(A/N) This chapter has been revised due to a small error, the first task has not happened yet, will come in the next chapter or two.

Chapter 6

(Hogwarts, Great Lake)

Harry had returned to his favorite spot to think over everything he had learned from the Headmaster, it was a lot to digest. It put things in a whole new perspective for him. Clearly Dumbledore was on his side and doing his best to help him even if he didn't always tell him how he was helping. He understood the man's reasons for holding back about his inheritance, but he couldn't help but think it would have been nice to have been told about it when he returned to this world, a shadow in the corner of his eye made him turn to see Fleur heading towards him. He smiled in greeting which she returned; he watched as she came and sat beside him.

"I thought I would find you here," Fleur said as she looked out around the lake. "You seem to like this spot," she noted.

"It's the spot I find most peaceful," Harry admitted with a shrug. "And nearly everyone leaves me alone when I'm here," he explained with a grin. "I guess they know I come here because I want to be alone. Hell even Malfoy and his cronies leave me alone when I'm here," he added his grin turning into a brief chuckle.

"I can see why you like it so much," Fleur said as it was quiet around the lake apart from the noise the giant squid made as it played in the water. "I came to find you so we can continue our discussion with Headmaster Dumbledore," she told him.

"I've just come from his office actually. I learned some things that have thrown me for a loop," Harry admitted as he gazed at the lake. "I'm afraid you will have to wait another day to continue that discussion," he told her.

Fleur considered what she could see of Harry's profile and had to admit he looked troubled, but she did not see any anger in his eyes, just surprise and uncertainty. Clearly whatever he had learned from the Headmaster had shaken him up somewhat, she wondered what it had been he had just learned but decided against asking. They were still getting to know one another and she had no right to ask about his private business just yet, unless he volunteered the information. Leaning against the tree Harry was using as back support she wondered what else to say.

"Do you really think this tournament will put all our lives at risk?" Fleur finally asked.

"It already has Fleur," Harry shot back. "Facing the things I have is hardly what I call normal, and my friends who helped could have been hurt or killed as well," he pointed out grimly. "I think they rushed this tournament into being without considering the consequences because it would give them so much press they never considered the consequences if something went wrong," he admitted.

Fleur considered this statement and found she could not disagree with it, she remembered the wide grin her headmistress had sported before she announced the tournament to the school. She guessed it wasn't only the politicians who cared about how the press saw them, but she couldn't help but think they would have the common sense to take all precautions to keep the chosen champions safe.

"So what can we do?" Fleur couldn't help but ask.

"All we can do is train. When my name came out of the damn Goblet I tried to get out of it and all they would say is that is constitutes as a binding magical contract and thus I had to compete," Harry answered and Fleur recalled that was what Dumbledore had told them the day before when she had suggested that they cancel the tournament. "I'm certain even if we told them the truth of what is going on if they would do anything except give us the same line," he continued with a frustrated shake of his head. "I've tried to tell them the truth about other things that have gone on, they ignored me and my friends and just said we were simply confused," he told her and she could hear the bitterness in his tone as he spoke.

"Cedric and Krum won't listen to me as they think I'm in this for the glory. As if I want more fucking glory," Harry spat, his bitterness growing and missing the surprise that passed over Fleur's features at his use of profanity. "As if I care about the prize money either, I have more than enough in my trust vault," he added as he tried to calm himself. He was careful not to reveal his knowledge that he was even richer than he had thought now that he knew about his inheritance, as much as he trusted Fleur and he considered her a friend they had still only just met and he was not ready to tell anyone about what he had learned, except maybe Hermione.

"I guess we should feel lucky that we have Dumbledore on our side then. He believes you and he told us he would do all he could to help us," Fleur reminded him gently, hoping to break Harry's dark mood.

"But he can only do so much and he can't interfere in the tournament itself Fleur," Harry pointed out forcing the bitterness back as it was not fair to take out his frustrations on Fleur. "It is up to us to be as ready and prepared for whatever comes next," he stated.

Fleur nodded in agreement knowing he was right. Dumbledore would do what he could, but when it came time to compete in the tournament tasks they were on their own and only their own skills would help them then.

Silence descended between them as they both contemplated the struggle ahead. Fleur swore to increase her own training so she was ready for anything that came as the tournament continued.

+TWS+

(Great Hall)

Hermione sat reading at a table, but her mind wasn't concentrating on what she was seeing on the pages of the book, it was focusing on what had happened over the last few days. She still couldn't wrap her mind totally around how bad things had gotten between her and Ron, nor could she reconcile the boy she had thought she had known with the jealous and obnoxious git he had become since Harry's name had come out of the Goblet. Was he always hiding this side of himself from them all, or was it something that had only just shown itself? She just didn't know and that bugged her. If he had been hiding this side of himself all this time then it meant she and Harry had been played for fools, that maybe Ron had never really been their friend in the first place. It wasn't a pleasant thought to contemplate, more than that it made her wonder why she hadn't seen signs of it before and if she could have stopped him from blowing up at Harry and almost hitting her.

"Hey," Neville said as he sat down next to her and quickly took note that she looked conflicted and it didn't take him long to guess why. "Hermione let it go. Ron did this and you don't have to find the answer as to why he did," he tried to advise her. "Maybe it was a spur of the moment thing as his anger got the best of him, or maybe this is what he is really like deep inside," he continued as he chose his words carefully. "Maybe we never knew the real Ron, maybe this is just a passing faze where his worst traits have more influence on him than normal," he paused as he tried to think of what to say next. "At the end of the day, this is on his head and not yours or Harry's so just let it go," he finally said hoping what he had said would help.

Hermione considered Neville and what he had said in honest surprise as he usually kept to himself, granted she had noted he had been a little more forthright this year but this was still new. Maybe he was finally confident in himself and what he could do. They were all changing as they grew up from what they had been when they had first come here. Some changed for the better and some for the worse, but Neville was right this wasn't on her or Harry and she didn't have to find the answer as to why he had done it. Maybe Ron would realise what he had done was wrong and apologise, whether she would accept it was another question, although she doubted Harry would accept any apology from Ron.

"You're right Neville," she finally spoke up as she noted he was waiting for her to reply. "I just hope he doesn't cause any more trouble. Harry has enough to worry about with the tournament and doesn't need to be worrying about me if Ron is close by," she stated, letting out a sigh.

"He cares about you Hermione so you can't expect him not to worry after what almost happened," Neville responded carefully. "Most of the kids here love to speculate about the true nature of your relationship with Harry," he admitted, causing Hermione to quickly look up from her book and stare at him in surprise. "Most think the two of you are an item, a few others consider you're more like brother and sister even though you are not from the same family," he told her, finding the look on her face amusing.

"Harry and I are not a couple," Hermione whispered so no one else would overhear her. "He's the best friend I've ever had. Maybe in a way we are closer than just friends, but when you've been through what we have it bonds you together beyond a normal friendship," she tried to explain her feelings on this. "Maybe in a way I could call him my brother, he protects me and cares for me as I do for him," she admitted softly. "I love him, but not like a boyfriend or anything like that," she added with a shake of her head.

Neville just nodded and listened as she spoke, while a part of him cursed himself for even telling her about what the other students liked to talk about. But he also had to admit a part of him was pleased when she said she and Harry were not a couple. He tried his best to ignore that part of him, no way was he ready to admit to even himself that he liked Hermione maybe more than what you would except between friends.

"So mudblood where's Potter?" a familiar snide voice asked them, causing both to turn to find Draco Malfoy and his ever present bodyguards Crabbe and Goyle behind them. Draco as usual was sneering at them, more her than Neville she concluded. "Hidden himself away has he? Out of shame for cheating his way into the tournament and nearly getting himself killed?" he continued to taunt them, unaware of Harry having entered the hall just as he began to taunt Hermione and Neville.

Harry growled low in his throat. He was in no mood for Malfoy's usual taunts and supposed threats not after thinking about everything that had gone wrong in his life, ending with been stuck in this damn tournament, sometimes going to the lake had the side effect of making him think too hard. He stalked across the hall towards Malfoy and his cronies just as Malfoy began to ask about Ron, this just made his control of his temper worse.

"So tell us mudblood has Weasel finally got smart and dumped Potter before he gets him killed or is it something else?" Malfoy taunted with a smirk although inwardly he was annoyed that neither Longbottom nor Granger were reacting to his taunting. Of course what he didn't know was that both has seen Harry appear and were watching his approach. Neville wondered what had angered Harry so much since this morning.

Hermione bit her lip as she saw the look on her friend's face. 'Oh this wasn't going to be good,' she thought.

"Call her that damn name again Malfoy and I promise you that you will never be able to say anything again," Harry's voice from behind them startled Malfoy and his friends causing them to spin around to find the target of their taunts behind them.

Silence descended in the hall as the other students turned to watch the brewing confrontation. Since none of the teachers were actually in the hall they knew there was no one to stop this argument from escalating. Malfoy nervously looked at his nemesis and quickly took in how pissed off he looked, but Malfoy knew he was watched and thus couldn't back down now. Also he was confident Potter was too scared to do anything in retaliation, he conveniently forgot their other clashes and how they turned out.

"Oh yeah scar head, you and what army?" he asked sarcastically.

Daphne shook her head in annoyance at the blond pounces stupidity in choosing to bait Harry when he was clearly pissed off and in no mood for games, beside her Tracy watched almost hoping Harry would actually make his threat a reality. She could see Harry was far tenser than he usually was. The threat of real violence breaking out could be felt by everyone watching the confrontation, but no one dared to leave to get a teacher. They wanted to see what happened next. Harry's eyes bored into Draco's who did his best not to show his growing concern about what Potter might do if he kept provoking him. He glanced up at the head table and noted with dread that not one single teacher was sitting there. He suddenly realised he might have made a mistake, but it was too late to back out now.

"I don't need an army Malfoy, never have done," Harry responded as he did his best to reign in his temper. "You are a pathetic excuse for a wizard, you can't go anywhere without your two lackeys, especially if you are going to try and insult someone," he shouted in the other boys face. "You are a coward and you always will be," he stated with a glare.

"How dare you Potter?" Malfoy growled in response. "I'm the heir of an ancient and noble family. I at least have a mother and a father," he spat at his hatred for Potter burned within him. "What do you have scar head?" he demanded to know before shutting up quickly as he noted the cold look Potter was now giving him. His green eyes burned with hatred; in fact it reminded Draco of the colour of the killing curse which he had seen Mad Eye Moody perform in class on that spider.

The staring contest seemed to last forever, not one person in the hall dared to move or speak. Goyle finally decided enough was enough and moved to put Potter in his place. Neville saw the movement and in a moment that surprised everyone that knew him he charged Goyle from behind and sent them both to the ground. Hermione reacting to the sudden movement turned and kicked Crabbe in his left knee with all the strength she could put behind it. This had the effect of sending Crabbe hopping up and down on his right leg. Draco spun and snarled at Hermione and moved to pull his wand. Hermione backed off quickly as Harry grabbed Draco and spun him around again. Draco was put off guard as he did this and this allowed Harry to draw his fist back and nail Draco right in face with a blow that sent him into the Gryffindor table. Seamus and Dean quickly shoved him away as he landed on them. This gave Harry another chance to slug Draco before he was charged by Crabbe who had gotten over Hermione's kick to his knee.

They both went to the floor, but Harry was able to break free and roll away as the rest of the students reacted finally. Old grudges and house unity prevailed as the rest of the students started pushing each other or in some cases fighting themselves. Using magic was forgotten as the age old desire of human beings to cause harm with their own hands took over, it was total chaos and Hermione knew it was only going to get worse unless a teacher turned up. Harry ignored Crabbe and charged Malfoy intending to teach the blond ponce a lesson once and for all. Hermione saw Crabbe pull his wand and intend to curse Harry in the back, thus she pulled her own wand and stunned him, she was then forced to duck as Pansy Parkinson tried to curse her in return. As she took cover she noted Daphne Greengrass and Tracy Davis were not taking part in the fight and were only watching Harry and Draco fight, this confused her before she turned her attention back to Parkinson.

Cedric tried to move towards Harry and get some revenge for his arrogant denial of cheating his way into the tournament as well stealing his spotlight, but was forced back by his fellow Gryffindors. Neville finally got the better of Goyle and nailed him in the face as hard as he could just as Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall entered the hall after holding a small meeting in the headmaster's office. They froze in shock as they witnessed the chaos within the hall, never in all their years of teaching had they seen the like as they witnessed now.

"STOP THIS MADNESS NOW," Dumbledore roared after casting a Sonorous charm to enhance his voice.

This had the effect of stopping the chaos almost entirely except for the fight going on between Harry and Draco. Both were lost in the hatred they held for one another and continued to try and pulverize the other. Although it was clear Harry was the stronger of the two, Draco was bleeding for multiple cuts and bruises and from his nose. Snape snarled as he saw that and forgetting the orders he had gotten from his master, he pulled his wand and fired off a nasty black/grey spell which was a more powerful cutting curse. It struck Harry in the upper left of his shoulder and sent him spinning to the ground just as he was about to deliver another blow to Malfoy.

"Harry," Hermione cried in alarm as she moved to defend him just as McGonagall spun and disarmed Snape with a fierce and annoyed look in her eyes. Dumbledore also glared at Snape, but he would deal with him later on away from the student's ears.

"ENOUGH, I WANT EVERY STUDENT TO RETURN THEIR COMMON ROOMS AND REMAIN THERE UNTIL TOLD IT IS OKAY TO LEAVE BY YOUR HEAD OF HOUSE," Dumbledore ordered before he cancelled the charm. "Miss Granger please get Harry to the hospital ward then return to your own common room," he added. "Professor Snape report to my office immediately and leave your wand in Professor McGonagall's hands," he ordered with a glare at the younger man which told him he was in trouble.

Snape wanted to spit in the old man's face, but he just held onto his temper and nodded before spinning around and leaving the hall, making his cloak billow behind him. Goyle groaned as he revived Crabbe and together they moved to Draco's side. The blond Slytherin was in pain, but he ignored that and concentrated on the fact he had been shown up by Potter once more. As he was helped to his feet he noted Potter been helped away by the mudblood. His first instinct was to curse them both while they were not looking, but he forced it down especially as Albus Dumbledore stood watching. Old or not, no one could deny the man's power was still great and he feared facing his wrath should he do what he so wanted to do. Shrugging of his bodyguards he headed for his common room. He would deal with his wounds there as he did not want to be anywhere near Potter right now, just in case he lost control.

Dumbledore watched them go and shook his head in shock at what he had seen, never in all his years had he seen such aggression in the students he oversaw in Hogwarts. He wondered what had started it, although seeing as who did not stop when he commanded it he had a good idea. He glanced at his long-time friend and noted her concerned look. He didn't know what to say to her.

"This will have to be dealt with Albus before it happens again, we should just count ourselves lucky none of the foreign students were here when this happened or worse yet any of the Ministry personnel," McGonagall said. "And Snape will have to be severely punished this time Albus, he attacked a student and that can't be lightly dismissed and you know it," she added and he could hear the anger in her voice as she spoke.

"Yes, this time he has gone to far," Dumbledore finally admitted with a pained sigh. He had never in the time he had come to know Snape believed him capable of such a thing. He knew he had done dark things when he had been a Death Eater, but he had sworn to him he had switched sides and put that life behind him. Now he had to contemplate whether he had told the truth. He hadn't given a magical promise that night, he had begged for his life and sworn he had been mistaken in following Voldemort. He had come to believe it, now with so much changing he would have to rethink that night and see if he might have been very wrong.

"Please check on Harry in the infirmary and then summon the other heads to meet in my office in ten minutes," Dumbledore finally continued. "We will have to discuss how to deal with this," he told her before he turned and headed for his office.

McGonagall's watched him go and shook her head wondering just how they would deal with such wide spread hatred. She knew most of this was down to house loyalty. When Harry's name came out of the Goblet it caused a great deal of resentment and that resentment had only grown. Hufflepuff and even Ravenclaw saw it as a way of Gryffindor of stealing the little limelight the almost forgotten houses had gained. Usually it was always Slytherin and Gryffindor in the spotlight, especially since Harry had returned to the magical world. They didn't care if he had put his name in the goblet or not. Some of it probably came from the bitter rivalry that had always existed between Slytherin and Gryffindor. It was bound to explode at some point. Letting out a sigh she headed for the hospital ward to see how Harry was. She still felt an urge to pay Snape back for his sneak attack on one of her students.