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 eleven

Harry felt his head spin.

It was over. The first task was over and done with. He had faced the nesting mother and survived it. Returning to the tent Hermione and Madam Pomfrey descended over him like birds of prey.

''I'm completely fine,'' the green eyed teen insisted.

''You just stood there!'' Hermione yelled.

''I also had my wand out, my lips were moving and a spell was cast. Two of them actually,'' Harry cheekily replied.

''Don't get smart with me Harry Potter!'' the witch cried out.

Harry just threw a smirk her way, something that infuriated the bushy haired girl.

''Not a scratch,'' Madam Pomfrey declared and Harry stepped away from the mediwitch.

''I better get out there and hear my score,'' the raven haired teen commented. He tried not to pay attention to how battered his fellow champions looked.

Hermione waited inside the tent but she had opened it a bit to hear her friend's score.

At the first Ten from Bagman she clapped. Then Crouch followed with another Ten. And then Madam Maxim and Dumbledore gave their tens and Hermione squealed in delight, drawing attention to herself.

''Miss Granger!'' the mediwitch chided.

''He did it!'' the Gryffindor witch laughed. ''Perfect score! Even Karkaroff gave him a nine.''

''He did?'' Cedric blinked.

Hermione was almost bouncing.

When Harry returned, the witch glomped him.

''You really did it!'' she told him.

''I really, truly did,'' Harry agreed.

''And you will tell me what was that thing you did,'' Hermione ordered her green eyed friend.

Harry just smiled.

Ron came not much later, looking sheepish though not properly repentant about his attitude and words. Harry was just too happy to care and he did not make a big deal about it. Hermione did not seem to approve how quickly Ron was forgiven.

''Not forgotten,'' Harry told her. ''This is his second chance. There won't be a third.''

'Does he know that?'' the witch demanded.

''He'll learn,'' Harry's voice was firm.

Hermione seemed to approve.

''I am not his mate and he's not mine,'' Harry continued, ''but I'm not going to ignore him, at least not much.''

''I knew you had a vindictive streak,'' Hermione admitted.

Harry shrugged.

The tent was slowly emptying of people.

Lucius stood by patiently, calmly waiting for the one happy person he knew to be inside the tent. He saw that Granger girl leave and, after disillusioning himself, slipped inside the tent. It was just Harry and the mediwitch.

''...I just want to sit a bit,'' Harry told her.

''Those spells must have taken a lot out of you,'' Pomfrey was saying to the teen.

The green eyed Gryffindor shrugged, not really answering her.

''I could stay,'' the mediwitch offered.

''You need to be in the infirmary,'' Harry reminded her. ''Cedric needs his potions. Me? I'm catching my breath for a bit. Then I'm going to eat.''

That last word was all Pomfrey needed. She smiled at the teen and started the walk back to the castle.

Lucius shed the spell he had on him.

Harry hardly blinked in surprise; he had been expecting Lucius.

''Excellent performance,'' the aristocrat commented.

Harry rolled his eyes. ''You are just asking for compliments.''

''Not exactly. I merely came to collect,'' Lucius replied.

This time the teen smiled and a blush spread over his cheeks.

''Oh.''

Lucius approached the teen. He peeled his gloves off and green eyes focused on the soft skin and elegant fingers. Harry was always aware of how Lucius hands were smooth, unlike his; all calloused and a bit rough from slaving over his aunt's garden.

Then those hands tagged Harry's, pulling the teen toward Lucius. The blond wizard bent his head and kissed the teen's rosy lips. Harry sighed into the kiss and rose on the tips of his toes. He had grown a bit but he was still shorter than Lucius. The older wizard put a hand on the nape of Harry's neck and pulled the teen closer. Harry moaned and Lucius got the opportunity to slip some tongue in the kiss. They broke apart to catch their breaths, Harry leaning his forehead against Lucius'.

"Again?" the teen asked and the blond wizard complied, kissing the Gryffindor again.

Harry was a bit late joining his Housemates that night. He got a few looks from the Twins and some of the more aware upper years but that was it. No one asked him where he was. Hermione was still too young for her brain to go in any direction towards the one that Harry was fooling around with anyone and she just bought Harry's excuse that he was simply late.

"I'm just happy you are here," Hermione told him. "Ron is being impossible. Ginny hexed him once already."

"What did he do this time?" Harry asked though he really did not care.

The green eyed wizard was still happy from all the attention and affection Lucius had given him. This year it would be hard to meet up with the man, especially with that Skeeter reporter hovering around. Lucius had warned him about her in advance. The wizard had explained all about the press rights in the magical world.

"The more money you have the more untouchable you are," Lucius had explained. "With Fudge holding power The Prophet is a big joke. I hold stocks in that rag so nothing is written about me. I believe the Potters had about ten per cent."

"I would not know," Harry had replied, to which Lucius got angrier than Harry had seen him and started muttering things under his breath, finishing with the promise to help.

Rita Skeeter, that horrible woman, had tried to get Harry alone, but the teen wrote a formal complaint to the head of the paper and the witch was surprisingly accommodating after that. Lucius had warned Harry to keep his guard up around her and the teen followed that advice.

The noise in the tower brought Harry's attention to the present.

"Ron is acting like he was the one going up against the dragon," Hermione muttered.

"Ignore him."; "Is that Butterbeer?" the Gryffindor Champion asked of her.

"The red headed menaces brought them," was Hermione's reply.

"Good," Harry stated. "Let's enjoy tonight. Tomorrow I will probably be the bad guy again."

End of chapter