Chapter 4

"Harry Potter" His name still rung in his ears just as it had in the great hall that night. Everything had been going just fine until his name, his very own name had popped out of that goblet. Everyone under the age of 16 had been trying to find a way to get their name into that goblet, yet Harry's had managed to find its way there despite him having done nothing to put it in.

Had he imagined what it would be like to enter? Sure. But he had done nothing except daydream about it occasionally. He tried none of the tricks and antics attempted by those like the Weasley twins. Now that he was in it himself, he wished he wasn't more than anything in the world. It was bad enough the whole school thought he was a fraud. It was bad enough that someone had entered his name to try and kill him. But the real problem was Ron. His best friend didn't believe him.

He felt angry at Ron and at himself for this. Instead of trying to explain, Harry had just gotten upset. He should have told him what had happened after his name got called. What Moody had said. That someone was trying to kill him (again). Then maybe Ron would understand and they could be friends again. But at the same time, Harry had to wonder if there was something more to his best friend's behavior, some underlying reason for why he was suddenly acting this way.

It didn't make sense. Ron had never believed he was the heir of Slytherin, he had stuck by his side then. Just last year he had stood on a broken leg and told a (supposed) murderer that he would have to kill him first to get to Harry. Something wasn't right here. But then something wasn't right about this whole evening.

Harry's thoughts turned to Hermione. She would believe him, he was sure of it. And maybe just maybe she might know what was going on with Ron. He would talk to her about it all first thing tomorrow. With that satisfying thought in his mind he finally allowed himself to drift off to sleep.

"Let's go for a walk down by the lake, shall we?" Hermione suggested. Harry nodded agreement. He had woken up that morning with the intention of finding her first thing. And to his surprise she had found him instead, ready and waiting with a piece of toast for each of them.

As they walked around the black lake in the cold autumn morning, Harry related his story. He was relieved to find Hermione accepted his story without question.

"Of course I knew you hadn't done it, the look on your face said everything" she told him. Harry felt such a burst of happiness that he swept her up in a hug before he even knew what he was doing. This lasted for about half a second until he realized what he had just done and quickly pulled away, blushing furiously. Hermione was equally pink faced, but otherwise looked very pleased.

"Thanks Hermione" He said awkwardly.

"N-no problem" She stammered with a small smile at him.

"Well should we drop by the library before class" Harry suggested. "I have a feeling I'm going to need to study extra if I'm going to survive this tournament"

"Of course" Hermione said, a little dazed that he was the one suggesting it.

"C'mon then" Instinctively he reached to take her hand but stopped himself before he did. He couldn't help but feel that something had changed between them but he didn't know exactly what. Shaking this off he walked back her to the castle. He wasn't quite ready to face everyone else yet. But he felt that as long as Hermione was by his side, he could survive anything.

"Hullo Neville" The round faced boy looked up from his lunch. "How are you doing?" Harry asked.

"Uh fine" He answered, looking surprised to be spoken to. It was later that day and Harry had done his best to ignore the crowds of people watching him, judging him for something he didn't do. It felt like second year all over again, but much worse.

Harry had wanted to try speaking Ron again but when he had sat down for lunch in the great hall, he was disappointed to find his best friend sitting with Seamus and Dean, talking animatedly about quidditch.

Hermione had speculated why she thought Ron was acting the way he was. That he was most likely jealous of all the attention Harry was getting. That he didn't really believe Harry had lied about putting his name in the goblet.

Truth be told, Harry couldn't entirely blame him for this. Ron already had to grow up in the shadow of five older brothers, and now to be in the same position with his best friend. But couldn't he see that this wasn't the kind of attention anyone wanted? Apart from the Gryffindors he was hardly being praised, scorned was more like it.

As much as Harry wanted to reach out to his oldest and first friend ever, he had decided in the end to let things be for now. To give Ron time to sort through the things that were bothering him.

It was because of this that Harry found himself noticing Neville for a change. The poor boy was always being picked on by Slytherins and teachers alike. He was lonely, just as lonely as Harry had felt before coming to Hogwarts and this made him feel guilty for not reaching out to him sooner.

"How're you coming along on that essay Snape assigned us? It's been a killer for me." Snape had assigned them three rolls of parchment on the effects of a karma potion, due before the next class in two days. He was glad to have Hermione there to help him through it. Snape had singled him out as usual and made it clear that he would get no special treatment (like he ever had from the likes of Snape) just because he was a champion. That the assignment was still due on the same day as everyone else.

"I have my first roll done but...I can't remember all nine effects that occur from drinking the potion" Neville told him.

"You know. You could come study with Hermione and I after classes today. If you want" Harry offered. "I'd never make it through my homework without her to explain it all to me. Especially in Snape's classes."

"Really? I'm mean are you sure you want me to? I'm not good at any subject except Herbology. I'd probably just get in your way..." The boy said nervously.

"We'd be happy to have you" He assured him. Harry and Neville talked during the rest of lunch and soon Hermione joined in. Then the three of them walled to their next class together while Neville told them about a rare plant he was trying to grow with Professor Sprout in the greenhouses. Apparently said plant could if grown correctly, help reduce trauma in a person and heal emotional and mental damage.

"There are many people who could benefit from this" Neville told them. "Like those at St. Mungo's hospital, almost all of them are suffering from some kind of trauma from their lives." Harry wondered if such a plant could help Sirius. Though he said in his letters that he was fine, Harry remembered the dementors. Being around such creatures for that long would have to take at least some kind of toll on a person, even if they weren't guilty of anything.

Thinking of Sirius made him uneasy. His latest letter had him insisting that he was coming back North to Hogwarts so he could be there for Harry. Harry would never be able to live with himself if something happened to his godfather. He was taking such a risk doing this. But at the same time, a part of him felt glad that he would get to see him again. He only wished it could be under less dangerous circumstances.

A/N: I debated back and forth with myself about whether to keep Ron and Harry's fight in my story. It is canon so I don't think it counts as bashing. So while it is happening like it does in the books I've tried very hard to keep things fair to Ron. To show that both boys are partially to blame. It takes two to fight after all. And hopefully I can use this to give a glimpse of things from Ron's point of view, so as to be more understanding of him. I'll admit it also gives me a chance to have some Harry/Hermione alone time, bonding moments which I enjoyed writing very much.