A/n: an update! Yay!
Kurt dropped onto the bench with his arms crossed, he exchanged pleasantries with Luna and Hermione who had been chatting animatedly on the bench overlooking the Black Lake. Kurt tried to get an idea of where the conversation was going, when he realised that they were discussing Mr Lovegood's novel he couldn't help smiling; it was Kurt and Hermione's reading assignment for the Christmas break.
"Discussing Going Fuzzy and Other Side Effects?" Kurt grinned, "I've finished reading my copy and I have some thoughts to share."
"Before we do that," Hermione lowered her voice and looked around, "Have you seen Cedric yet?"
"No," Kurt furrowed his brow, he had never known Hermione to put gossip over books, "not since the morning I left for home. I wanted to see my friends first."
"So he hadn't seen Rita Skeeter's most recent work of what was once known as journalism," Luna pointed out with a shake of her head.
"She can't still be writing about us," Kurt shook his head, "she was banned from the school grounds."
"It's really not stopping her," Hermione bowed her head.
Luna giggled, "And she was writing about you before she was allowed on the school grounds."
"What's she written this time?"
"She claims that I've broken Harry's heart by leaving him for Viktor in a desperate attempt at elevating my status," Hermione shuddered angrily, "As if I care any for societal standing."
"It apparently explains why Harry has saddled himself with the daughter of a known mad man and disgraced ministry official," Luna let out a loud laugh and clapped merrily, "I'm a rebound girl." Luna seemed proud of this title and seemed to wear it as a badge of honour, along with the insults toward her father, "But apparently that hasn't stopped Harry from wanting you, as the two of you are pictured dancing, despite being the confessed son of crazed mass murderer Sirius Black."
"So mostly drivel?"
"No," Hermione's voice was sharp, "she also wrote about Hagrid being a half giant, she makes use of terrible stereotypes and portrays him as a crazed lunatic who illegally breeds dangerous creatures."
Kurt tried his hardest not to nod at the last part, "She lays the character assassination on thick as a means but succeeds by hiding it behind a veil of half-truths."
"How do you mean?" Hermione's voice went sharp.
"You really are seeing Viktor but the reasons are different," Kurt pursed his lips, "the fact that there are witnesses to you and Harry making out in the library in second year is the bit of truth."
"I remember witnessing it," Luna grinned like the Cheshire cat, "it was hot."
"Me? Make out with Harry Potter?" Hermione's grew to the size of saucers, "When did I make out with Harry Potter?"
"Finn and Neville did it while you were trying to sell your soul to Draco," Kurt gave a sinister grin.
"In my defence it was before puberty ruined him," Hermione bowed her head.
"My statement stands," Luna smiled.
"In Luna's case, her father really is a former ministry official but the split was amicable," Luna nodded her agreement, "I danced with Harry whilst we discussed the second clue but it was nothing more than plutonic, the fact that there were once rumours on our end as well gives that thread some validity."
"Yes," Hermione supressed a giggle, "I'm sorry but I keep picturing Harry leaning up to kiss Kurt, on the very tips of his toes."
"Harry Potter climbing you like a mountain," Luna snorted.
Kurt blushed, "You can laugh now but a short man has other uses."
"Oh behave," Hermione swatted his arm.
"You started it," Kurt squeaked.
"Well, now I'm ending it," Hermione schooled her features, "Where is the truth in what she wrote about Hagrid?"
Kurt took a deep breath because he knew this would be the hardest part for them to receive, "Hagrid is a half-giant, and he did try to raise; a dragon in his kitchen, a three headed dog in the castle, an acromantuala under his bed and there is also the matter of the Blast-Ended Skrewts. But that doesn't change that even I can make him cry."
"You make plenty of people cry," Hermione tilted her head condescendingly.
"I see what Kurt means," Luna nodded, "Hagrid wears his emotions on his sleeve."
"You'd swear he's never heard Don't Cry Out Loud by Melissa Manchester," Kurt shook his head, "A valuable lesson for all to receive."
"He probably hasn't heard that song," Hermione shook her head, "considering it's from the eighties and he doesn't receive muggle radio stations on the wireless."
"Well," Kurt's smiled grew, "Hagrid isn't exactly a spring chicken, I'm sure the eighties are well within his lifetime."
"I'm surprised he isn't greyer," Luna shrugged.
Kurt giggled, "I think it's hair dye."
"You two are the worst," Hermione giggled.
"No," Kurt turned to her with a smirk, "Do you know who the worst is? You are."
"ME?" Hermione shrieked.
The pair nodded, "You still haven't told us what happened with Viktor Krum after the Astronomy tower."
"I think we all agree that the astronomy tower was a big mistake," Kurt waited for a show of hands, "it's unanimous."
"What were we thinking?" Hermione groaned.
"It's beautiful up there and it was the place where we were least likely to bump into a teacher," Kurt shrugged, "who knew Cedric was going to introduce us to cannabis?"
"That was quite the experience," Luna grinned, "Sort of like Tej."
"Don't you mention Tej to me," Kurt crossed his arms angrily.
"What happened to you?" Luna quirked a brow, "Last time I saw you, you and Cedric were making out on the floor."
"We passed out like that," Kurt bowed his head slightly, "I woke up the following morning and went home."
"You slept in the Astronomy tower," Hermione supressed a giggle which caused it to escape as a guffaw.
Luna shook her head, "Did anyone see you?"
"I don't think so," Kurt giggled, "although I did bump into Terry Boot on my way back to my room."
"What did you say to him?"
"Nadolig Llawen" Kurt blushed.
Hermione gave him a sideways glance, "You said Merry Christmas to him in Welsh?"
"I was going through a lot," Kurt couldn't help laughing, "it was Christmas day and he's Welsh."
"I want you to know that I'm judging you," Luna placed a light as air hand on his shoulder, "judging you so much. It may come from a place of love but it's judgement all the same."
"Thank you for that Luna," Kurt gave a tight lipped smile.
"I would be judging you as well but I woke up in the common room," Hermione gave a tight lipped smile.
Luna leered at her, "We're going to leave out the stubble burn Viktor gave you?"
"I was going to bring it up at a more appropriate time," Hermione blushed, "Like maybe Kurt's funeral, when he was too busy being dead to judge me."
"I want you to know," Kurt threw his arm over Hermione's shoulder, "I will never be too dead to judge you."
"Comforting," Hermione nodded.
"You have to tell me everything," Kurt shook her playfully, "like now."
"He invited me for a tour of the Durmstrang ship but I'm not that kind of girl," Hermione gulped, dug in her pocket for a moment and then held out her fist to Kurt, "I might have pickpocketed you, we went to the Dark Arts classroom instead."
Kurt's mouth fell open, "the only reason we ended up spending the night in the astronomy tower was because I couldn't find this key."
"We made out a little and then we had a conversation," Hermione schooled her features, "Viktor did all the talking."
"Something about that classroom makes people ever so talkative," Kurt giggled.
"I don't get it," Luna furrowed her brow.
"You'll get it when you're older," Kurt and Hermione chorused, then they exchanged a look and laughed.
"Whatever," Luna rolled her eyes, "how was the miracle of child birth?"
"I thought it would help me understand the world better," Kurt shook his head, "but now all I want to know is why people would put themselves through that, you'd think humanity would be extinct by now. Finn was right, it did look like a demon tearing its way out of hell."
"I think I just became barren," Hermione exclaimed as she turned a queer shade of green.
"I second the motion," Luna shook her head.
"When smart girls like you don't have children, that's how we end up with the likes of Pansy Parkinson and company," Kurt exclaimed, "if we don't have children then the dumb-dumbs win."
"I thought you were being nicer to the Slytherins," Hermione furrowed her brow.
"Kurt being nice doesn't suddenly make them smart," Luna scolded, "if they are as dumb as bricks then Kurt being nice to them doesn't change that fact."
"You're both right," Kurt nodded to himself, "Pansy is smart, she's fourth best after Tracey Davis and Blaise Zabini in our Slytherin year. Daphne Greengrass is dumb as bricks."
"Tracey's Transfiguration marks are almost as good as mine," Hermione nodded, "she's on par with Mandy Bracklehurst."
"I'm just glad that I prefer the company of women or the matter of me being the only male in our year's top five might have intimidated me," Kurt's smile turned wicked, "it's cute how Anthony Goldstein thought he could dump us and stay in the top five."
"I still think it's weird that you would say he dumped 'us'," Hermione gave a malevolent giggle, "I'm the only Gryffindor, if that helps any."
"It really doesn't," Kurt gave her a pointed look but his breath caught, "I see another Gryffindor over your shoulder, might I be excused for a moment?"
"Whatever," Luna rolled her eyes, "You never loved us anyway. Go to your Ron."
Kurt giggled and got up from where he was sitting, he closed the distance between the other boy and himself in a few large strides, lest his pray get away. Kurt smiled broadly and pushed his index finger into the boy's chest, "I know what's wrong with you."
"Excuse me?" Ron furrowed his brow.
"What I mean is that I figured out why your behaviour has been gradually degenerating over the years," Kurt resisted giving himself a pat on the back, "it's a rather brilliant hypothesis, if I do say so myself."
"My behaviour has not been degenerating," Ron crossed his arms defensively.
"Oh yes, it has," Kurt nodded aggressively, if it were possible to do such a thing, "You have gotten angrier and angrier every year for no apparent reason. First at Hermione and I, now at Harry, and I know why."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yes," Kurt beamed, "do you want to hear it?"
"Try me."
"You're insecure," Kurt smiled, "it makes perfect sense! Initially you were antagonistic toward just Hermione and I because we were smart but then Harry and I did the Chamber of Secrets thing together. Thereafter I started getting famous, dating, being better liked than you by your parents. Harry and Hermione were on the up as well; Hermione dated Anthony and then Viktor, she was worthy of Rita Skeeter's attention and she started getting hot. While Harry might not have gotten hot, he still got to date all the Ravenclaw girls and become a Triwizard champion." Kurt took a deep breath, "and left out in the cold was you, without stellar grades, a love interest or any role to fulfil. It got cold in our shadows and instead of trying to match our awesome, you decided to try and tear us down."
Ron crossed his arms, "Why does my supposed insecurity have to be about you?"
"Most things are but this surprisingly isn't," Kurt shrugged, "we're just present. We remind you of Bill, Percy, sometimes Fred and George, and- if you mention this to anyone I will deny it- Charlie."
"What is with you and Charlie," Ron Furrowed his brow.
"I don't enjoy his arrogance," Kurt shook his head.
Ron tilted his head to further highlight his confusion, "but you're arrogant."
"Yes but I'm sexy arrogant," Kurt rolled his eyes, "your brother is just plain arrogant."
"Whatever," Ron shrugged, "So, what do I do about my insecurities?"
"You could get over them and choose to love yourself the way you are," Kurt shuddered, "or you could be awesome instead."
"Which one is easier?"
"Being awesome," Kurt laid a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder, "it might seem like a lot of hard work but that's because you haven't tried to love you, 'you' is a very hard person to love. You have to love yourself twenty-four hours a day, being awesome is only about sixteen hours of work a day."
Ron's voice was small, "Do you have insecurities?"
"Of course," Kurt chuckled, "everyone has them." Kurt took a dep steadying breath, "mine are centred around my father; when Finn and Carole first came into our lives I thought I'd lose him to Finn because they had more in common but I got over that, When Harley was born I was sure everything would change and he'd love her more because she was his biological child and I still feel like there'll come a day when he doesn't have a place for me in his life. As a result, I am so awesome that none of the others can compete."
"Wow," that was all Ron could manage.
"Hermione doesn't think she's pretty enough," Kurt laid a hand on Ron's forearm, "Luna's afraid her eccentricities prevent her from making friends, Harry's afraid that his identity was predetermined by an event he can't remember, Professor Dumbledore is-" Kurt realised that he'd been told that one in confidence, "is insecure about stuff too."
"What about Cedric?" Ron giggled.
"Cedric is afraid of disappointing the people he loves," Kurt's smile faltered, "because they might take their love away."
"So everyone has insecurities just like we all have a form for boggarts to assume?" Ron smiled.
"Yes," Kurt gave him a warm smile, "So stop being an ass about yours, nobody else can see them but you. Ever hear of hiding your feeling?"
"I can do that," Ron said, more for his own benefit than that of Kurt, as he was dragged back to the greater group, "Hi guys, sorry for being weird."
"Whatever," Hermione and Luna chorused with an eye roll.
"Now," Kurt looked the other three in the eye one at a time, "where is Harry Potter?"
"He's in the prefect bathroom," Ron spoke up, "he forgot to go and he didn't want you jumping down his throat."
Kurt smiled, "Good, I have a plan and I can't have him messing it up with his sense of honour and other terrible Gryffindor traits."
"Hey," Ron chided him.
"This plan requires us to divorce ourselves from our moral compasses," Kurt instructed them, "as Carole's religious nut sister always says, 'in service of the lord, one often needs to step away from God'."
"Did you just use a religious metaphor?" Hermione gasped.
"This must be serious," Luna nodded, "tell us what we need to do."
"First thing I'll need is your trust," Kurt stared intently at each of them, "I'm asking for blind faith. The second is your discretion."
"You have both from me," Luna smiled.
Hermione grinned, "Do you even have to ask?"
"I don't understand," Ron shook his head.
"We're going to betray a lot of people and break what seems to be all the rules," Kurt smiled, "it is important that this is done exactly how I say it should be done without any questions, and it is equally important that nobody ever find out."
"Okay, I'm in," Ron shrugged, "But there better be no spiders."
"I can't make any promises," Kurt grinned.
~0~
Harry Potter:
Harry didn't understand why Kurt hadn't just told him about the mermaids, then he would have had more time to think of a way around the task. Harry flipped through the library book fiercely, he doubted any of his friends would help him at this point; they were too invested in the success of their boyfriends to care about him. He did think that leaving the matter to the last minute was a little daft on his part but there had seemed to be so much time since the end of winter break, he also secretly hoped that Kurt and Hermione would present him with a solution.
"Good evening Harry Potter," Dobby's face wrinkled deeply around his eyes as he smiled broadly.
"Dobby," Harry smiled broadly, "I got the socks, thank you for that. They match the man-purse Kurt got me perfectly, at least I think they do."
"Dobby has another gift for Harry Potter," the house elf looked over joyed.
Harry began to protest, "You didn't have to-"
"It is from a friend of house-elves and witches alike," Dobby stopped, "Dobby has been sent as a messenger."
"Why?"
"The person who sent the gift felt that it might not be as willingly received from them," Dobby bowed his head and handed over a small package.
Harry unwrapped the package and inside the small box was leafy plant with a gelatinous texture and a note. Harry was not familiar with the handwriting but the neatly formed script was comforting and the too big capitals were telling. The note read, 'Dear Harry Potter, this is gillyweed. It should provide you with the ability to breath underwater for an hour, there is still debate as to the effects of saltwater versus freshwater so lean to the side of safety I advise delaying your consumption of it as much as possible. I wish you all the luck with the second task.' The note wasn't signed but Harry knew that whoever had sent it was his friend.
"Dobby," Harry couldn't suppress the grin that was growing on his face, "Would you tell whoever sent this that I'm ever so grateful."
"Will do Harry Potter," the house elf smiled and disapparated.
Harry looked the note over; this was not the handwriting of Hermione or Kurt, it did not belong to any of his teachers yet here it was before him, the solution to his troubles. Harry tried to clear his head but he just kept looking at the package with wonder, somebody had thought of him enough to ensure him a place in the following day's task. This made his insides turn, somebody had thought of him but believed that Harry didn't think enough of them to take their help, that made Harry feel like a jerk.
"Harry Potter," Harry turned suddenly and was faced with Luna Lovegood, "How are you doing this evening?"
"I'm good, thank you," Harry smiled, was it Luna who had sent the package? He knew of strange and often unheard of forms of magic but Harry was certain that she knew he trusted her, "What brings you to the library?"
"I just wanted to take out a copy of Spellman's Syllabury," Luna waved the large book around, "my copy went missing and Kurt is actually using his."
"It's terrible that your things keep disappearing," Harry was angry that people would mess with Luna that way, "Have you told a teacher?"
"I don't want to startle Professor Flitwick," Luna shrugged, "they all come back in the end."
"If you say so?"
"I do," Luna shuffled nervously from toe to heel, "would you mind dearly if I sprinkled some good luck dust on you for tomorrow? I'd hate for something bad to happen, it's a herb mixture from my windowsill garden."
Harry wanted to roll his eyes but instead he smiled, "sure."
Luna held out a palm full of what looked like purple glitter, she took a deep breath and blew the powder over him.
~0~
"Good luck Harry," Ginny smiled up at him, "knock them dead."
"Thanks," the smile was not genuine, "where is your brother?"
"I'm assuming you mean Ron," Ginny grumbled, "I haven't seen him, he skipped breakfast which is so unlike him. But then again, so did Kurt and Hermione." Ginny shrugged as they walked down to the shore of the Black lake, "I heard Neville saying that he last saw them last night."
"No use speculating as to where those two have gone off to," the tone was sharper than intended but the message was received as intended.
"Are you ready?" Neville smiled, effectively breaking the moment that had come to exist between the pair. He smiled broadly at the pair and clapped each on the shoulder, "you must be excited, have you ingested the gillyweed? Hope not, it would be terrible if you lost time near the end due to an early start."
"No Neville," the giggle that escaped was not at all within character but Neville's concern was simply charming, "I did do my reading on the plant and I know when to take it. Thank you for your concern."
"You read?" Neville furrowed his brow.
"Harry can read," Ginny chuckled.
"It's not a question of can he read," Neville echoed the giggle, "but does he?"
"It was read to me," there was an irritable huff, "does that qualm your curiosity?"
"Somebody's pissy," Neville lifted his hands in surrender.
There was a pang of guilt at Neville's dismissal, "Sorry, I didn't mean to go off at you that way. I'm just a little uncomfortable and these shorts aren't helping any in this weather."
Neville gave a queer glance and laid his hand on Ginny's shoulder, "let's go find a spot to watch the task from, all the luck friend."
"Thanks," the boat ride to the platform was nothing more than a dreary formality before a great plunge into the unknown, the first task had been very straight forward; get a golden egg from a fire-breathing dragon. This task left a greater portion of the details ambiguous, all there was to be know was that the merfolk of the Black lake had taken something of value and he had to retrieve it in less than an hour.
Standing on the platform waiting for the task to begin, Cedric decided to strike up a conversation, "Good luck Harry, odd that Kurt, Hermione, Luna and Ron wouldn't come out."
"This task is almost completely underwater," the condescent was a tad too thick in the tone, "not really made for viewership."
"I suppose so," Cedric shrugged, "but you think they'd be here to wish us luck."
This laugh was more composed than the previous one, "knowing that lot, there's probably something new to read. At least that explains three out of four."
"Nothing comes between them and a book," Cedric gave a firm clap on the shoulders, politely omitting the bit about Ron being a less than diligent student, "only wish Kurt had come by to wish me luck."
There was a fight to supress an eye roll, "I'm sure it's implied and they had every intention of making it down before the task but time has simply escaped them. They'll probably be waiting when we're done or something."
"I'm sure you're right," the boy looked dejected none the less.
"Do you think people can see my nipples in this top?" the look on Cedric's face changed from one of dejection, to one of confusion, before finally settling on amusement.
"I'm sure you'll be okay," the taller boy chuckled.
"Will I?" an untrimmed eyebrow rose, "Will I be okay when everybody thinks that I have hamburger nipples because of the cold?"
"Good luck," Cedric shrugged and walked over to his marked starting spot.
"Good luck to you too."
Professor Dumbledore stepped to the edge of a higher level of the floating platform and held his long wand to his neck, "Good morning Ladies and Gentleman and welcome to the second task of the Triwizard Tournament." There was a round of applause and cheering from the spectators, "Something has been taken from each of our four champions and they will have an hour to retrieve it, upon completion of the previous task they received a clue that served to prepare them for this task."
Come seek us where our voices sound,
We cannot sing above the ground.
An hour long you'll have to look,
To recover what we took.
"All champions at their marks," Professor Dumbledore's voice boomed over the still water, "At the sound of the canon you will begin; one, two, three!"
There was a loud explosion and the gillyweed moved from palm to lips; The lake was cold as ice upon initial impact, it seemed gillyweed makes one cold-blooded as the difference between body temperature and the temperature of the lake water was soon negligible. A sharp pain seared the pale skin above the collar bone on either side as human physiology changed, gills appeared and connected with trachea, fingers webbed and elongated, fins sprouted from radius and vertebrae, and feet transformed into flippers.
The entire peripheral vision was tinted green but did not seem to have an adverse effect on the eyes, supposedly due to the nature of the gillyweed. As the transformation took place in a mess of convulsing limbs, the second Hogwarts champion was sinking at an increasing rate.
'Get your bearings, you're sinking.' An angry voice scolded, 'up is the direction that sunlight is faintly filtering from, get your head in the game. By the way, you're still sinking.' Limbs started responding and the mind kicked into high gear, movement was achieved but there was no clear route to the desired destination; every direction looked the same.
"Hi Harry," a vaguely familiar but terribly forgettable voice called out, "you're looking different, try something new with your hair?"
"No, I'm on a new diet," the quip came without effort, "has me turning into a more aquatic me."
"You're cute when you're being funny," Moaning Mertyl giggled as she floated through the water in a manner similar to which she did the air.
"Thanks," a thought, "do you come to the lake often Mertyl?"
"Yes, thank you for asking," Mertyl got as close as she could to smiling, "if I'm in the pipes and a large quantity of water floods through then I get washed out here?"
"The sewage drains into the lake?"
"No silly," Mertyl scoffed, "Why would I be in a sewage pipe? I'm not sure where the water comes from, I suppose it is just passing through."
"Oh," false realisation dawning, "I see what you mean. Mertyl, do you know which way the mermaid village is?"
Mertyl pointed out in one general direction, she was rewarded with a smile and a wave. Taking off in that direction, a number of thoughts circled; what had they taken? This morning nothing appeared to be missing, not at first glance. Swimming was a lot more physically taxing than any other physical activity and it was taking its toll. There was no indication as to how near he was to the merfolk's village, for a moment a fear that Mertyl had given false directions crept in. It felt as though the lake was larger beneath the surface, and the dark murky water did nothing to ease fear. When it seemed that all hope was lost, below shone the merfolk village. A misplaced deep breath and a great dive, finally faced with what had been taken; Ron, Kurt and Hermione.
"Is this the thing I have to recover?"
"Yes," the trident wielding mermaid on guard hissed, "pick the one taken from you."
"Do you know which one was taken from me?" a furrowed brow and a smirk to boot, "I'm not sure which one is mine, you see three out of four are my friends."
"Pick one."
"What happens if I pick the wrong one?"
"Then the one meant for you will be left to rot down here."
"Then can I take all three? I like my friends and I don't want to see any of them rotting."
"Only one!"
"I don't like that," distraction came in the form of Cedric Diggory, he appeared with a bubble over his mouth and severed the piece of seaweed that was holding Kurt in place. The older boy tapped his wrist with his wand and swam off with Kurt under his arm. Based on Cedric's actions, it could be extrapolated that Viktor would be getting Hermione and therefore the task was to collect Ron.
'Then why aren't you collecting Ron and getting a move on? You might actually finish second if you move quickly.' The voice was correct, it wasn't real but it was still right. With a quick wand movement and the severing charm's incantation, Ron was secured underarm and they began their ascent. Ron was a lot heavier than he looked and it made their ascent a tad difficult, the taller boy would have to cut down on his intake of bacon sandwiches.
Just as they were at a depth where the sunlight was filtering in again, the tentacle of a grindylow grabbed the pair and began dragging them down. It became a choice of dropping Ron and freeing them both or letting themselves be dragged to the murky depths. Their saving grace came in a peculiar form, a shark swam by the pair and frightened off the grindylows, "Krum."
They broke the surface to find Kurt scolding everyone within arm's length whilst Cedric tried to restrain and dry him, Ron gave up the statue act and began panicking; flailing wildly and beating the lake's surface. The gillyweed's transformation reversed itself when they'd exited the lake.
As the two champions and their rescued captives sat on the platform, Kurt kept complaining about how dirty he was, how his hair might never recover and how the use of unwilling innocent bystanders was completely barbaric. It wasn't long afterwards that they were joined by Viktor Krum and Hermione Granger, the latter echoed Kurt's sentiments; on the innocent bystanders' part, she was certain her hair would recover.
A few minutes outside of time, Fleur Delacour surfaced with a little blonde girl who must have been her sister due to the striking resemblance. Then again, maybe not; Kurt resembled a great number of people who he wasn't related to, or was he related to them? An enquiry would have to be launched.
"All four Champions have completed the task," Ludo Bagman's voice echoed over the now still surface of the lake, "The finishing positions are as follows; in fourth place is Fleur Delacour of Beauxbatons, in third place is Viktor Krum of Durmstrang, in second place is Harry Potter of Hogwarts, and in first place is Cedric Diggory of Hogwarts."
There was loud cheering that echoed all around the Black lake and by extension the school grounds.
~0~
Kurt:
"Harry," Kurt smiled for the first time that day, "Have you thanked the person who provided you with Gillyweed."
"I was meaning to thank you," Harry blushed.
"Me?" Kurt raised a finely sculpted brow, "Don't be absurd, I didn't do it."
"No," Harry furrowed his brow.
"No," Hermione agreed, "the person who sent you that plant must be both well connected and intelligent."
"You see," Ron shrugged, "that's why Kurt is the logical response, is anybody more connected than Kurt? But then on the other end of the spectrum, Kurt's Herbology isn't good enough for him to know about gillyweed; Fred and George said that was Newt level stuff. They haven't even learned about it."
"Fred and George aren't even sure which subjects they have OWLs for," Kurt scoffed, "so me and the 'A' I have for Herbology don't really care what they have to say."
"It was Neville," Harry announced.
"Get that boy a Noddy badge," Hermione chuckled.
"Now," Kurt schooled his features, "I was sulking."
"Oh, give it up," Ron threw an arm over his shoulder, "Sirius won't get caught."
"Maybe not," Kurt untangled himself from the other boy's arm, "but he's not just risking his own life by living dangerously, we're all accomplices now. That means jail time if this goes sideways."
"Jail time?" Ron squeaked, "For what?"
"Aiding and abiding a felon," Hermione rolled her eyes.
"On the bright side," Ron smiled, "if we go to prison then we can meet Kurt's parents."
Kurt turned to the red haired boy with a raised eyebrow, "you want to do this now? In front of the kids?"
"At least we'll be connected," Hermione shrugged.
"I think you two should stop talking about meeting Bellatrix and Rudolphus LeStrange in Azkaban," Harry interjected, "I think Kurt is moments from separating your bodies from your heads."
"Then I could join he headless hunt," Ron beamed, "sexy."
"Not my head," Hermione shook her head, "it's my best feature. You can have an arm or something."
"I would take a leg but those go all the way up," Kurt shrugged, "Where would I even begin to cut?"
"You're sweet," Hermione smiled.
"I am," Kurt nodded to himself, "I've got too big a heart."
"You've got too big a heart Kurt," the trio chorused as they turned off the main road onto a foot path.
"I bet you he won't have anything special to tell us," Kurt grumbled, glad he'd worn boots.
"He can explain why Mr Crouch was searching Professor Snape's ingredients alcove," Harry shrugged.
"Because Professor Snape was a Death Eater before defecting to the good side," Kurt shrugged nonchalantly, "he was probably looking for evidence that Professor Snape is still practicing the dark arts."
"How do you know that?" Ron's jaw hung open.
Kurt shrugged again, "Professor Dumbledore showed me a memory of Don Karkaroff's trial."
"Igor Karkaroff was a Death Eater?" Ron squeaked.
"Honestly," Hermione rolled her eyes, "Do you see how much you miss when you're busy being an asshole."
"I get it," Ron shrank into himself, "me being an asshole is counterproductive to Nancy Drew."
"Just like this trip," Kurt threw in with a smirk.
Harry quirked a curious brow, "Is that why Karkaroff was trying to show Snape something on his forearm?"
"Exactly," Kurt nodded, "that's where the dark mark should be."
"So," Ron said, glossing over Kurt's comment, "Do we think one of them put Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire?"
"No," Kurt shook his head, "Professor Snape defected and Don Karkaroff turned state informant, if Harry's dreams are anything to go by and the Dark Lord is planning his return, he wouldn't use them because they are out of favour with him."
"Did you just call him 'the Dark Lord'?" Hermione scoffed.
"What should I have called him?"
"I don't know," she shrugged, "not that."
"Is Lord Voldemort better?"
Hermione shook her head, "both of those make you sound like one of his followers."
"We're here," Harry interrupted.
"It's just a cave," Kurt rolled his eyes, "there isn't a concealment charm or any form of warding hex."
"That would raise suspicions," Sirius spoke, having transformed from his animagus form the moment before.
"Hello Sirius," Kurt crossed his arms.
"Kurt," the man smiled, "how lovely to see you again."
Kurt wrinkled his nose, "when was the last time you showered?"
"You're funny," Sirius grinned once more. He gestured to the discarded daily prophets strewn all around him, "I've been trying to keep up to date but there are somethings I can't read in the newspapers, you're going to have to get me updated."
"It started the day before the world cup when I had a dream of Voldemort with Wormtail and some other man, my scar was burning like menorahs on fire but I put the mofo on voicemail," Harry began to explain, "then we go to the World Cup final, get wasted and everything is fine until the Death Eaters crash the party."
"The wizard reaction is to panic instead of realising that there were fifty thousand magic users to ten death eaters," Kurt pointed out.
"We're all running for our live," Hermione shot him a reprimanding look, "but Harry falls down."
"I get up and everything is over, I realise that I don't have my wand" Harry explained. He goes on to explain how everything happened, from Hermione and Kurt taking on the world, to them being accused of doing committing the crime, to Winky having Harry's wand, and finally the strange way Mr Crouch behaved.
"That is a lot to take in," Sirius took a deep breath, "Crouch is notorious for being harsh, I'm not surprised he would punish insubordination harshly. You know, he's the one who sent me to Azkaban without a trial. He was on the fast track to Minister for Magic, people had a positive response to his strategy for dealing with Death Eaters when he was the head of Magical Law Enforcement. He'd be minister now if wasn't for the thing with his son."
"He had a son?" Ron quirked a brow.
"Yes, his son was discovered to be in cahoots with Death Eaters," Kurt explained, "He was arrested and Mr Crouch showed his son no mercy, sentenced him to life in prison."
"Yes, Kurt is quite right," Sirius nodded, "people couldn't believe he would do that to his own son."
"The matter was exacerbated by the fact that his son died in Azkaban," Kurt explained, "and then weeks later, his wife died."
"The public believed that he was a bad father," Sirius shook his head solemnly.
"Well," Hermione echoed the solemn tone, "I guess all that has caught up with him, he's been ill for a while. Poor man, it's unnatural to outlive your child."
"He must not be that ill if he was searching Professor Snape's alcove," Ron shrugged.
"Ronald," Kurt scolded, "Try a little sensitivity."
"Maybe he was looking for the ingredients to brew a cure," Hermione suggested.
"Why not just go to St Mungo's?" Ron countered.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "it makes more sense that a man who can convict people without giving them a trial, who mistreats his house elf, and who permits Aurors to practice the darkest magic, would be looking for ingredients because he clearly doesn't need any evidence to throw people in Azkaban."
"I concur," Sirius grinned, "many people in the wizarding community trust Snape because Dumbledore trusts Snape. They ignore the fact that he used to be friends with that group of Slytherins who became Death Eaters and his leanings towards the dark arts."
"Let's not jump to conclusions," Kurt interjected, "that might be against your basics instincts as Gryffindors but let us try something different, basing our conclusions on factual premises."
"How are you telling us not jump to conclusions?" Ron chided Kurt, "You, yourself, said that Professor Snape used to be a Death Eater."
"I based that statement on facts," Kurt raised an interjectory finger, "not a 'feeling in my bones'."
"Why…" Sirius stopped mid-statement, "the feeling is more in my gut, does that help?"
"Not really," Hermione squeezed between Kurt and Sirius before they could turn this into a personal thing, "Kurt, with good reason, is sensitive to the judgement of ordinary behaviours as something more sinister."
Harry furrowed his brow, "Like what?"
"The fact that making friends with Slytherins who might go bad makes you bad by association," Kurt groaned, "People always says that there's not a wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin but Professor Quirrel was a former Ravenclaw."
"Hey," Harry raised his hands in surrender, "that was one time."
"You really know your Death Eater history," Sirius smirked.
"It's because-" Ron began but Kurt elbowed him in the ribs, "What?"
"We're not telling everyone," Kurt hissed.
"Not everyone," Ron shrugged, "just Sirius."
"Today it's Sirius, tomorrow it's the daily prophet and Rita Skeeter," Kurt crossed his arms, "we're not telling people."
Sirius smirked, "What aren't you telling people?"
"I'm confused," Ron furrowed his brow, "Why aren't we telling people?"
"Because it's personal and Kurt will begin discussing the matter when he feels comfortable with letting the masses know the intimate details of his life," Hermione explained, "the journey Kurt is on is complicated and deeply personal."
"I didn't think it was that big a deal," Ron nodded slowly.
"I'm so curious," Sirius rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
"It's really not that interesting," Ron shook his head.
Harry raised a curious brow, "In what way is that new piece of information about Kurt not interesting?"
"New?" Ron furrowed his brow, "Hardly, we've known since first year."
"You've known since first year?" Kurt furrowed his brow.
"Yea," Ron gave Harry, Hermione and Kurt a curious glance, "it was pretty obvious."
"Obvious?" Hermione furrowed her brow, "what are you talking about?"
"How much Kurt loves History of Magic, what are you on about?" Realisation dawned on Ron's face, "I see, you thought I meant the other thing."
"Yes," the three chorused.
"Have some faith in me," Ron crossed his arms indignantly.
"We really should have more faith in you," Kurt agreed, "You haven't told anybody yet. A feat when you consider that we were fighting."
"Well," Ron scratched the side of his nose nervously, "About that…"
"Who did you tell?"
"I might have told mum…" Ron flinched "and Dad… and Charlie… and, if she didn't already know, Luna. I didn't tell them details, just the jest."
"When did you have the time to tell so many people?" Hermione gaped at him.
"All my friends weren't talking to me," Ron pointed out, "I had time."
"Why would you tell people?" Kurt furrowed his brow, "was it some kind of conversation starter?"
"Take you four out of the equation and my life isn't as interesting as you'd think," Ron admitted, "without you three there are no fugitives of the law in my life."
"That is truly touching but is anybody going to tell me about Kurt?" Sirius directed the question to Harry.
"You're not going hear it from me," Harry shrugged, "just like you wouldn't betray the trust of your friends, you can't expect me to do it to my friends."
"As touching as that gesture is," Kurt grinned, "the jest is as close as any of you can get to telling somebody."
"Unless we team up," Hermione pointed out, "I could tell a little, Ron could divulge some different but related info and Harry could deliver the closing remarks."
"Yeah," Kurt rolled his eyes, "but would you?"
"I'm really enjoying this living thing I've been doing lately," Harry grinned, "I'm kind of famous for it."
"Ten points to Gryffindor," Kurt smirked. His smile fell almost as quickly as it had come, "how did we get to this topic of conversation?"
"You were lecturing us on jumping to conclusions," Harry explained, "you were going on about how it's not fair that people say that there's not a wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin."
"Yes," Kurt nodded, "think about what it means to defect, not just from a political belief but out from under a murderous lunatic. It's a complex issue and it should be dealt with delicately."
"How's about I ask Percy how sick Mr Crouch is in a letter," Ron suggested, "that way we can find out if he's still working on the side or if he's dying and trying to settle old scores."
"Ron," Hermione swiftly picked her jaw up, off the floor, "that's brilliant, it will give us inside perspective but it must be carefully worded."
"I'll have Neville whip something up," Kurt nodded his agreement.
"Neville Longbottom?" Harry and Ron chorused.
"Of course," Hermione rolled her eyes.
"His fantastic fear of everything makes him quite the word smith," Kurt shook his head at the pair, "he has a way with words so as not to anger anyone, more than can be said for the two of you."
Ron crossed his arms, "We have plenty of sensitivity."
"We really don't," Harry shook his head, "we were just insensitive to Neville's feelings."
"Granted but we didn't mean any malice by it," Ron shrugged.
"We all have our tasks," Kurt interjected, "Ron can work on his letter to Percy with Neville, Harry can prepare for the next task. Hermione and I will finish our work from our extra classes."
"What should I do?" Sirius grinned.
"There isn't much to do," Hermione shrugged, "You can pretend you don't exist."
"Keep a low profile," Kurt smiled.
"Stay under the radar," Harry agreed.
"Don't get us arrested," Ron scolded.
Hope you like it!