A/N: OK READERS IM SURE YOU ARE MAD. WELL I HAVE THIS TO SAY!...IM SOOOOO SORRY, LIKE I DIDNT MEAN FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. I HAD TO MOVE MY FAMILY, THEN DRIVE TO MY GRANDPARENTS, AND HELP MY GRANDPA WITH COWS; DONT ASK. ANYWAYS WHEN I GOT IT DONE A FEW DAYS AGO I GAVE IT TO ONE OF MY BETAS...WELL I WAS IN A HURRY TO GIVE IT TO YOU SO I SORTA JUST FOUND MORE BETAS.
shadow silvertongue IF YOUR READING THIS IM SO SO SO SO SORRY, ME RUSHING YOU ISNT NICE AND I DIDNT WANT TO NAG YOU INTO DOING BC I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE A LIFE BUT I NEEDED TO GET THIS CHAPTER OUT TO MY READERS. FORGIVE ME PLEASE?! YOUR STILL AN AMAZING AND OVERLY WONDERFUL BETA, I DONT DISERVE YOU. :(
TO THE THREE BETAS THAT HELPED WITH THIS: anime-manga lover, missWATERS, AND ravenpuffer FOR HELPING ME. ESPECIALLY ravenpuffer SINCE SHE HELPED ME WITH SOME OF THE PLOT.
0_0 OH SHIT! I ALSO APOLIGIZE TO MY OTHER TWO BETAS readingaddict24 AND Hogwartsdreamer113 FOR GIVING YOU THIS CHAPTER BUT NOT WAITING FOR YOUR BETA'D VIRSION. LIKE I SAID BEFORE, MY READERS NEEDED THIS CHAPTER SOON. I DONT WANT THEM THINKING IVE ABANDONED THEM.
IM A CRUEL CRUEL WRITER, GIVING BETAS WORK BUT NOT GIVING THEM TIME TO GIVE IT BACK. IM A TERRIBLE PERSON, BUT UNDERSTAND MY READERS COME BEFORE BEING NICE TO MY BETAS. BUT NO MATTER WHAT ILL GIVE YOU GUYS/GIRLS YOUR CREDIT, EVEN IF YOUR CREDIT IS DEALING WITH MY ASSHOLE BEHAVIOR.
OK BACK TO MY PATIENT READERS, I HAVE AN ANNOUNCMENT TO MAKE, AND NO IT IS NOT ME STOPPING THIS STORY! FUCK THAT I WILL CONTINUE THIS STORY EVEN IF THERE IS A GODDAMN TORNADO OR BLIZZARD OUTSIDE SO YOU CAN BLOODY WELL GET THAT I WILL ABANDON THIS STORY OUT OF YOUR MINDS -_-
WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY WAS THAT IM GOING TO START ON ANOTHER STORY BUT NOT SURE WHICH ONE I SHOULD START ON. DRAGON STORY OR ONE WHERE I START IN A RANDOM YEAR AND CHANGE STUFF UP (ITS DIFFERENT FROM MY CURRENT STORY BC IT WOULDNT BE TIME TRAVEL). HELP ME OUT HERE READERS.
DAMN ALMOST FORGOT ANOTHER THING, ALMOST HAVE A BAD MEMORY AS MY HARRY LOL. I GIVE THANKS TO Man of Constant Sorrow FOR FINDING MY STORY WHICH IS CALLED Harry Potter and the Greatest Gift BY mini-mid. IT MIGHT BE ABANDONED OR JUST TAKES LONG UPDATEDS BUT ITS STILL A GREAT STORY.
IF YOUR UP FOR THE CHALLENGE Man of Constant Sorrow OR OTHER READERS. FIND ME ONE REALLY GOOD STORY OF EACH PAIRING HARRYXTONKS, HARRYXFLEUR, HARRYXDAPHNE, AND JUST TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT A HARRYXBELLATRIX (HARRY CANT BE EVIL FOR THIS ONE, JUST TO MAKE IT THAT MUCH HARDER), I WILL ALLOW A HAREM FOR THAT LAST PAIRING BUT NONE OF THE OTHERS. REMEMBER, THEY HAVE TO BE REALLY GOOD STORIES.
WOW...WENT ON A TANGENT THERE, IS AUTHOR NOTES SUPPOSED TO BE THIS LONG. I SUPPOSE NOT. BUT AT LEAST YOU READERS GET TO UNDERSTAND YOUR AUTHOR A BIT MORE WITH EACH ONE.
I KNOW YOU JUST THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY -_- BEWARE YOUR AUTHOR KNOWS ALL. OK NOT REALLY BUT THATD BE BORING ANYWAYS LOL
OK READERS, GO READ THIS CHAPTER AND REVIEW, AND PM IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR IDEAS OR IF YOU WANT TO CHAT OR ECT. DONT BE SHY I DONT BITE...OK I DONT BITE GUYS AT LEAST, LADIES I BITE A LITTLE...OK A LOT...DAMN TANGENT AGAIN. READ IF YOU HAVENT STARTED ALREADY, SORRY XD
HOGWARTS MESS HALL, OCTOBER 31
Crunching the paper in his hand Harry looked up at Dumbledore and asked in front of the whole student body and staff, "How did this happen?". He saw that Dumbledore uncomfortable with the question. Why...well he didn't know why but it was time to find out.
Sighing Dumbledore spoke softly to Harry, "A good question, but something that should be figured out in the back room and not in front of the students of three schools, don't you agree?"
Looking around Harry saw that everyone was straining to hear what was being said, some were even refusing to hardly breathe it seemed. No one could resist a good soap opera it seemed; wizards loved to eat up drama as long as it wasn't their own, and it'd be cruel of Harry not to deliver.
"No, I think we 'all' should know how this happened. It does involve them after all as well," Shocked was shown in many faces, even Dumledore's didn't hide the shock. No one has ever contradicted Dumbledore that wasn't a bad egg and here was Harry Potter the supposed Golden Boy, Dumbledore's favorite, The Boy Who Lived telling Dumbledore 'No'. One could say this happened about as much as people saying He Who Must Not Be Named name, it just doesn't happen very often.
"What?" Dumbledore said lamely, panic flitting across his face before his usual grandfatherly calm settled once again
"I don't think it needs repeating as to what I said Alb-Professor Dumbledore," That little slip up seemed to have gone unnoticed, 'guess they're still shocked' he mused to himself, surveying the hall, inwardly laughing at the open mouthed pupils.
Fixing himself Dumbledore smiled softly "Why yes, I meant to ask why you think it involves the student body and not just the staff and champions?"
"The Tri-wizard tournament is to build relations isn't it" Harry asked with confidence. A nod was all that was needed for him to continue speaking. "Then with a breach, an unknown fourth champion being involved, then the relations that we are attempting to build is slowly disappearing between the schools; and since the school is the student body it inadvertently involves the student body. It wouldn't be right to exclude them,"
Harry had to take a breath after that one breath statement, 'How the bloody hell does Hermione lecture without busting a lung?' it was a new experience for the young hero.
Everyone began to whisper and nod at that, their astonishment replaced with a need to know what was happening. Harry was right, it did involve them. The seed of curiosity was growing and with an opportunity to be in the loop the students were sure to grab onto it with dear life. An older, probably sixth year, Slytherin boy stood up and spoke with vigor "Potter is right, we have a right to know and I'm sure we all are wanting to know," Looking around the Slytherin got nods of conformation from everyone, even the Gryffindors "No one should question what Dumbledore says"...ok almost everyone.
Standing up Ron was looking angry at Harry, his face an alarming shade of burgundy, seething with embarrassment and rage "Just listen to Dumbledore Harry, he knows what he's doing,"
"If so then why did my name come out?" Harry shot back.
"I-I-I don't...there must have..." Ron was spluttering at this point, trying to find an excuse.
Small sniggers were spreading across the students, especially from the French girls, which Ron had noticed. Ears still red but face fading back to an almost normal colour, he sat back down mumbling incoherently, Hermione was giving him a sympathetic look and a pat on the arm which Ron shrugged off.
Seeing the miniscule amount of chaos he created just by saying no Harry couldn't help but see why Fred and George took joy in causing pranks. It was amusing to see people scurry and react to something unexpected, one just couldn't help but smirk at it all.
"100 points from Gryffindor and a month's worth of detention Potter for disrespecting and questioning the Headmaster," Harry turned to see Snape stalk towards him with his black batty cloak billowing around like some kind of warlord. His scowl was pronounced but there was a hint of joy in his eyes, 'sadistic bastard' was all Harry thought.
Before things could get worse Dumbledore stepped in, "Now now, Severus no need for that, Harry has made a point. Maybe we should let the students hear this," His blue eyes began twinkling and Harry felt a sudden, unnerving shiver go up his spine.
"Dummmbledoor, I don't care what you chose to do but we need to do something now," Madam Maxime was apparently sick of waiting for something to be done. She looked upset but still walked dignified to the Headmaster...well as dignified as a half-giantess could anyways.
"Of course, my dear Maxime, I didn't mean to stall the questioning," The headmaster bowed his head slightly while giving the Headmistress a grandfatherly smile. Madame Maxime responded with a grunt, and stood waiting.
Turning back to Harry, Dumbledore began, "Harry, Did you put your name in the goblet?"
"No"' Harry said, bluntly and to the point. There was no need to dance around the subject.
"Did you ask someone else to put your name in?"
"That could be done? Then what was the point of the age line if you could've done that?"
Dumbledore ignored Harrys question, repeating his own, "Did you ask someone else to put your name in?"
"No" 'back to bluntness I guess'
Snape snarled, "Do you expect us to believe that, you've always needed to be in the center of attention," Snape's eyes sparkled with pure malice, his lips curling into a smile.
Turning to Snape, Harry gave him one of his fierce glares that was usually reserved for the enemy, and sometimes Draco too, "Then how about you tell me how I, a mere fourth year, managed to trick an ancient relic, the management of games and sports wizards, and the Leader of the light?"
Snape's usually pale face was beginning to change close to a deep purple, something he thought only Uncle Vernon could achieve, even rivalling Ron's signature burgundy, but he couldn't blame him. Snape found himself encountering a problem, a contradiction, if Snape insulted that Harry wasn't capable of that or of even the basics of magic then he couldn't make Harry look like an egotistical asshole and possibly get him into trouble, but at the same time if he says Harry did do it then he basically made Harry out to be some great wizard. 'God forbid Snape do that' Harry had thought.
Before Snape could find a retort a maniac laughter was heard. It echoed across the walls of the mess hall, all turned to look at Professor Moody, "That's a good deduction lad, yes there is no way you could've done it so how?"
The thump of his wooden leg was pronounced as he spoke every word like it law, his fake eye was going around and around, "It's quite simple, it would seem tha-"
"Alistor, I think it is time for the student to enjoy the celebrations of the chosen champions. We can discuss such things at a later time,"
Looking around Dumbledore clapped his hands and the candles flickered back on, bathing everything in a painful light, "Alright students, go have fun and celebrate for there is reason to be happy. And i am sure your heads of house wouldn't mind to let one night of endless partying go unnoticed," At that last remark most of the student had forgotten about the drears of what was currently going on and started heading straight back.
'Mindless sheep the lot of them' rolling his eyes Harry looked at Dumbledore and saw relief. Something was going on and it would seem that he wasn't getting any closer to finding out what it was. .
As the group of students was dwindling, Harry, for second time was ushered to go to the back room, this time without resistance.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
GRYFFINDOR COMMON ROOM, OCTOBER 21
'Little boy! How dare she say such a thing, I'm twenty five! She better be happy that her curves are so damn distracting...' Shaking his head from the inner rant he walked into his common room, thankfully without the need of the password again since he still doesn't know it.
Instantly he is being grabbed by Fred and George and forcefully flung into the center of the room. Getting up with a scowl he was bombarded with the same question by many at once, "How'd you do it?"
"Seriously guys, you still believe I d-did it?" Harry whined to the group, faltering slightly. He sounded so childish...perhaps this whole affair was affecting him more than he realised.
"Well how else did your name get in the goblet?" One of the twins asked, Harry wasn't going to strain his brain to figure out which.
"How about you tell me how, as was said in the mess hall, how could I possible trick an ancient artifact and the Headmaster?"
It was pointless, the Gryffindors were on some kind of happy high and didn't listen to reasoning. Harry sighed and was heading up to go to bed when he heard Ron speak to some others.
"He must have done something, Dumbledore wouldn't have let him do it, and he always wants to be in something big. Trust me, he's just like that," Harry started slowly walking to Ron oblivious to the room going into a quiet whisper, Ron was just as oblivious as Harry and continued talking. "He is such a glory seeking prat, always has been, Snape may be a git but he is right about what he says about..."
Turning around Ron saw a sleeve of a robe and then pain registered as Harry smashed his fist into the redhead's face. He flew over a table and onto the floor unconscious, 'That felt sooooo good' Harry had thought while mentally doing a happy dance.
People began to surround the scene of the crime just looking stunned, witnessing the downfall of what was thought to be two best friends. Harry's hand was beginning to hurt, looking at it the first and middle knuckle were bruised but looking at Ron's purple and bloody nose he thought he got the better deal. That is until Hermione came down the stairs.
She took one look at the scenario and instantly rushed to Ron, which had hurt Harry's pride a lot, his smile vanishing at the sight of her kneeling beside Ron. She seemed to be fixing his nose or something because when she was done pointing her wand at him all he had was minor discoloring and small dribbles of blood on his face. Turning around she started yelling at Harry.
"What were you thinking? Why did you do that to Ron? What made you think you could do that? What has gotten into you?"
Waiting out the storm, Harry just listened as she reworded her same question several times with more and more fancy words till she finally had to catch her breath. He had a defence all lined up, he was saying lies about me, he was making me out to be some famous glutton; what came out was.
"He was being a prat,"
'Good job Potter, she is soooo going to enjoy that answer'
Sure enough her hair got bushier and she made a face that'd make McGonagall proud. She huffed and went back to Ron muttering something here and there while doing more spell care.
Pride officially wounded three times, once from Fleur and twice by Hermione, he set off to bed. As he finished his shower and closed the curtains to his bed, he went to bed thinking 'Nothing good ever comes from Halloween'
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
HOGWARTS GREAT LAKE, NOVEMBER 7
A week has gone by and so far nothing productive had happened. Not only was he shunned by everyone again but this time he didn't have Hermione with him to make it bearable. Hitting Ron was enjoyable but it was at a heavy price, now you couldn't see her away from him for more than a few minutes. She scowled at him when he passed them. He hadn't really seen Hermione scowl before, he didn't know she even possessed the ability to scowl. It's like his actions actually drove those two together, at this rate he might actually have to kill the weasel. That really would be a shame...
Thinking on that, his thoughts were brought towards Draco. He wasn't sure how to figure out if this was his Draco or the even more prattish version.
A weight appeared on his shoulder, knowing it was Hedwig he absentminded strokes her feathers. At least he had his Snow girl. The day after his name came out he knew he had to tell Sirius and remembering that he needed to send a letter he remembered Hedwig was alive. The reunion was pathetic, Harry was a blubbering mess and Hedwig was staying away from him like he was the plague or at least she did until he calmed down.
She came back two days ago and haven't separated since. It was nice having his owl back, and he was going to make sure not to lose her again.
He saw McGonagall coming through the door with tight lips, she wasn't happy with Harry in the slightest. Moving behind a tree he put his invisibility cloak over himself and Hedwig, he skipped out on classes all week and didn't feel like getting lectured right now.
Moving past McGonagall he snuck back into the school and headed for the Room of the Requirements. He had been sitting in this room, just sleeping his stresses away and was planning on continuing that till things decided to take a better turn. Admittedly, this probably wasn't the best idea. As he stepped in he shrugged off his cloak and a sickening feeling of dread flooded him as he realized something was wrong, very wrong indeed.
He cursed himself for realizing too late that the door was already there, he looked to his left and saw Hermione. Before he could speak she pointed her wand at him. His last thought before all going back was 'Damn'.