Chapter 38- Friendship

As if it wasn't bad enough that he had to compete in the Tournament, Harry had to endure the constant gossip from the other students. Either the Gryffindors were constantly asking him how he'd managed to enter, or the Hufflepuffs were glaring at him for supposedly stealing Cedric's glory. Even the Ravenclaws, who he'd hoped would remain neutral, acted like they thought he had entered willingly. Predictably, the Slytherins were worst of all. Harry had to face Malfoy in Care of Magical Creatures.

"Oh, look who's decided to grace us with his presence," Malfoy sneered. "It's the champion."

"Oh look who decided to mix with people. It's the ferret," Harry answered back, much to the delight of the other Gryffindors. Malfoy responded with a comment about getting Harry's autograph while Harry was still alive.

Even Ron wouldn't believe him, which of course hurt Harry worst of all. His own best friend!

"Bet you wouldn't mind an autograph session. You must enjoy everything about being famous," Ron said after class. As they walked down the halls Harry saw badges switching between the messages "Support CEDRIC DIGGORY - the REAL Hogwarts Champion! " and "Potter stinks."

"Right, I enjoy seeing those badges whenever I walk down the halls." Harry said bitterly. He had learned patience from Remus, but between being entered in the Tournament, three fourths of the school being against him, and now Ron turning on him, his patience was past the breaking point.

"You asked for it."

Harry had never thought his friend could be that way, and it hurt deeply.

"Yeah, sure Ron. I asked for it. I just love being famous. Before we started second year when I couldn't even go into a bookshop without Lockhart grabbing me for photos? That was fun. When people are always staring at my scar, I'd love to let them do that all day. And it's always happy knowing there's a madman out there trying to kill me. Of course, you must know all those times I almost died was just to give my fans something new to talk about. Oh, and I just adore the fact that there are people I love who could die trying to protect me. And then the only reason I'm alive at all is because my first parents sacrificed themselves to save me. I see what you mean, Weasley. It's so worth all the attention, right? Why wouldn't I want this?"

Ron looked uneasy. Harry wasn't sure if his friend had actually believed that he'd entered on his own or if he was just venting because he was jealous, but either way, Harry thought, he'd had no right to act that way.

Poor Hermione was having a very hard year so far. She'd been spending a lot of time working on her campaign to get all elves better rights and eventually freedom, which most people had taken as a joke (especially when the badges she wanted them to wear said S.P.E.W. and nobody listened to her when she told them it stood for the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Wellfare). Then she ended up going between Ron and Harry. And now she'd been hit with a tooth enlarging jinx because of Harry and Draco fighting. Harry was hoping Pomfrey had Hermione's teeth back to normal by now and was wishing he could get out of potions early when Colin came in and said Harry was needed for photos.

Be careful what you wish for he thought grimly. He'd wanted to get out of potions to see if Hermione was all right, not to be in the Daily Prophet. His bad mood got even worse when he was introduced to the witch who would be interviewing him.

"Harry, this is Reeta Skeeter," Bagman said.

"You're the one who's been writing all those things about Sirius!" Harry said in disgust to the reporter. "I am not talking to you."

But Skeeter was already half dragging him to a broom cupboard.

Harry had been writing home at every opportunity, and Remus and Sirius had been trying desperately to help him. They'd already warned him that Karkaroff had been a Death Eater and that the Durmstrang students would know a lot about the Dark Arts, not just Defense but the Dark Arts themselves. Other than that there wasn't much they could do until they found out what the first task was, but at least they could support him and give him general advice. It was a comfort knowing he'd see them soon. They'd arranged to meet Harry and Hermione on the first Hogsmead visit of the year. He'd already told them how Ron was acting. From what they'd written back, Harry could guess Sirius was almost as angry at the redhead as he was. Remus was a calmer about it, but still made it clear he wasn't at all happy with the way Ron was acting. However, both felt Ron would eventually come to his senses, and they tried to be supportive about it.

"Holding together OK, son?" Remus asked when Harry came into the Three Broomsticks, followed by Hermione.

"Except for Ron being a git and Skeeter writing all that rubbish, yeah." Harry grimaced. "Did you see what she wrote?"

Sirius nodded. "Don't worry about that. Anyone who knows you can see you'd never have said any of those things."

"Anyone except Ron," Harry muttered.

"By the first task things will go back to normal between you two," Hermione said, trying to sound hopeful..

"I'm sure Hermione's right," Remus added. "Ron doesn't seem like the type who would just turn his back on a friend. He's jealous now, but he'll understand soon that you didn't choose this. A friendship like you've always had just isn't broken that easily." Almost as soon as he'd said it though, he looked down at the floor and Sirius had a strange expression on his face. Harry could guess they were remembering the way Wormtail had turned traitor. Harry knew Ron wasn't like that though, and that he was just jealous. Still, the thought that it was even possible to loose a friend wasn't pleasant. Which reminded him-.

"Oh, with everything that's gone on with the Tournament I nearly forgot. What exactly happened between Snape and my Mom?"

The other three looked at him like they couldn't believe what he'd just said.

"Snape and your mother actually spent time together?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded.

"It's true," Remus said. "They knew each other since before they came to Hogwarts."

"Came into our compartment on the Hogwarts Express the day we started school," Sirius added. "They were close until our fifth year. Never could understand why Lily ever was kind to him."

"Then what happened?" Harry asked.

"Severus started spending time with a group of Slytherins-" Remus started to say.

"Nearly all of them became Death Eaters," Sirius put in. "And Snape started getting more involved with the Dark Arts. Greasy git knew more ways to hex or curse someone when he started his first year than half the seventh years. Up to his neck in dark magic. I suppose it made him feel important or more powerful or something like that."

Harry thought of Snape as the child hiding in the corner. He could see why someone who had always lived like that would feel he need for power.

"Then, around the same time we took our OWLS, they had a fight," Remus said without going into details. "Things were never the same between them again."

"All because of one fight between them?" Harry asked.

"That last argument was just the result of what had been happening for years," Remus explained. "Severus regretted it afterwards. I think it's safe to say he still does."

Harry understood now why Snape had been so angry when he'd figured it out. It was a reminder of what had happened.

"Now you see why it's so important to make up with Ron though? Imagine if things were never the same between you and Ron again" Hermione said. Harry nodded, understanding her point, although the situations were different. Things hadn't been building up to this for years the way they had between Snape and Lily, and Harry wondered if Snape had ever wanted to be more than friends with her. Now that was a scary thought!

"I'm guessing you found this out during an Occlumency lesson?" Remus asked.

"Yeah. I'm not looking forward to continuing those." Harry made a face.

"I know they're not fun, but we can't let Voldemort keep knowing your thoughts." Remus said.

"Although Snape doesn't have to be so- so Snapeish about it," Sirius said. "He could try being a decent teacher for once. I'm tempted to-"

"We'll have Dumbledore speak to him. Severus is more likely to listen to him than to us." Remus said.

Harry didn't want Sirius to end up hexing Snape if he got the chance, so he added "It wasn't horrible until I started talking about the memories I saw from him. I don't think it will be too bad. I'm more concerned about what the first task will be than I am about him. Hagrid asked me to see him tonight, so I'm hoping he knows what the first task is."

A few hours later, Harry was almost wishing he didn't know what was ahead.

"How am I supposed to get past a dragon! And a nesting mother at that! Everybody knows they're the most dangerous! It took half a dozen wizards who are trained to handle dragons just to stun them!"

He was talking to his dad and Sirius in the two way mirror.

"What! The first task is fighting a dragon?" Remus winced. "Please tell me the dragons were there for some other reason."

Harry shook his head. "There were four of them. One for each champion. I don't think we have to fight them though. Just get past them."

"Oh that will be so much easier," Sirius groaned. "At least say there isn't a Horntail in the group. They're the worst of the worst."

"Actually there is. Even Hagrid said he had to admit that Horntail was a nasty piece of work." Remus and Sirius groaned. If Hagrid though the Horntail was difficult, it must be even worse than they thought. "I bet that will be the one I have to face too. The one time I get something right that I made up for divination."

"Let's just hope you don't end up facing that one. You won't be able to take down any of them with a stunning spell by yourself. You'd be best to go for a simple spell," Remus said.

"Maybe go for the eyes?" Sirius suggested. "They're the weakest point on a dragon. A simple conjunctivitis curse could do it."

"It would be hard to get a clear shot though," Remus pointed out. "And any misaimed spells around a dragon could just make it more angry. As I said though, I do think a simple spell would be best." He was quiet a moment, thinking. "And I think you should use the skills you're best at, Harry."

"What I'm best at?" Harry asked, confused. "Well, I'm good at Quidditch, but what good is that?"

"You might be surprised how much good it could be," Sirius said, catching on. Harry still couldn't see how flying was supposed to help though.

"But I won't be allowed a broom."

"Like I said, Harry. A simple spell can get you through this. One simple spell."

Harry's face lit in understanding.

"Anyone would have to be barking mad to enter something like that," Ron said, coming up to Harry once the first task was over. Harry had come out of it with only a gash from one of the horns on the dragon's tail. The other champions had made it through safely too, Cedric thanks to Harry warning him.

"Brilliant Ron. Took you long enough to figure it out." Harry knew he'd end up forgiving Ron. He wanted to forgive him. But that didn't mean Ron wasn't going to work a little for it. "How about next time since you wanted in the Tournament so bad, we can switch places and I'll watch you face danger."

Ron's face went as red as his hair. "Look, I'm sorry. I know you wouldn't have entered this thing willingly. I don't know why I was so jealous. Been wanting to say I was sorry almost since that first day. Didn't know quite how to go about it though."

Harry smiled. "I think I knew you did. Guess it was pride on both our parts."

All was forgiven. At least among the group of student's. To bad Skeeter's quick quotes quill was less forgiving, as they found out when they saw the next day's Daily Prophet.

AN: Not my best work, I know. The next chapter will be better.