. Five galleons your cut okay?"

He glanced up surprised at the offer "t-t-thats n-not necessary."

"Nah, dueling rules, the duelists always get a cut if we bet on them since they cannot bet on themselves," Diggory said handing five over. "Besides, ten galleons...I'm using it on a new set of dueling gloves."

Harry took the money hesitantly. They hung out for a bit more before he had to run off to meet with Flitwick since he was going to be late. "Okay, so who's the real potter," Kyle asked taken back by the surprising first year. "The kid I dueled or the kid who left because they are not the same people."

"He has good reason," Adrian returned. "You pick out the most bullied, harassed...tortured kid at Hogwarts its Potter. He has not gotten a break since arriving. I've been watching him, wondering the same thing. He comes alive on the dueling ground but otherwise he is skittish as hell, doesn't look up unless you surprise him or make him, he's...broken." Adrian didn't know a better word to describe him then broken. "I've seen him slammed through the halls, not be allowed to eat since apparently he's a 'freak' in Ravenclaw, I've asked around and not one person has put their hand out in friendship to him."

"Wait, he doesn't have any friends, like at all," Carista demanded since that was extremely harsh. "None?"

Adrian shook his head, "Even the Hufflepuff's make his life hell. Honestly, a mudblood in Slytherin is treated nicer by the house then he is in Ravenclaw. Watch over the next few weeks, you will see."

They agreed and were shocked at the treatment of him and how he just took it. It horrified them all and they didn't understand why he was treated so badly. They also did not know how to stop it since the professors seemed unable to do so.