I'm Here When You Need Me- Chapter 8
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is owned by the wonderfully talented J. K. Rowling, not me.
A/N: Please. I would like feedback. I just want to see what people think of this story. Reviews are love.
They ate slowly, then decided to take a walk around the grounds They held hands the whole time, and talked about many different things. They decided to see what Hagrid was up to, so they ambled over to his hut.
Sarah knocked on the door, and they heard howling from inside. Hagrid opened the door, and upon seeing who it was, his expression became cheery.
"Come on in. Its about time you came to see me," he said motioning them inside.
"Thanks Hagrid," Sarah said, climbing the stairs to the hut.
Harry and Sarah sat the enormous wooden table, while Hagrid put on some water for tea. He then placed some rock cakes on the table in front of them. While Hagrid's back was turned, Harry shook his head at Sarah, letting her know that it would be unwise for her to eat any.
After about an hour of talking to Hagrid, Harry and Sarah said their goodbyes. They slowly made their way back to the castle, so they could change into their dress robes. Once they got to the common room, many of their classmates were already downstairs in the Great Hall. They quickly changed, and practically ran to the feast. Finding their places, which unfortunately was facing the Slytherin table, Harry and Sarah sat down.
Dumbledore stood, and again, the room got quiet.
"Happy Halloween, everyone! At this time, I would like to introduce the schools that will be staying here this year. First we have the ladies of the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and their headmistress, Madam Maxime."
As soon as he finished, the doors to the Great Hall opened, and a group of girls, dressed in flowing blue robes, came walking into the room. They were all looking around them as they walked in, with condescending expressions on their faces. Madam Maxime was glancing around the room, a smirk on her face. It was apparent to everyone that she was a little different from other women. It looked like she, like Hagrid, had giant blood in her. She may not have been wide, but she was very tall, coming to Hagrid's eyes.
"Blimey, that's one big woman," Seamus said to Harry who laughed.
Once the girls were seated at the Ravenclaw table, Dumbledore spoke again.
"Now let me introduce the sons of Durmstrang and their high master, Igor Karkaroff,"
Tall, hulking boys stalked into the room, all wearing thick fur coats. Following them was a man who, from the look of him, hadn't bothered with personal hygiene. Ever. He had long, greasy, matted black hair, and teeth that would make anyone cringe. After Karkaroff, a boy who seemed out of place walked into the room. From all of the gasps and whispering that took place when he came into view, this was Viktor Krum. He noticed that everyone was talking about him, so he hurried to get to the Slytherin table where the rest of his classmates had sat.
"Oh Merlin! It's him!" Ron said in an excited whisper, watching Krum sit down.
"Ron, chill out," Hermione hissed.
All four of them looked at where Krum had sat. Right next to Malfoy, who was yet again staring at Sarah. She gave him a nasty look, and he turned away, with what appeared to be sadness on his usually haughty features. Dumbledore was beginning to resume his speech, so Sarah turned her gaze to him.
"Welcome, guests! We are all so pleased that you could come. The Triwizard Tournament will provide us all with the opportunity to get to know our fellow witches and wizards. This is a…"
Sarah stopped paying attention. She felt eyes boring into hers. Preparing to flip Malfoy off, Sarah turned to the Slytherin table only to be totally surprised. Viktor Krum was gazing at her, not Malfoy. Sarah could barely manage to grin at him, she was so shocked. He grinned back, mouthing "Hi," which she returned. Then she was brought out of her reverie when the whole student body started to shout, putting Krum out of her mind.
"Rubbish!"
"That's unfair!"
"Down with the Ministry!"
Sarah turned to Harry, with total confusion on her face.
"What's wrong?"
"Dumbledore just said that the Ministry won't let anyone under seventeen compete in the Tournament, for their safety," Harry said with amusement in his voice.
Sarah let this news sink in for a few seconds. Then she stood and started shouting with the other angry students. Harry knew she had wanted to compete, and thought her reaction was adorable. Just like at the Start-of-Term feast, Dumbledore amplified his voice.
"Silence, all of you!"
Everyone grumbled and sat down.
"Thank you. To make sure that no one under seventeen enters, I will be putting an age line around the Goblet of Fire. Here are the other conditions for entering. You must enter your name between tomorrow at nine in the morning and nine in the evening on the seventh of November. Just write your name on a slip of paper, and put it into the Goblet of Fire, which will be in the middle of this room. Now that the legal mumbo-jumbo is out of the way, let the feast begin!"
A glorious feast appeared on the tables. Not only were there traditional English dishes, but there were also select French and Northern European dishes too. The house elves out did themselves this time, Sarah thought.
After the feast, everyone made their way to their common rooms, with the exception of the guest students who were sleeping in whatever transportation device they brought. The Beauxbatons girls were in a massive horse-drawn carriage, while the Durmstrang boys were in a ship that sat on the Black Lake.
"Butterbeer," Sarah said to the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Correct," she said cheerily, opening the hole to the common room.
Sarah wasn't at all happy that she wouldn't be able to compete in the Tournament. She was hoping to be able to hold up the Triwizard Cup and show everyone, Roger Davies included, that she was more than just looks and wittiness. She also wanted to impress Harry, even though she knew deep down that she didn't need to.
"Well, it isn't like you won't be able to watch it," Harry said as they plopped onto the couch in front of the fire, putting his arm around her waist.
"I know, I just would really like to be part of it, you know," Sarah said, defeated.
"I know what you mean," Ron said. He had wanted to compete also, to prove to all, most of all himself, that he was more than 'the youngest Weasley brother'.
"I'm kind of glad about the age limit. With all the 'great things' that I'm supposed to do, it's a relief that I won't have to prove myself with the Tournament," Harry said, gazing at the fire.
"I understand, Harry," Sarah said, snuggling closer to him.
"Me too. The Tournament is a lot of pressure. I am surprised that they never had an age limit before," Hermione chimed in.
Ron still looked a little irritated, and then said, "I'm going to bed."
He then kissed Hermione, who bushed, hugged Sarah, and waved Harry goodnight.
"I think I will go too. We have Potions, first thing tomorrow," Hermione sighed, getting up and walking to the staircase.
"Looks like we are alone again," Harry said with a smirk, after he heard Hermione close the door to the dormitory.
"Looks like it," Sarah said, still watching the flames.
"I know what will cheer you up," he said his eyes fixed on hers.
She finally looked at him, grinning, and said, "What will cheer me up?"
Without another word, Harry kissed her. It was light, sweet, and short. Sarah obviously wasn't having any of that. So she grabbed him by the neck, taking him by surprise, and pulled him to her, in a deep, passionate kiss. When they pulled apart, Harry sighed, "Wow." He looked down at Sarah, who was giggling.
"You're cute when you laugh," Harry said.
"Yeah? What about the rest of the time?" she asked out of curiosity.
"Positively gorgeous," he replied gazing into her eyes.
Sarah blushed. "Thank you, Harry. You aren't so bad yourself."
With a hint of mischievousness in his voice, Harry said, "I'm not so bad, eh?"
Sarah caught the tone, and slowly started to get up.
"I meant you are the most handsome guy I have ever seen."
"Uh-huh," he said with a smirk, also getting up.
"What are you doing, Harry?"
He tried to look innocent while he responded with "Oh, nothing."
"I know that look. You're going to tickle me or something. I know you too well," she said with a small laugh, pointing at him.
"Oh, really?" Harry asked playfully, stepping toward Sarah.
Sarah started to walk backwards. She liked being tickled, but didn't want to be laughing hysterically while others were trying to sleep. Harry matched her step for step, until she turned around and sprinted for the portrait hole. He followed her, running out of the common room. Soon, Sarah became winded, and began to slow down. Harry noticed this, and he sped up, catching her. Both were out of breath, though were beaming. Harry pulled her close to him, and looked into her eyes. He leaned down and gently placed his lips on hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck, as he ran his hands up and down her sides. They had only been there for a few moments, when footsteps were heard right beside them.
"Ah. Mr. Potter and Miss Casing. Fifty points from Gryffindor for being out after curfew. And Potter, step away from her," said a cold voice.
Professor Snape then escorted the pair back to their common room. The whole way, Sarah was looking at the ground. She had felt that it was entirely her fault that they had just lost fifty House points. All the hard work of the Gryffindors in Herbology that past Friday, was now wasted. She hated Snape for catching her and Harry, but most of all, for punishing the whole House for what she had done. She would have understood if he had given her a detention instead, but this was low.
When they got back into the common room, Sarah was almost in tears. She had never lost House points, ever. This was a first for her, and it had been for something totally avoidable. Harry saw that she was upset, and pulled her into a tight, protective hug.
"It isn't your fault, Sarah," he said soothingly.
"Yes, it is. If I had gone up the girl's staircase instead of out the portrait hole, Gryffindor would still be in the lead for the House Cup. I just feel like I—,"
"Shh. If I hadn't chased you in the first place, this wouldn't have happened. And besides; it is still early in the year; we have time to make up the points. We can do it easily. It was only fifty. Anyway, do you know how many points I have lost Gryffindor in the course of my career? Lots more than fifty, I can tell you that."
Sarah looked down at the floor. Harry took his finger and put it under her chin, lifting her head. She smiled at him.
"You always know how to cheer me up, don't you?"
"I try."
They stood in each other's arms for a few minutes, before either spoke again.
"We should get to bed. Early class tomorrow and it's with Snape of all people," Sarah said.
"Yeah, we should," Harry said, kissing her again. "Goodnight, love."
"Night, hun. I will meet you here before breakfast, right?"
"Of course," said Harry, walking her to the staircase.
They gave each other one last hug before going up to their dorms.