Harry Potter had always been a fan of wrestling, ever since he was a young boy. He had watched his fair share of WWE matches and dreamed of one day becoming a wrestler himself, just like his dad had been.
Joining a London based promotion, he was spotted by WWE scouts who signed him up as part of the new NXT:UK show. And thus, Tharpe Torry was born.
Tharpe Torry was a heel wrestler, meaning that his character was a bad guy, someone the audience loved to hate. He had a mean streak and wasn't afraid to use it. His signature move was the Torry Twist, a submission hold that left his opponents writhing in pain.
Harry loved playing Tharpe Torry. It was a chance to let loose, to be someone completely different from himself. He threw himself into the character, creating a backstory for him, deciding how he would act in and out of the ring.
Tharpe Torry was a loner, someone who had been pushed around his entire life. His parents had died when he was a child, and Tharpe had grew up on the streets. Completely different to Harry, who had loving parents and siblings who he adored.
But Harry didn't mind the contrast. He relished in the chance to act, to play a character that was so different from who he really was. He was a performer, and he was damn good at it.
His family were his biggest fans. They loved coming to watch him wrestle, even if they didn't always like the character he was playing. His sister Rose would always tease him about how mean he looked in the ring, while his dad, James, a former WWE wrestler, would give him tips on how to improve his technique.
But despite the support of his family, there was something missing for Harry. He longed for a love interest, someone to share his life with, someone who understood his passion for wrestling.
It was his dad, who was one of the writers for NXT:UK, who came up with the idea.
"Hey, how about we have Tharpe Torry start a storyline with the ring announcer, Hermione Granger?" he suggested.
Harry raised an eyebrow. "What kind of storyline?"
James grinned. "Well, she could be the one person who sees past the tough exterior of Tharpe Torry. She could start to soften him up, make him a little more of a sympathetic character."
Harry nodded slowly, considering the idea. It could work. He had always admired Hermione Granger, the ring announcer. She was intelligent, quick-witted and confident, and always looked stunning in her black dress and heels.
"Why not? Let's give it a try," Harry said with a shrug.
"Great. I've already spoken to Hermione about this, and she told me that she would love to run with it." James said.
And so, the storyline began. Tharpe Torry would come out for his matches, sneering at the audience, until Hermione Granger's voice would come over the loudspeakers. She would introduce him, her voice softening as she spoke, and Tharpe would pause, looking up at her with a newfound interest.
Over the next few weeks, they would have little interactions, Harry as Tharpe Torry would try to intimidate her, doing things like stealing her microphone, or breaking the chair she sat on during matches. During one match he threw another wrestler towards her!
Even though they chuckled at the idea when Harry, his real-life best friend Draco Malfoy (who was the other wrestler) and Hermione practiced it, on stage, she had to tell him off for doing that.
Harry and Hermione were in hysterics, laughing about how Harry's character was behaving. Draco, on the other hand, was moaning like a drama queen.
"Come on, Draco, it's just part of the storyline," Harry said, patting his friend on the back.
"I know, I know," Draco replied, rolling his eyes. "But still, I don't like seeing you throw me towards Hermione like that."
Hermione smiled, trying to ease Draco's worries. "Don't worry, Draco, it's all part of the show. You did a great job, by the way."
Draco grinned, his mood lifting. "Thanks, Hermione. I appreciate it."
The three of them continued to chat, discussing their next storyline and perfecting their performances. Harry couldn't help but steal glances at Hermione, admiring her beauty and her intelligence.
He knew that their relationship had started as a storyline, but as the weeks went on, he found himself growing more and more attached to her. They had gone on a few dates off-screen, and Harry knew that he was starting to fall for her.
But he also knew that they couldn't let their real-life feelings interfere with their on-screen performance. They had a job to do, and they had to do it well.
As they continued to chat, the person who was incharge of NXT and NXT:UK, the wrestler known as Triple H, walked up to them. "Hey guys, can I have a word with you?"
Harry, Hermione, and Draco all looked at each other, curious as to what Hunter wanted to talk about.
"Sure, what's up?" Harry asked.
"I just wanted to say that I've been really impressed with all of your performances lately. You guys have really brought your characters to life, and the audience is loving it," Hunter said with a smile.
The three wrestlers all smiled back, proud of their work.
"But I wanted to talk to you specifically, Harry," Hunter continued. "I have an idea for your character, something that could really elevate you to the next level."
Harry's interest was piqued. "What's the idea?"
Hunter grinned. "We're thinking of making you a face wrestler, a good guy. We're going to have you start to question your role as a heel, and eventually, you're going to turn your back on your old ways and become a hero."
Harry's mouth dropped open. He had always dreamed of playing a face character, but he never thought it would actually happen. "Are you serious?"
"Completely serious. We think it would be a great move for your character, and for the show in general," Hunter said. "But we need your commitment. You have to be willing to let go of Tharpe Torry and embrace this new character."
Harry thought about it for a moment. He knew that it was a risky move, but he also knew that it could take his career to the next level. And more importantly, he knew that Hermione would be by his side, supporting him every step of the way.
"I'm in," Harry said with a nod. "Let's do it."
Over the next few weeks, Harry's character slowly started to change. He started to question his role as a heel, wondering if he was truly happy being the bad guy. He started to show more compassion towards his opponents, and even towards Hermione.
The fans were completely behind Tharpe Torry as he continued to win match after match, each time showcasing his newfound respect for the audience and his opponents. And he knew it was all thanks to Hermione.
She had a natural ability to connect with people, and it showed in the way she interacted with the fans. As Tharpe Torry's manager, she was able to bring out the best in him and help him become the superstar he was meant to be.
Their love story had captivated the audience, and it seemed like everyone was rooting for them. They would often receive letters and messages from fans, expressing their admiration for their relationship and the way it had blossomed on screen.
But their real-life relationship was just as intense. Harry and Hermione had started dating after the first few weeks of their storyline, and it had been a whirlwind romance ever since.
Harry loved the way Hermione would smile at him when they were alone, or the way she would touch his hand when they were out in public. He loved the way she would talk about their future together, imagining what their life would be like once they were married.
And Hermione loved Harry just as much. She loved the way he would hold her in his arms, or the way he would kiss her passionately after a match. She loved the way he would make her laugh, even when she was feeling down.
But there was one person who wasn't happy about their relationship: Draco Malfoy.
Draco had been Harry's best friend since they were children, and he had been supportive of Harry's wrestling career from the very beginning. But as Tharpe Torry turned face, Draco had been forced to turn heel, becoming 'Lord Malfoy', a rich and arrogant wrestler who believed he was above everyone else.
And with his newfound heel status came a newfound jealousy. He didn't like the way Hermione and Harry were together, and he didn't like the way the fans were starting to turn against him.
But he didn't let his jealousy get in the way of his friendship. He would often hang out with Harry and Hermione, listening to them talk about their future plans and teasing them about their on-screen romance.
One night, as they were all hanging out in Harry's hotel room, Draco brought up the elephant in the room.
"Hey, can we talk about the storyline for a minute?" he asked.
Harry and Hermione looked at each other, unsure of what to say. They knew what he was really getting at.
"Sure, what about it?" Harry replied.
"I just think it's getting a little too intense, you know? I mean, it's great and all, but I don't want it to start affecting our real-life friendship," Draco said.
Hermione spoke up. "Don't worry, Draco. We know where to draw the line. We're professionals, after all."
Draco nodded, still looking a little uneasy. "I know, I know. It's just... I don't want to see you guys get hurt, you know?"
Harry smiled at his friend. "Thanks, Draco. But we're both adults. We can handle it."
The conversation soon turned to other things, and the trio spent the rest of the night laughing and joking around. But Harry couldn't shake the feeling that there was something else going on with Draco.
Over the next few weeks, Harry noticed that Draco had become more distant. He would still hang out with them, but he seemed preoccupied, like he had something on his mind.
Harry tried to talk to him about it, but Draco would always brush it off, saying he was just tired or stressed.
But Harry knew better. He knew that something was bothering his friend, and he was determined to find out what it was.-
