I'm Here When You Need Me- Chapter 14
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
A/N: Please review! I would be forever greatful!
The first Task was three weeks away. Harry was getting more and more nervous as the days went on, and it didn't help that the other three Champions didn't seem fazed at all. When the first article about the Tournament appeared in the Daily Prophet, Harry's situation didn't get any better. At the Wand Weighing, Harry and the other Champions were to give an interview with Rita Skeeter, a Prophet journalist. The article itself was a joke. The whole thing was basically a Harry Potter biography, with his relationship with Sarah playing a prominent part. There was a sentence at the end of the article naming the other Champions Viktor Krum and Fleur Delacour. Cedric hadn't even been mentioned.
Normally, Malfoy would have been making Harry's life a living hell for this article, but because of his promise to Sarah, he didn't. That didn't stop everyone else, though. All the houses, except Gryffindor, were heckling him in the halls, at lunch, and even in class. Even Professor Sprout, who usually was very nice to Harry, was giving him the cold shoulder. Cedric was from Hufflepuff, and she was Hufflepuff Head of House. One day, about a week before the first Task, Harry flopped down on the couch in the common room, looking dejected.
"Harry, it will be okay. As soon as you take on your dragon, everyone will see that you didn't want to enter, but have to play because of the contract. It isn't fair the way they are treating you, and I hope they all get what's coming to them," Sarah said, sitting next to him.
They knew about the dragons because of Hagrid. Even though he shouldn't have, he had taken Harry to see them. That was when Harry really started to panic. Professor Moody saw that he was anxious, so he had talked him into 'playing to his strengths'. That basically meant that Harry was going to fly to accomplish whatever it was he had to do. Since he was only allowed a wand, Sarah, Hermione and Ron were helping him with a summoning charm. And Harry, being the type of person he is, told Cedric about the dragons too. Ever since then, Cedric's friends were much nicer toward Harry.
"I am never going to get this," Harry said, thoroughly depressed.
"Don't say that. Every time you say that you end up doing worse. Just think positively, and you will get it in no time," Sarah said.
Harry let out a sigh, and screwed up his face in concentration. He was trying to summon pillows to him from across the room, with Sarah's help. Ron and Hermione were studying for Potions. The next afternoon was the first Task, and Harry was still having trouble with the charm.
"Accio pillow!" Harry shouted.
A pillow came whizzing to him, hitting him square in the chest.
"Harry, you did it!" Sarah exclaimed, clapping her hands, and bouncing up and down.
She ran to him, and planted a big kiss on his lips. He looked entirely pleased with himself, and said "Couldn't have done it without you."
"Well, you probably could have, but I just helped you along," she said sheepishly.
"No, I couldn't. You have been brilliant. I don't know what I would do without you by my side. Sarah," he paused "I love you," he said gazing into her eyes.
She was shocked at first, but then her lips broke out into a wide smile.
"I love you too, Harry," she said kissing him again.
Soon, the kiss was deep and passionate, and quickly escalading into a snog session. Sarah pulled away, rather reluctantly, and placed her forehead on his, looking directly into his green eyes.
"Which is why I don't want you dying tomorrow. So we have to keep practicing, until you can do the spell without screwing up your face like when Goyle is asked a question in Transfiguration," she said with a grin.
Harry chuckled, and resumed his stance. Within half and hour, every time he said the spell, a pillow would come flying at him. They moved on to objects that were heavier and further away, until both were satisfied that Harry would be able to summon his broom from outside.
"Thank you Sarah. I think I might be able to survive tomorrow," he chuckled.
"Don't talk like that. You will do awesomely. I think you might win," Sarah said with a grin.
"How do you figure that one?"
"Well, Fleur is a pansy, so she won't last; Cedric may be nice, but he can't fly nearly as well as you, so he may be trying a different approach; and Viktor," she hesitated, "well, he is always in the Library when I'm there, and he keeps trying to talk to me. He isn't even practicing for this," she finished.
When Sarah mentioned Viktor trying to talk to her, Harry raised an eyebrow.
"So, when he talks to you, what do you say?"
"I said tries to talk to me. I'm usually with Hermione, so he just sits far away and stares at me. It is really annoying. Tell you what, the next time I go to the library, I will go alone, and you can come in your cloak. Just to see what happens. Could be fun," she smiled.
"I think that sounds good. I want to know if he's trying to take you from me or not," he pouted.
"Oh don't be so dramatic. I'm here to stay, and you know it. Now, I think my Champion needs some sleep. How about we go back to the common room, and fall asleep by the fire again. That is always fun," she winked at him, and a broad grin spread on his face.