I do not own Bleach or Harry Potter the both belong respectively to Tite Kubo and J.K. Rowling
Over the next couple of days, Harry couldn't help but be reminded of Lorene's warning about how quickly wizards would turn on him. It pained him to admit that she was right.
He had hoped that things would improve once everyone got used to the idea of him being a champion. But it was made clear that short of his friends, everyone thought Harry had entered himself into the tournament. Unlike the Gryffindors, however they weren't impressed.
Even the Hufflepuffs, who usually were on good terms with Gryffindors, had turned cold towards them. Feeling like he had stolen their champion's glory; a feeling worsened, perhaps, by the fact that Hufflepuff House rarely got any glory. Even Prof. Sprout seemed distant towards Harry during their last Herbology lesson, during which, a Bouncing Bulb wriggled free from his grasp and smacked him hard in the face, sparking cruel laughter from the Hufflepuff students.
As he, Ron, and Hermione headed to Care of Magical Creatures, Harry couldn't help but worry that Hagrid wouldn't believe him.
"Harry, don't worry I'm sure Hagrid will believe you" said Hermione. "I mean it's obvious you didn't enter yourself. Just from the look on your face when Dumbledore read your name. The only question is: who put it in? Because Moody's right, Harry, I don't think a student could've done it."
"So did you tell Sirius and Remus?" asked Ron
"No way" said Harry. "They'd just come down here and make a big fuss."
"They'd want you to tell them" said Hermione. "They're going to find out eventually."
"How?"
"Harry, this isn't going to be kept quiet. The tournament is famous, you're famous. I'm surprised we haven't seen anything in the Daily Prophet already."
"Ok fine, I'll write to them tonight" Harry sighed, he wasn't looking forward to this.
But as Harry worried about how he was going to explain himself, he failed to notice the pinched look on Ron's face. However, this wasn't missed by Hermione, who gave the Weasley boy a concerned look, to which he responded with a wistful smile.
In truth despite believing in his friend's innocence, part of Ron was jealous of Harry, if only for the simple fact that he still longed to distinguish himself from his older brothers. Honestly if Hermione hadn't spoken with him, he wasn't so sure if he would've been able to control his stupid jealousy. Watching Harry rely on them as his life line made Ron thankful he'd listened to her.
Reaching Hagrid's hut, the trio was forced to deal with Malfoy and the rest of the Slytherins for the first time since Harry had become a champion. Predictably, Malfoy couldn't resist opening his mouth.
"Look boys, it's the champion" he said to Crabbe and Goyle the instant Harry got within earshot. "Got your autograph books? Better get one now, because I doubt Potter's going to be around much longer. Half the Triwizard champions have died; how long do you think you're going to last Potter? Ten minutes into the first task's my bet."
Crabbe and Goyle, started laughing like good henchmen, but Malfoy had to stop there, as Hagrid emerged from his home, balancing a teetering tower of crates, each containing a large Blast-Ended Skrewt. To the class' horror, Hagrid proceeded to explain that the skrewts had been killing each other due to pent up energy. The solution being that each student would be taking them on a short walk.
"Take this thing for a walk?" Malfoy repeated in disgust, staring into one of the boxes. "And where exactly are we supposed to fix the leash? Around the string, the blasting end, or the sucker?"
"Round the middle" said Hagrid, demonstrating. "Err-you might want to put on your dragon hide gloves as an extra precaution. Harry, you come here and help me with these big ones."
Hagrid's real intention, however was to talk to Harry away from the rest of the class. Waiting until everyone else had set off with their skrewts, Hagrid turned to Harry and in a very serious voice said "So you're competing, Harry. In the tournament. School champion."
"One of the champions" Harry corrected him.
"No idea who put you in for it, Harry?"
"You believe I didn't do it, then?"
"Course I do" Hagrid grunted. "You said it wasn't you and I believe you. Dumbledore believes you too."
Unfortunately, now days, it really didn't matter to Harry if Dumbledore believed him or not. In truth he wouldn't be surprised if the old man had or at least knows something about how he got entered into the tournament. But still, Harry knew how devoted to Dumbledore, Hagrid was so he thought it best to keep silent about his split from the headmaster.
Instead they watched as the now widely scattered class struggled against the now much larger skrewts. The creatures were now over three feet long, and extremely powerful. No longer shell-less and colorless, the skrewts have developed a kind of thick, grayish, shiny armor. The looked like a cross between giant scorpions and elongated crabs. Though they still didn't have a recognizable head or eyes.
"Looks like they're having fun, don't they" Hagrid said happily.
Once again, Harry thought it best not to say anything as it was obvious that his classmates were having anything but fun.
The next few days were some of Harry's worst at Hogwarts. Painfully reminiscent of his second year, when a large part of the school suspected him of being the Heir of Slytherin. It was only his friends' support that got Harry through the days. Nevertheless, it was still a question of how much more could he take.
The constant scorn from the other houses was starting to wear Harry down. It had already reached the point where it effected his spell casting. Just in his last Charms class, Harry did so badly that was assigned the Summoning Charm for homework-the only one aside from Neville.
"It's really not that hard" said Hermione, trying to be reassuring. "You just weren't concentrating enough."
"Gee, I wonder why" Harry said darkly. "I need a Hollow to kill."
"Huh, guess it's not listening mate" said Ron, looking at Harry's combat pass expectantly.
"Figures. Come on, we've still got Double Potions."
Potions was always a horrible experience, but these days it was nothing short of torture. Trapped in a dungeon with Snape and the Slytherins, all of them determined to punish Harry for daring to be school champion.
When they arrived they found the Slytherins waiting outside Snape's door, each of them wearing a large badge on the front of their robes. For one moment, Harry thought they were some of Hermione's S.O.M.E. badges- then he saw they all were marked in bright red letters:
SUPPORT CEDRIC DIGGORY- THE REAL HOGWARTS CHAMPION
"Like them, Potter?" Draco said loudly, as they approached. "And this isn't all they do-look!"
He pressed his badge into his chest, and the message vanished, to be replaced with another one, this one glowing green:
POTTER STINKS
The rest of the Slytherins followed suit, all howling with laughter, as their badges shined brightly around Harry.
"Oh very funny" Hermione said sarcastically. "Really witty."
'Want one, Granger?" said Malfoy, holding a badge out to Hermione. "I've got loads. But don't touch my hand, now. I've just washed it you see; don't want mud-blood sliming it up."
Harry and Ron both moved to defend Hermione, each drawing their wands.
"Ron, Harry!" Hermione said warningly, as Malfoy drew his own wand backed by Crabbe and Goyle."
With Ron keeping the two gorillas in check, Harry squared off against the bouncing ferret himself.
"Go on, then Potter" Malfoy said quietly. "Moody's not here to look after you. Do it, if you've got the guts."
"Didn't need, Moody to beat your dad and his Death Eater pals" Harry countered.
For a split second, they looked each other in the eyes, then at exactly the same time they cast their spells.
"Furnunculus!" Harry cried.
"Densaugeo!" Malfoy screamed.
Jets of light shot from both wands, hitting each other in midair, causing them to ricochet. Harry's spell hit Goyle in the face while Malfoy's hit Hermione. Goyle bellowed, clutching his nose, where large ugly boils were springing up.
"Hermione!"
Ron hurried to her side, to see what was wrong. Harry turned and saw Ron pulling Hermione's hand away from her face. It wasn't a pretty sight. Hermione's front teeth- already larger than average were now growing at an alarming rate; she was looking more and more like a beaver by the second. With her teeth already now past her bottom lip, she let out a terrified cry.
"And what is all this noise about?" demanded Snape, arriving on the scene.
The Slytherins clamored to give their explanations; Snape pointed a long bony finger at Malfoy and said, "Explain."
"Potter attacked me, sir-"
"We attacked each other at the same time!" Harry snapped.
"- and he hit Goyle, look."
Snape examined Goyle, whose face now looked like he'd been struck with a poisonous fungus.
"Hospital wing, Goyle" Snape said calmly.
"Malfoy got Hermione!" said Ron. "Look!"
He forced Hermione to show Snape her teeth. She was doing her best to hide them with her hands, though this was difficult as they'd now grown down past her collar. Pansy Parkinson and the other Slytherin girls were doubled over with silent laughter, pointing at Hermione from behind Snape's back.
"I see no difference" said Snape, staring coldly at Hermione.
Hermione let out a whimper; her eyes filled with tears, she turned on her heel and ran, ran all the way up the corridor and out of sight.
Harry and Ron turned on the potions professor, shouting every foul name they could think of. The hall echoed with the sound of their rage and Snape just stood there sneering at them.
"Let's see" Snape sneered. "Fifty points from Gryffindor and a detention each for Potter and Weasley. Now get inside, or it'll be a week's worth of-ugh!"
Snape never got to finish his threat as Harry finally reached his breaking point. War drums pounding in his head, Harry focused all the spirit energy he could and fired at Snape "Hadō #1: Shō!"
Taken completely by surprise, Snape took the full force of Harry's kidō, blasting him far down the hall, landing in a painfully against the stone floor. The surrounding students just stood there, mouths gaping at the display of power. The Slytherins were even starting to worry that Harry would do the same to them.
Harry couldn't help but derive some sense of sadistic pleasure in watching the foul man, lay helpless on the ground, a victim to his power. As his anger continued to grow, he didn't notice that the sclera of his eyes were slowly turning black.
The sea of students split apart allowing Harry to pass as he approached the downed potions professor. Grabbing Snape by the collar, Harry practically snarled his words. "I know what you are. I know what you've done. If you know what's good for you, you'll leave me and my friends alone."
"Just like your father Potter, an arrogant little-ugh"
Harry released Snape's collar, leaving the man's head to fall painfully against the floor. He was considering hitting the potions professor with another, more powerful kidō, when Ron called out.
"Harry, we've got to find Hermione" said Ron, bringing his friend back to reality.
Harry's eyes cleared up returning to their natural color, leaving none the wiser about what had happened, as he joined Ron to search for their friend. None the wiser except, Yoruichi who had sensed another change in Harry's spiritual pressure.
Finding an empty classroom, Yoruichi transformed from her cat form back into her human form; she had a call to make.
"Yoruichi, how's it going?" Urahara greeted. "Were you just missing little old me?"
"More like I miss Tessai's cooking" said Yoruichi, smirking at her friend's subsequent comedic display of tears. "Ok enough playing around."
"Right" Kisuke agreed, his voice taking a much more serious tone. "So what've you got.
"No doubt about it, the change in spiritual pressure is definitely caused by Harry's emotions. More specifically anger, and I mean pure hatred. The kid even started to Hollowfy before his friend snapped him out of it. Just what the hell are we dealing with?"
"I can't be certain but I've got an idea. Just keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't go out of control."
"Oh sure Kisuke, keeping a teenager's temper under control should be a piece of cake" Yoruichi said sarcastically.
"Oh I'm sure you can handle it" Urahara said cheerfully, much to her annoyance.
"Mate that was brilliant" said Ron, as he and Harry went in search for Hermione.
"Yeah" Harry said absently, in truth he wasn't sure what came over him. He knew he was angry, vengeful even but he never would've imagined acting on it. Then again given what he knew about Snape's role in his parents' deaths, Harry had to give himself some credit in not just finishing the hateful man himself.
It wasn't hard to guess that Hermione would be heading to the hospital wing; the only problem was they ran into some undesired company on the way.
"Harry, I was just about to get you" said Colin Creevey. "You're needed upstairs."
"Not now, Colin" said Harry, pushing past the third year Gryffindor.
"But Mr. Bagman wants you. All the champions have to go. I think they're planning to take pictures."
All the more reason for me not to go Harry thought to himself, not stopping even as Colin trailed behind them.
"So we're just going to have him follow us?" asked Ron.
"Or until he gets the idea" said Harry. "Whichever comes first."
Turns out they weren't going to reach the hospital wing as they ran into none other than Dumbledore, who had been on his way to the gathering of champions.
"Mr. Creevey, why don't you hurry along. I'll see to it that Harry makes it to the ceremony" said Dumbledore, sending Colin on his way. He then looked over his glasses at the still present Ron. "Mr. Weasley, I believe Ms. Granger would appreciate some company in the hospital wing."
Ron hated to admit it, but despite knowing what the headmaster had done to Harry; Dumbledore's status as the world's most powerful wizard intimated him greatly. Glancing at his friend for a sign, Ron was relieved when Harry nodded, signaling for him to leave. Still just before he was out of sight, Ron took one last look back at his friend, as if afraid Harry would get into a fight with Dumbledore.
Now alone with Dumbledore, Harry's temper started to boil as the headmaster stood before him, expecting him to follow obediently.
"I know about Prof. Snape" Dumbledore said sternly. "You cannot go around attacking members of the staff."
"I told you to keep your pet Death Eater away from me" Harry replied coldly, his sclera slowly starting to darken. War drums were starting to pound in his head, tempting him to unleash his power on the old wizard.
"Harry, I understand you don't agree with how I handled things with Ms. Ravencroft but she made her own choices."
"It's not our abilities but our choices that define us. I remember the line. So Dumbledore, how do your choices define you?"
Dumbledore was saddened by the bite in Harry's words. Yes, perhaps he could've tried harder to aid the girl he had indirectly made an orphan. But as far as Harry was concerned, couldn't he see that he only had the best intentions. Dumbledore thought Harry far too young to shoulder the truth and considered the boy's attitude as proof of this.
"Harry, all I've ever worked for was the greater good" said Dumbledore. "I am not your enemy."
"Like hell you're not" Harry said venomously. "Your choices define you right? How about your choice to blackmail Lorene's mother? Or how after failing to protector her, your decision to throw her daughter into an orphanage and never look back.
Oh and let's not forget how you've been using me. You kept Snape, the man that sent Voldemort after my family, out of Azkaban. You hid the prophecy from me. And isn't it strange that three first years managed to make it through the protections around the Philosopher's stone? How many other lies or manipulations are there? Is this fiasco one of yours too?"
It hurt Dumbledore greatly to have his actions judged in such a light. To have the young boy, he felt he was forming a connection with. Still he couldn't deny that Harry had spoken only the truth; yes, he deliberately led Voldemort to the Philosopher's stone in hopes of testing both Harry's character and Lily's protection. Yes, he hid the existence of the prophecy from him in order to spare Harry's innocence, as he hadn't believed him ready for it.
But he would not allow himself to be accused of a sin he did not commit.
"I did not enter you into the tournament" Dumbledore said honestly. "I promise you, Harry that I will do my best to discover the one responsible."
"Your best" Harry scoffed, his eyes now noticeably darker.
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow in question as he now took note of the change, though he knew nothing that what would cause such a reaction in a person, human or otherwise.
As for Harry the war drums in his head were louder than ever, calling for him to put an end to the Hogwarts Headmaster. But before he could even begin to focus his powers, Yoruichi, in cat form, hoped onto his shoulder, the cat's claws digging into his skin, distracting him from his anger.
That's right time to calm down Yoruichi thought to herself, watching as Harry's eyes and spiritual pressure returned to normal.
Dumbledore also noticed the change and for a moment considered questioning Harry. Though he was forced to realize that Harry would never openly tell him anything now. Deciding to perhaps look into it later, Dumbledore led the reluctant Harry to where Bagman and the other champions were waiting.
All the while Yoruichi couldn't help but question her decision to agree to this. Keep a teenager's temper under control. Yeah this should be a cinch. It may be time for a change in tactic soon.
