AN- Hello peoples of the internet. The Betaing of this Dyslexic has been brought to you by Celran.

Thank you everyone for your reviews; i'm so glad you all are all happy with my portrayal of Fleur. I was always very fond of my character.

Additionally: I have been informed by my beta that many of you are under the impression that i am a girl. I am not offended by this but I am in fact a boy.

I hope you enjoy this next chapter.


Chapter 56

Cedric stayed close to Harry and Fleur over the next few days. Even Viktor caught on and joined the group. Though Harry suspected it was because he had a thing for Hermione.

They discussed what the task was. Viktor worried that being a seer was cheating, but after Harry gave him information on the dragons he seemed fine with it.

Harry had gotten letters back from his families. All of them. The Weasleys and the Woods were furious with the adults for letting a child compete. Sirius had another concern on his mind.

Sirius wrote a long letter giving Harry advice about Karkaroff. The man was a death eater. Sirius believed he had put Harry into the tournament. Harry himself knew better.

Since the 'incident' in Defence Mad eye, or Barty dressed as him, wouldn't look at him. At least not with his good eye. The man was carful around Harry now. Of course, he did need Harry, but that didn't mean he was completely safe. His information had given him a relative amount of protection but Harry couldn't go to the Headmaster. He wouldn't risk telling the man about the past or in his case future. This time, it would be Harry that decided what constituted the greater good. Not Dumbledore.

"Hurry up, Harry." Fleur took his hand and pulled him up to the room where the wand weighing ceremony was taking place.

"Meow." Zana complained as she rushed to keep up with her Harry. This strange silver human moved fast.

"Fleur, we're leaving Zana behind."

"Does your cat come everywhere with you?"

"Yeah, she sneaks into the bathroom sometimes."

"Zat is just strange."

"Mandy swims with Ron when he has a bath."

"Ah, ze beautiful Frog." Fleur opened the door.

"Harry, Fleur." Cedric greeted them. "Hi Zana."

"Meow." The cat was a part of Harry's identity. It was rare to see one without the other.

"Now all our champions are here, we can begin the wand weighing momentarily."

"Wand weighing?" Harry thought of both of the wands strapped to his forearms.

"Ah yes, we must check your wands are completely functional. They're your greatest tools in the coming months."

"What if someone has two?"

"Only soldiers and Aurous need two wands, Mr Potter."

"I have two."

"Oh?" The man looked down at the younger boy. "Why in merlin's name would you need two wands? You're twelve."

"I'm fourteen, and I get attacked a lot."

The man shook his head. "Well, you may keep your- primary wand and we will hold the other."

"Sounds fair." Harry unstrapped his secondary wand holster and handed it to the man. "Ivy; Phoenix feather."

"I see." He seemed shocked at how put together this boy was.

"May I steal our youngest champion, Ludo?" Rita Skeeter asked; Harry didn't hate many people, yet this woman didn't even give him a hard job of it. "I want a bit of background information."

"No thank you." Harry answered before anyone else tried to speak for him.

"Sorry?"

"I want to be interviewed like everyone else."

"Now Harry, it will only take a moment."

"Harry said he doesn't want to Mademoiselle." Fleur placed her hand on Harry's shoulder.

"We can all be interviewed together." Cedric insisted.

Rita looked startled. Harry moved between Cedric and Viktor. They went up to have their wands tested; Harry felt strangely vulnerable without his Ivy wand.

"Now for the Photographs." Rita looked exited. Harry was sure interviews were coming next. Madam Maxime was sat down with the other Judges around her. Fleur was placed in the same spot. Harry, as the shortest, stood to her right, with Cedric and Viktor behind her. Finally, everyone had a single picture taken where they were holding their wands.

"Now that's all settled, we have time for the interviews." Rita smiled and went to reach for Harry. Zana hissed at her. "Oh."

"Zana's a bit sensitive. Her hiss is worse than her bite." Harry wouldn't mention her claws.

"I see." The woman looked down at the cat. "Well Harry. I thought I would interview you first."

Harry shot back a plea of help to Cedric. "Umm sure, but can we stay here?"

"Wouldn't it be better to have somewhere a little more private?"

Fleur butted in. "Mademoiselle please, Harry looks ever so uncomfortable."

"Maybe we should call in Oliver." Cedric suggested. "Harry doesn't like to be alone with strangers."

"Well, I'm…"

"Maybe all the champions should just be interviewed together." Ludo Bagman suggested.

"Oui." Fleur agreed with a sweet smile.

"Of course." She forced her face into one of agreement. "But only the champions; make it as comfortable as possible." Rita didn't waste any time in noting down everything said. "Let's see, Harry dear, why did you put your name in the goblet?"

"I didn't."

"Come on, you don't need to lie here."

"I didn't put my name in."

"He didn't." Cedric agreed supportively. "We have evidence it wasn't him."

"I'm sure you do." She rolled her eyes to Harrys great annoyance. "Now, Miss Decolour. I heard you are half-veela."

"My grandmother was a veela. A Hair of hers is in both mine and my mother's wands."

"I see. What compelled you to put your name in the goblet? Was your veela nature a factor."

Fleurs eyebrows shot up. "Maybe. I wished to challenge myself."

"Mr Diggory why did you put your name in?

"To impress my father." Cedric spoked simply. "My classmates thought I would be the best."

"And Mr Krum?"

"My headmaster told me too." She waited for him to continue but didn't.

"So, I heard all three of you boys are seekers in Quidditch. Naturally Mr Krum you were at the world cup; did any of you three attend?"

"I did. I'm part Irish." Cedric told her. "My father insisted we go."

"I did, with my family." Harry told her as well to hopefully get attention off him. "I'm actually a huge fan of Viktor. I broke my arm last summer trying to do a Wronski Feint."

"I've failed that move many times, Harry." Viktor nodded to him.

"Now Harry, tell me about your parents." Rita asked.

"My foster parents are great. Eleanor has mended a few of my bones after a failed Quidditch move. I was practising chasing to help my brother. I should really stick to seeking."

"I meant your real parents." She responded, almost hungrily.

"Oh my birth parents. I don't remember them." Harry shrugged.

"Do you think they would be disappointed in you for putting your name in the goblet?"

"I didn't put my name in."

"Do you think they would be proud of you?"

"How should I know? They're dead! The have been almost all my life."

"Yes well hypothetically of course."

"You could ask my godfather, he actually knew them."

"Just try to imagine."

"Well, my foster parents are upset but think I can handle it. Ron is one of my best friends; his mother is outraged that someone put my name in. She's like a second mother to me. I think that would be how my birth mother would have reacted. My godfather is both proud and outraged I guess that's how my father would react. Happy now."

"Well yes." She checked that her quill had gotten it all down. "Okay what about your aunt and uncle. Tell me about them."

"Next question."

"Now Harry…."

"Next Question."

"Just one comment…" Rita cut off at the violent hiss that came from Zana.

"'ee doesn't vant to answered vat." Viktor spoke in a harsh voice. "Stop badgering the boy."

Rita straightened up; Viktor was a large man. "Okay what about your parents Mr Krum?"

Harry was glad to escape that hell.

"Harry you have got to see this load of Dragon crap!" Cedric waved the daily prophet around as he walked into the room of requirement. There weren't many people here today. It was only Harrys close Friends. Though Luna Lovegood and her friends were absent. Neville was present as were the Twins.

"Just let me finish here Cedric."

"This is an amazing place." Viktor signed his name down.

"Don't tell anyone at your school." Harry placed the coin into the larger boy's hand.

"Promise." Viktor was truthful. His name stayed perfectly black, not a glow in sight. Harry checked the hundreds of names once a week. He's probably end up doing it every day, when Umbridge arrived.

"Okay, let's hear what beetle breath has to say." Viktor, Fleur and most of the others came in to listen.

"Err- Hermione would you read it." Cedric begged; he was getting stage fright. Cedric didn't have the world's best reading voice.

"Sure. Right." She looked down at the page as she sat down. "Oh God."

Everyone laughed; Harry anticipated having a good laugh about this. "Read it exactly as she wrote it; it'll be funnier that way."

Fleur and Viktor looked across at the other Champions.

"Oh guys Rita Skeeter is the biggest joke in journalism. She only stays in business because people like to laugh at her work." Cedric explained.

"Right." Hermione peered down. 'The Tri-Wizard Tournament'

'I had the wonderful benefit of speaking to this year's FOUR champions. Victor Crumbs-' Hermione sniggered. 'Bulgarian Quidditch superstar heart throb. Veela girl Flare Declour from Beauxbatons. Kedrick Digger of Hogwarts. And of course Saviour of the wizarding world, poor little Harry Potter, the boy who lived.'

Harry couldn't help it he burst out laughing. "Oh god I can't do it. It's going to get worse, isn't it?"

"Much so." Cedric agreed with a grin. "Go on Hermione."

'Mr Potter is the youngest champion out of the group at only twelve.'

"Aren't you fourteen?"

"Yup." The amused look from Harry made Fleur grow quiet.

'Now it is common knowledge that poor Harry Potter had a hard life. First His parents were murdered. Then he was left to be abused by blasted muggles. Harry was understandably reluctant to speak about his parents and muggle relatives. It seemed far too painful for him to even recall. He said he wished his birth parents would be proud of him. That is why he entered the tournament to prove himself worthy of their sacrifice. Such a noble soul is Harry Potter.'

Harry slipped of his chair in giggles. It was nice to have a good laugh; heals the soul.

"Harry said nothing of the sort." Fleur insisted.

"Skeeter is getting worse." Draco sighed shaking his head.

"Do you want me to continue?"

Harry nodded as he caught his breath. "Let's see how much worse she gets."

'I did some reading on the information surrounding Harrys aunt and uncle. The muggles who abused him. Harry has many permanent injuries from the abuse he contracted. He has some bones that had to be re-mended despite being caused years before. The poor boy is likely in much physical pain.' Harry waved for Hermione to continue. 'On my own observation Harry was very small for twelve most likely a result of the horrible care of these muggles. It was disconcerting to see such long lasting trauma in the eyes of this poor boy. He is required to see a mind healer; who would give no comment.'

"This is awful." Ron complained.

"Hermione please keep going." Fray asked quietly.

"The poor boy spent most of his life locked in a cupboard. To inform you all muggle cupboards are very much smaller than wizard ones. According to the boy himself at his relatives trial he was barley fed at all by these horrible people. The savour of our world suffering through that sickens me to the core. He is fearful of strangers; he wouldn't even sit alone with me. He has a fear of small spaces and suffers nightmares. He has been rumoured to wake many people and paintings up. More on Muggles and Muggle raised Wizards on page 26.'

"I use silencing spells you idiot woman. I haven't woken anyone up in months."

"Vat is the problem you 'ave viv zat?" Viktor asked.

"Surprisingly its actually all true. A bit embellished but true all the same."

"Wow; I never knew." Fleur began.

"It doesn't matter."

"Gosh. You let her keep reading?"

"The whole world is going to have seen it Fleur. There's no point trying to hide it. But it is getting irritating. Does it stop soon, Kin?" Harry asked. Hermione's cat based nickname was shortened to Kin. It suited her.

"Kind of?" Hermione answered and read quickly not wanting to cause Harry any extra embarrassment.

'The boy rather than becoming withdrawn has used this to make him stronger. Such an amazing boy. But it must be noted that this boy was left with these awful muggles by none other than Professor Albus Dumbledore himself. This makes me wonder if the man is worthy of caring for children. More on this on page 17.'

Everyone shook their heads at this. The headmaster was perfect for the job; he didn't deserve such negativity.

'Even despite his hard beginning Harry was described by many people as a helpful soul. He goes out of his way to help all people.'

"Well at least that's true." Cedric rolled his eyes.

'And yet he remains the smartest child in his school.'

"Yea right." Ron contradicted. Everyone smiled at that.

'Harry being such an amazing and open person has captured the hearts of the other champions. They all think of Harry as a friend despite them being rivals. Harry alone does have many friends. Across all the housed and Ages at Hogwarts. He is best friends with Draco Black; Disowned Malfoy Heir whose father is set to marry next month. More on this on page 21."

"Say what?!"

"Are you okay, Dray?"

"He's getting married‽" Draco sneered. "He's trying to replace me and mother. Damn it that hurts."

Harry moved to put his hand on Draco's shoulder. "Yeah. It'll be okay."

"He's a prick." Ron agreed.

"Leave this; it getting boring." Cedric stood up.

"Thank god; there were two more pages of this drivel left." Hermione folded up the paper and tossed it away.

"Your country needs better journalists." Viktor laughed.

"Don't we know it!" The rest of the room agreed.


AN- Hope you liked it. New chapters coming as soon as possible. ~T.I.A