The Choosing of the Champions
They didn't see Ron for the rest of the day. This was probably a good thing Hermione thought, because it took her that long to calm herself and Harry down. In transfiguration, they were excused from the in-class work and told by McGonagall to go rest and recover from Monday night's 'mishap'. Taking the opportunity, they sat silently in the back and tried to catch up on their missed schoolwork.
Both Ron and the twins were absent from lunch as well, causing some concern to the couple. Herbology after lunch was a nightmare. Neville helped the couple as best he could, but everyone knew they were distracted by the events at breakfast. They also weren't looking forward to the inevitable confrontation the next time they saw Ron.
That confrontation happened after dinner.
When Harry and Hermione arrived in the great hall, they saw the redheaded git flanked by this brothers at the Gryffindor table. The twins nodded their direction, but stayed beside their brother, obviously on guard duty. The pair sat as far as they could from the red haired boys, trying to avoid any incidents.
They ate quickly, and retreated to the Gryffindor common room to study. They'd been there all of five minutes when chaos exploded.
"You no good, backstabbing, lying…" Ron's tirade was cut off as the twins tackled him. The muffled insults kept coming before someone, no one ever admitted it was them, cast a Silencing spell at the irate redhead.
Harry sighed and closed the charms book he'd been studying. Turning to Hermione, he quirked his eyebrow in question. Seeing her nod in resignation, agreeing reluctantly that they needed to get this over with, they both turned towards the crimson faced teen being restrained by the twins.
"Obviously you have an issue Ron," Harry began coldly, "We're going to remove the silencing charm, then we'll talk. If you can't remain civil, we silence you again and let the twins deal with you. If you can, we'll air this out, so nobody doesn't know what the issue is. OK?"
The jerky nod told them his temper was still there, but he'd talk. A quick wave of Fred's wand along with a mumbled Finite ended Ron's silence.
"Now what is the problem Ron?" Harry asked harshly, "It's obvious that you have one with us, so what is it?"
"You abandoned me, we were friends and now you won't even talk to me." Ron spat. "Suddenly this year you're too good to be my friend, after all I've done for you."
"We abandoned you?" Hermione asked incredulously, "Okay, let's hear how your attacks on me are our fault?"
"What attacks?" Ron Scoffed, "I make a joke and you toss me out of the train compartment. You let me go into Moody's door trap. You won't talk to me at all."
"Ron, for the week before the train you were told repeatedly to stop cracking jokes and making fun of Hermione's situation. You refused." Harry began coldly, "You were warned repeatedly there was a limit to how much we'd allow you to mouth off, and that you were at that limit. You ignored those warnings. When the school ostracized Hermione, where were you? Right beside them, against her."
"As for Moody's trapped doorway," Hermione picked up, her ears flat in anger, "We did try to warn you, despite what you had done. You ignored us. How is that our fault?"
"Harry, mate," Ron started placatingly, ignoring Hermione's logic. "Are you really going to throw away our friendship over some bird? She's gone mental, you need to get away before she drags you down too. I mean, I could see maybe if she were prettier…" Only Harry's restraining hand prevented Hermione from giving Ron another slap.
"Ron," Harry sighed, "we tried to give you a chance, we really did. We had hoped you'd come around, see that we're the same as we were before, only a bit more mature. But you've failed. You say that Hermione is the problem? How can that be Ron, when it's your attitude that is driving us apart? You're attacking a friend and you expect me to stand by and let that happen? Did you ever know me? I learned that lesson first year when I almost lost my best friend."
"You never almost lost me." Ron said confused.
"I wasn't talking about you Ron, I was talking about Hermione," Harry informed him sadly, "Or did you forget the troll incident."
"Harry," Ron tried another tack, "look at how everyone treats her, she's dragging you down. The school will turn on you too, if you don't drop her and go back to being my friend."
"Ron," Hermione started, only to have Harry stop her with a squeeze of her hand.
"Ron, you've begged me to come back as your friend, but what about Hermione? Is she not your friend too? Is she not important to you too? Or was it always about being the friend of 'the-boy-who-lived'?"
"Mate," Ron began, flushing, "I know you want to be my friend, you've done so much to help me. You went into the chamber with me after my sister. You helped me go after the stone first year. We're best friends."
"No Ron, we're not." Harry said sadly, "You have gotten me into more trouble than you've helped with. First year? You almost died twice going after the stone, and were saved by Hermione both times. Second year, you think I went into the chamber because I thought someone was in danger? I'd have gone in after anyone, true, but I expected to find Ginny dead. I wasn't on a rescue mission, I was after revenge because the creature hurt Hermione. Your sister wasn't a friend, she's actually kind of annoying with her delusional crush." Harry looked over at the youngest Weasley, "Sorry Gin, but it's true. You couldn't even speak to me till late last year, and this year you are like a lost puppy and ignoring the fact that I don't want you as a girlfriend."
"It's ok Harry, I know you'll realize we're meant to be together, then you'll see my love for what it really is." Ginny blushed.
"Then last year, when I got my Firebolt," Harry continued with a shudder, turning back to Ron, "You wanted me to fly it right away, so you could try it next. Hermione was more concerned with my safety and took it to Professor McGonagall. Yes, I wish she'd talked to me first, but she acted to protect me. You acted to get what you wanted, a stupid broom ride."
"She betrayed you," Ron snapped, "She stole from you, and you let her."
"No, she removed a potentially dangerous object and had it inspected to keep me safe." Harry sighed, "I should have known this would happen first year."
"First year?" Ron asked, nonplussed, "What do you mean?"
"The mirror," Harry replied, and saw the confused looks on everyone's faces. "First year we found the Mirror of Erised, which shows you your heart's deepest desire. Ron's reflection showed him as Head boy and Quidditch Captain, holding the House cup and the Quidditch cup. Those are rather self-centered dreams, at least to me. All about his happiness. Yes, others would be happy because we'd won, but he had to be the reason we did. He wanted the fame, the attention."
"Harry?" Katie Bell asked quietly, "Will you tell us what you saw?"
"Me?" Harry looked embarrassed for a second. "Can't you guess?" He squeezed Hermione's hand tightly, "I just saw my family."
Hermione's lip quivered as her eyes filled with unshed tears. She turned into him and hugged him tightly, her tail curling around his waist as she held him to her. He returned the embrace, and kissed the top of her head.
"That doesn't matter," Ron declared, "What matters is you choosing some plain girl over your best mate."
The females in the room bristled at the redheads' brisk dismissal.
"Ron," Hermione said, "How can he be your best mate when all you do is bask in the radiance of his fame and chase any other friends away?"
"What?"
"Hermione's right," Harry agreed, "All you ever do is tag along and blame others for your shortcomings. And now, you're making yourself feel big by repeatedly attacking my girlfriend. If you really were our friend you'd be happy and supportive, not cruel and accusatory."
"Girlfriend?" Ron gasped, "You actually want to be with her? She's not even human, it's like you're dating a troll."
The room fell silent as Ron's accusation left his lips. The twins shared a single glance, before leaving their brothers side to clear the line of fire. They need not have bothered for the retaliation of Hermione Granger was not a spell. It was a foot. A foot that connected to the most sensitive part of the boys' anatomy at a great speed and force. Every boy in the room winced at the sound it made, and watched in instinctual sympathy pain as the boy was lifted off his feet by the force of the blow before he collapsed, stunned by the pain.
Harry pulled Hermione back as she geared up for another strike, trying to calm her before she killed the prat with her bare hands, or feet. The twins, assured by Harry's nod that they were safe to approach, each grabbed one of Ron's legs, and left the common room for the Hospital wing dragging their brother none too gently behind them.
"Hermione?" A nervous Neville asked hesitantly, and cringed a little when she turned to him, but bravely continued. "If I've ever done anything to piss you off, I'd like to apologize now."
"No need, Neville," Hermione sighed, "You could never be that big a git." then she chuckled as Neville sagged in relief.
—-
They didn't see Ron for the rest of the weekend. Rumor was he was still laid up in the Hospital wing and Madam Pomfrey was refusing to magically heal his injury, claiming to dull the pain would reduce the effect of the lesson. The twins apologized again, this time merely for being related to the prat. Ginny also offered her support, in her own odd way, awkwardly congratulating Harry on standing up to Ron, ignoring Hermione's part completely.
Professor McGonagall called them into her office on Saturday to work on their 'project'. On hearing their side of the incident, her only reply was to tell Hermione, "Next time, use a severing charm."
Ron had also sealed his fate with the rest of Gryffindor. His treatment of the couple was bad enough, the way he'd attacked them was beyond the pale, even for the ones that had joined in the silent ostracization of the couple. To attack anyone the way he had Hermione, was just not done.
The twins informed them that their parents were livid. So much so that Mrs. Weasley had not resorted to a howler, but to a personal visit. Apparently Ron's version of the events was not matched by that reported by her other children and Professor McGonagall. The screams heard Sunday were not a wayward dragon, but Molly Weasley with a full head of steam. It was also rumored Ron now had a matching palm print on his other cheek.
The next week saw Ron avoiding the pair like the plague. Not even classes, where he sat as far away as possible could make him say a word to them. He just sat and glared. Unfortunately for him, after years of ignoring the blond ponce of Slytherin, the couple was well adapted to ignoring someone who was trying to get to them.
The night the other schools arrived was the first words outside of class that anyone heard Ron speak. The Beauxbatons carriage had been impressive in its size, as well as the Abraxan Horses that pulled it. In comparison, Durmstrang's Ship, while interesting, failed to wow like the flying coach did. The students however, were very gossip worthy apparently.
The Beauxbatons delegation was impressive, especially their half-giantess Headmistress Madame Maxime. The students were generally pleasant, with sky blue robes and several young ladies caused many a tongue to wag, including the prat's.
"Oi, Potter," he called from a safe distance. "Bet you wish you weren't tied down to Granger now, huh? Those are some real women."
"I'm very happy with my choice, thank you." Harry replied honestly as he squeezed Hermione where his arm was around her shoulders. Both missed the slightly miffed look that flashed across several visiting students' faces. They also missed the murderous look across another redheads face at his declaration.
The Durmstrang students, on the other hand, made their presence known in force. Their red, heavy, fur-trimmed cloaks stood out in the failing light. A hard looking, dark haired man led them up to the castle. He was their headmaster, Igor Karkaroff. Hermione hissed under her breath as the man neared, moving out of Harry's arm to put herself between the Durmstrang headmaster and Harry.
"What's the matter?' Harry asked, noting the person causing his girlfriend to get upset.
"Not sure," Hermione admitted, "He makes me uneasy. Like Snape and Moody do. I can't explain it."
"Well, I trust your instincts," Harry reassured her, as they joined the throng of students entering the great hall after their guests. "We'll just keep our eyes open, like we do with the others."
They joined Neville and the twins at the Gryffindor Table, noting idly that the Durmstrang students had joined the Slytherins at their table, while the Beauxbatons students filled the Ravenclaw table. Ginny had tried to join them, attempting to shove her way between Harry and Neville, but was sent on her way by the twins. They watched as Dumbledore introduced the foreign students, and their Heads. He then introduced Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch from the ministry. The announcements they brought were welcome to the couple: No underage wizards could enter the tournament.
Once Dumbledore settled the Hall down, he explained the Goblet of Fire, the 'impartial' selector of the champions. The instant the method of selection was introduced, Harry's gut dropped. He instantly had a deep foreboding, like someone had walked on his grave. Tomorrow was the October 31st, he realized.
"Please, no," he prayed quietly, but not quiet enough.
"What?' Hermione asked, she'd sensed his sudden apprehension. "What's wrong?"
"Hermione, what kind of luck do I have?" Harry asked his girlfriend.
"Unusual would be the best way to describe it, I guess." She whispered back, "Or strange."
"And what's tomorrow?"
"Halloween…" She paused, "No, you don't think…"
"I hope not," He admitted, "but can you really tell me, with everything that seems to happen to me on Halloween, that it wouldn't fit the pattern?"
"We need to talk to McGonagall." She declared, "As soon as the feast is over."
"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, What can I do for you?" McGonagall asked as she answered her office door.
"We're not sure Professor," Hermione replied, "But Harry had a bad premonition, and we need advice."
"I see," Minerva paused, then opened the door further, "Why don't you come in and explain what you mean."
"Professor," Harry started one they had settled into seats, "How would you describe my luck over the last few years?"
"I suppose unusual would be a good descriptor, Mr. Potter," The transfiguration mistress answered after pondering for a moment, "Why?"
"Think about what has happened on Halloween each year I've been here," Harry instructed her, "Then look at what is sent to occur tomorrow, and tell me that I shouldn't be worried."
"Mr. Potter, what are you…" Her voice trailed off as her brain finished thinking about his points. There was the troll incident first year, the first attack second year, then last year was Sirius Black trying to get into Gryffindor Tower. "I see, Mr. Potter."
"We thought you might, but we're not sure what to do about it." Hermione continued, "We have no evidence, no idea how to stop it from happening."
"I'm not sure either, Miss Granger," McGonagall confessed, "I can obviously bring your concerns to the headmaster, but I'm not sure what else we can do. If his name does come out of the Goblet, we can point out that Mr. Potter would be unable to enter his own name due to the age line, which should prove he couldn't have entered his own name."
"Not necessarily, Professor," Harry denied quietly.
"What do you mean?"
"I already thought of how someone could get around the age line, it's obvious to any muggleborn, or in my case, muggle raised." Harry explained.
"How?" McGonagall asked confused.
"Well, other than the obvious of asking an of age student to enter my name for me," Harry started, as he pulled a piece of parchment out of his bag, "There's this." He tore a section of the parchment away, balled it up, and tossed it into the trash bin about 4 or 5 meters away.
Professor McGonagall looked stunned, glancing back and forth between the waste bin and Harry. Could it be that simple? She'd seen the age line Dumbledore had erected; it was half that far away from the Goblet. A much easier distance to toss a balled up parchment into it.
"So simple…" Minerva began, then gathered herself. "I shall bring this to the Headmaster at once. Please return to the Gryffindor common room; I shall inform you of his response there."
"There's something else," Harry told his Head of House on the way to the door.
"What is that?"
"Professor McGonagall, will you enter Draco Malfoy into the goblet for me?"
"Absolutely not, how could you ask me to endanger…" the outraged McGonagall trailed off, realizing his point. "Thank you, Mr. Potter, five points to Gryffindor for pointing out alternative approaches, and dangers. I shall inform you of the Headmaster's decision shortly.
"Thank you, Professor," they chorused, but the feeling of dread left neither of them.
In the end, it seemed Fate decided Harry just had to have a bad day on Halloween.
Professor McGonagall had arrived and pulled the duo out of the Gryffindor common room half an hour later. She'd informed them that Professor Dumbledore had congratulated them on their ingenuity, and promised to add to the protections, but refused to say how. They had his assurance that Harry could not be entered, and that even if he was, the odds that the cup would select him as Hogwarts' champion were very small.
The pair worried all day, despite the reassurance of the faculty. They played off their unease as the effects of the day, the anniversary of his parents' deaths, and everyone seemed to buy it. Now however, the dread was rising as they sat in the Great Hall, waiting for the Goblet to be ready to choose.
"I believe that we have about another minute before the Goblet is ready," Dumbledore declared, "While we wait, I wish to remind you, should your name come out of the Goblet, you stand alone. Your school's instructors cannot help you. You must face the obstacles and challenges with just your wits and your knowledge. And you must face them all. Now, I think it is time."
The headmaster turned to the goblet, and as he spoke the last, the Goblets blue flame flickered and pulsed orange/red before spitting a piece of parchment out of the flames. Dumbledore snatched it from the air as it floated down, opened it, and declared.
"The Champion for Durmstrang," He paused, "Is Victor Krum!"
Cheers erupted from the Durmstrang students as the large Bulgarian stood, accepting the accolades of his peers. He made his way down the hall, and entered the antechamber where the champions would receive the information about the first challenge. As he left, the Goblet pulsed again, expelling another piece of parchment.
"The Champion from Beauxbatons," Dumbledore announced, "is Fleur Delacour!"
The reaction from the Beauxbatons students was more sedate than the Durmstrangs, but no less real. Hermione noted several faces flashed disgust before covering it with smiles. She made a note to find out more about this Fleur, and possibly why she inspired such a reaction. As the lithe blonde entered the antechamber, the Goblet flared again.
"The Champion from Hogwarts," Another dramatic pause, "Is Cedric Diggory!"
Three-quarters of the house tables erupted in applause. Hufflepuff was by far the loudest, as one of their own was selected to represent the school. Ravenclaw and Gryffindor were genuinely happy for the well liked Puff, especially since he wasn't a Slytherin. The cheers lasted longer than the previous ones, but as they finally settled and Cedric joined the other Champions in the anteroom, Dumbledore began to speak again.
"Now that we have our Champions, I expect you all to…" Dumbledore trailed off in his speech, for the Goblet had flared a fourth time, expelling another piece of parchment from its furnace. Dumbledore once again snatched the floating paper from the air, unfolded it, and read it. Harry's gut froze as Dumbledore's shoulders slumped slightly, as if in resignation.
"No." Hermione whispered, "Please no."
"Harry Potter" Dumbledore called, and Harry swore if he ever met Fate, he'd kick them harder than Hermione had Ron.
