Author: enchanted nightingale

Beta Reader: pussycatadamah

Timeline: Book 4, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Pairs: Harry/Lucius

Disclaimer: The characters belong to J.K. Rowling. I merely use them in my plot for fun.

Chapter Nine

Hogwarts

"Go!" Hermione told him as she pushed him to his feet.

Harry, still in a daze, and with his book under his arm, shuffled closer to Dumbledore and thence to the back room where the other three Champions had gone. When he was with the other three students they immediately thought he was there to give them a message. Only after the Heads of the three schools, along with a few teachers and Ministry officials joined the Champions, declaring Harry the fourth one that the other three realized what was happening.

"… Hogwarts obviously cheated!" Karkaroff was yelling.

"'e cannot compete!" Madam Maxim was saying in her strong voice.

Dumbledore was trying to calm them down but it was not an easy task, especially as Bagman was useless and Crouch's feathers were so ruffled by the unexpected occurrence that the man had no idea what to do. Snape was curiously quiet, not blaming Harry about this thing.

"I did not put my name," Harry cut the adults off, shouting out to drown their voices. "Good? I got your attention? Finally! I repeat then, I did not put my name in. in fact, I was expecting this year to be quiet."

Snape scoffed. "Whoever thought Potter here capable of hoodwinking an ancient artefact is an idiot, plain and simple. The brat was reading a book, for Mordred's sake! The surprise on his face was obvious."

They all stared at the fourth year and the book Harry was still holding.

"Mister Potter," McGonagall said. "Is that in Greek? Since when do you know Greek?"

"Bill Weasley," Harry replied as if that explained anything and to the cat Animagus it did.

"Dear Merlin," she muttered.

Harry ignored her muttering and turned to Dumbledore.

His Headmaster looked strangely grave.

"Can I go now? I did not put my name in that cup so everything's fine, right?" the green eyed wizard asked.

Dumbledore sighed. "Not quite."

Harry was alarmed.

What he learned next, he did not like one bit.

Malfoy manor

Lucius opened the morning paper as he reached for his morning cup of tea. Completely unsuspecting of the Headline that waited for him.

Narcissa looked up from her own read of 'British Witch Monthly'.

"Lucius?" she asked with concern.

The wizard swallowed and nodded, his throat too abused for him to speak. His grey eyes kept darting towards the paper.

"What's wrong?" Narcissa asked.

"Nothing," Lucius muttered. At her stare he waved it off. His mind was already whirling with thoughts, possibilities and worry. He finished his breakfast swiftly, then he took the paper with him as he retreated to his office and tried to find Severus. Lucius was certain that the Head of Slytherin would know what was going on. His second task was writing to Harry and trying to calm the teen down; he was certain the green eyed youth was panicking.

Burrow

Bill considered himself a well grounded individual. He prided himself for being logical and observant and for being able to keep his head in the most extreme of situations. He believed he had showed those three characteristics when he learned that sex magic had manifested around Harry Potter, his younger brother's friend, and that Lucius Malfoy was actually after the Boy-Who-Lived. He had thought that would be the last of it. But fate had apparently other plans.

"Bloody hell!" he yelped, dropping the paper from his hand.

"Bill!" Molly, his mother yelled shrilly.

The Curse Breaker ignored her indignation and just showed her the paper.

Molly Weasley gasped. "Harry in the Triwizard Tournament? That poor boy!"

Bill felt a headache building. He needed to contact Harry and find out what was happening as the red head did not trust the Prophet completely.

Hogwarts

Harry was getting ticked off.

He had of course noticed that Ron had gotten odd over the summer, jealous about Harry's new clothes and friendship with Bill and somehow the way the youngest Weasley son blew up, spewing his vitriol and blaming Harry for being elected as the fourth Triwizard Champion, the green eyed wizard was not really surprised. He was hurt of course and disappointed but he took it in his stride. He did not blow up due to his anger, he did not try to change Ron's mind. Harry just accepted it and moved on. He was not about to beg. Lucius' attention and Bill's company had done wonders for the teen's confidence. The Twins had picked up on that titbit and had been teasing their younger brother. They had tried getting past the Age Line and if they could not do this they knew Harry could not either. The green eyed teen was not surprised when by next morning the Hufflepuff's, most Ravenclaw's and Gryffindor believed he had entered his name. The Slytherin's obviously thought he could not have done it but they jeered and annoyed him like they always did. Surprisingly the students from the two foreign schools were much more logical and while not amiable to Harry they were not hostile either.

"Harry."

The green eyed wizard looked up from his book and stopped pretending he was not paying attention to his surroundings.

"Morning Hermione."

"Honestly Harry, it's good morning."

"Not for me," the teen replied.

Hermione grimaced and conceded that point. "Yes well, Ron is being a prat. The rest of the school too."

Harry allowed a small smile to appear on his face.

"Yes, well, you said that wizards were not logical back in first year," he reminded his bookish friend and the witch smiled.

"I did. Budge over."

Harry made room for her to sit.

"What are you reading there?" she asked him.

"It's 'Runes: The Art of Druids'. Bill lent it to me," Harry replied.

"The title is not in English," Hermione peered at the cover.

"Ah, no, it's actually Celtic. Bill started me in Greek and then the beginning of Celtic," Harry admitted. "If the book was not fascinating I would have given up. Reading it is a slow process."

Hermione was impressed and it showed in her eyes and the way she gushed about the book (Hogwarts library had no copy of it!) and Harry's new studious behaviour (About time you got more serious with your Academic career) and the raven haired teen's newfound knowledge.

"I envy you," Hermione sighed. "I am fluent in French but they do not have any rare tomes like this, nothing I can get my hands on at least," the witch bemoaned. Then she pinned Harry with one of her looks. "You know, you and Bill spend quite a bit of time together."

"I know," Harry giddily told her. "I wish he was my brother."

Hermione's face softened. "I know. I am an only child and I wish I had siblings too."

The two of friends sighed.

They started eating, not speaking for a while and only when the table had mostly cleared they started talking again.

"What are you going to do now Harry?" Hermione asked him.

The teen pushed the plate away.

"Not sure," he told her.

The owls came in as usual and Harry's sharp eyes noticed two birds coming towards him. First came Lucius' owl; the one he used when he mailed Harry. Next came Hedwig, carrying a letter from Bill Weasley. Hermione was eyeing the letters.

"What is it?" she asked Harry.

"Can't tell you unless I read them," the teen told her, making the witch roll her eyes.

Harry tore open Bill's letter first. His eyes moved over the lines as he fed each bird some bacon and pushed some of his water towards the owls. Lucius' owl allowed Hedwig first and then replenished as well. The sight amused Hermione but Harry's mind was processing Bill's words.

Hello Little Cuddle Monster,

I'm guessing that it is not a good day for you. Considering I choked when I saw the prophet I know that you are at least angry and worried. Well, leave the worry to my mother; she was livid at the news. She was writing a letter to Dumbledore last time I saw. Anyway, the blasted Triwizard Tournament is bad, bad news. I am not going to ask whether you entered as I do not believe you ever would, not for the money, not for the fame, certainly not for the thrill, you can find that with that man of yours. I will ask around, see if I can find something or do something to help.

I have just one thing to ask of you: stay strong. Don't worry about fickle people; just continue with your studies. Keep a low profile, DON'T give interviews (reporters are vultures) and keep your supporters and friends close, you might need them.

Lots of love,

Bill

Harry sighed and rolled the letter close.

"Bill," he told Hermione. "He told me Mrs. Weasley is furious and not to worry and not do anything stupid."

Hermione snorted. "He has you figured out."

Harry gave her a half hearted glare and moved on to the next letter.

My minx,

It seems that you are determined to make sure I have grey hair. The papers were rather informative, but I would have rather heard the news from you. I know very well you did not do it; I am not a blithering idiot unlike the sheep in the magical community. As soon as I finish this I will try and learn what is going on. If I cannot find a way to stop this I will at least find a way to turn this mess into your favour, trust me on this. You will be hearing from me by tomorrow morning at the latest.

My love,

L

Harry felt a bit better. At least he was not alone in this mess.

"Who's the second letter from?" Hermione asked.

The green eyed teen paused. Not that he did not trust Hermione with his life, but telling her about Lucius, about sex magic, about him being gay; it was not something he wanted to do. He was not ready yet to admit it. Bill had guessed and he was different than the young witch, the Curse Breaker was an adult. Also, the Great Hall, when most of the school was against him and someone was obviously out to get him killed by placing his name in the Cup, was not the place for such a conversation to take place.

"Just a friend," he told Hermione. Maybe in the future he would let her know. Now though, it was too soon.

End of chapter