1 November 1994
Hermione woke early the next morning, covered in sweat and feeling exhausted. Her nightmares had not woken her room mates and she breathed out a sigh of relief. Winky was already beside her with pepper-up potion and clothes, the little elf sternly directed the sleepy witch into the washroom. When Hermione came out, she was shocked to find both Dobby and Winky waiting on her. Dobby had a basket filled with baked goods in his hand, a smile bloomed on her face as she took a deep breath of the heavenly aroma.
"Master Harry not be getting much sleep, Miss. Myne." Dobby said regretfully as he offered her the basket. Winky nodded before disappearing with a small pop.
"Did my brother say anything to upset him last night?" Hermione whispered as she took the basket, Dobby seemed to shrink, folding in on himself.
"Yes, Miss. Myne, Master Harry's Weazy not believing Master." Dobby nodded sadly. Hermione patted the little elf's shoulder and tried to give him an encouraging smile. She picked up her book before pausing to look at the elf critically for a moment.
"It's not your fault, Dobby. You can't control what others say." Hermione said firmly as she headed down the steps to the common room. She made sure her chair was facing the stairs so that she would not miss her boyfriend when he came down stairs before losing herself in her book.
"Good morning..."Harry said softly, making Hermione jump. Looking around, she saw that there were a few Gryffindors milling about the common room but the sun barely rose over the forbidden forest yet.
"Morning, Harry." Hermione smiled up at him nervously, he watched her with a guarded expression, as if waiting for her to say something. "Breakfast?"
"What?" Harry took a step back as Hermione raised a basket up to eye level, it was filled with some of his favorite treats. Hermione frowned as she stepped closer, her eyes filled with concern.
"I just figured you wouldn't want to get breakfast in the great hall...maybe we could go for a walk...or we can go to the corridor?" Hermione asked hopefully, Harry still stared at her blankly, his whole body stiff. "Or...not...I mean, I just well."
"What? Going to question me about how I got my name in the cup?" Harry whispered as he glared accusingly at her. Hermione hugged the basket to her chest as her mouth opened and closed in shock.
"You promised me you wouldn't enter your name. Did you lie?" Hermione ground out defensively as soon as she found her voice.
"No! I said last night I didn't enter my name!" Harry snapped angrily, standing back from her his whole body rigid.
"I'm aware, I tried to talk to you but you went to bed and Eloise dragged me off to question me." Hermione said sarcastically as she rolled her eyes. "Dobby brought me this basket this morning, probably thought you wouldn't want to be bothered with all the whispers and the stares." With that she shoved the basket into his hands roughly and picked up her book to sit back down.
"You believe me?" Harry asked hopefully, shuffling his feet awkwardly. Hermione snorted from behind her book.
"Yes, you promised you wouldn't enter the tournament, so I believe you. However, I will not be the one you take your shite out on. I get enough of that with Ron." Hermione grumbled from behind her book. Harry dropped the basket unceremoniously and grabbed Hermione, roughly pulling her to feet.
"I'm sorry." Harry whispered as he gave her a bone crushing hug. "I just thought you wouldn't believe me, no one else seems to."
"Don't be a twit." Hermione slapped his arm with a small smile on her face. "Do you have to compete?"
"Yeah, Couch says it's a magically binding contract." Harry grunted as he picked up the over turned basket. "The French bint called me a 'leetle boy', Krum scowled, and Warrington looked so bloody smug." He grumbled miserably.
"That's not fair! Isn't anyone going to look into how an underage student was entered?" Hermione demanded. Harry flushed and looked around, seeing some of their fellow Gryffindors stopped to listen in on their conversation. He took her hand and lead her out of the common room to continue their conversation in private.
"Dumbledore seemed to believe me, Moody thinks someone is trying to kill me and of course bloody Snape thinks I somehow fooled an ancient enchanted relic, all while being a mediocre wizard." Harry sighed as soon as they were in the comfort of the closed corridor. He sat heavily in an old arm chair that was covered in a red and orange crochet blanket, he was growing used to Dobby's obsession with knitting covers for everything.
"So, even though Uncle Albus knows you didn't do it he's still making you compete...does he agree with Professor Moody?" Hermione sat down in the table beside his chair, tugging at her curls nervously. Harry grabbed her hand away from her hair and laced their fingers together.
"I think he does but I don't have a choice, if I don't compete I lose my magic...what would happen if I lost my magic?" Harry asked curiously. Not that he wanted to live as a muggle, he loved magic too much but he could if he had to.
"You would be shunned amongst most of the magical community, if not exiled, your vaults would be taxed to near completion and if you didn't have an heir...the ministry would take everything. The Potter line would be wiped out." Hermione said slowly, watching his face closely for his reaction. "You're not considering that are you?"
"No! I mean, I could live as a muggle...I didn't even know I was a wizard until I was eleven but I don't think I could just give up my magic for a tournament." Harry said thoughtfully, a little taken back by her reaction. "Would it bother you if I was a muggle?"
"Would I mind if my boyfriend was obliviated and thrown into the muggle world so I could never see him again?" Hermione asked incredulously, Harry's blank look let her know Harry had no idea what she was talking about. "You would probably be treated as muggleborn choosing to leave the magical world... Bill had a girl in his class in third year who chose not to continue. They wiped her and her parents memories then bound her magic."
"They can do that?" Harry gasped in horror at her nonchalant attitude.
"Can we get back to you being in an extremely dangerous tournament?" Hermione asked impatiently, seeing Harry's determined expression made her sigh. "It doesn't happen often and I guess the muggleborns choose it."
"They choose to give up magic?" Harry persisted stubbornly.
"I suppose, I honestly don't know...I never met a muggleborn before Hogwarts...didn't even meet a muggle till last summer." Hermione said patiently. "Harry you are going up against 3 other champions that have at least two full years of education on you in a tournament known for not just maiming its champions but killing them."
"What can I do?" Harry whispered as he looked down at his lap dejectedly, his shoulders slumped in defeat. Hermione took the basket from his hands and placed it onto the table before crawling into his lap, wrapping her arms around him.
"I'll ask Uncle Albus for advice, maybe my brothers too but you'll get through this Harry. I'll help you." Hermione whispered asked nestled her face against his neck. Harry was a bit stiff at first but soon relaxed, wrapping his arms around the petite girl to pull her closer.
-0-
"Just ignore them Harry." Hermione whispered as they neared the great hall. After spending the morning hidden away in Winky's rooms, they decided to see how the rest of their friends reacted to Harry being named champion. Snide comments were whispered by passing students, some students pointed and jeered Harry as he resolutely stared ahead.
"It's a little difficult when they are all going out of their way to point at me." Harry groaned as he sat heavily on the bench at the Gryffindor table. His housemates smiled at him, congratulating him on ensuring the school had proper representation but they all sounded fake and insincere.
"How you feeling, Harry?" Neville asked as he sat down across from Harry and Hermione. Luna sat gracefully beside him with a serene smile on her face, ignoring the blatant stares.
"I've been better, you?" Harry grunted moodily as he piled food onto his plate. Luna snickered as she watched Cedric storm into the hall with a red face and Cho following close behind attempting to apologize.
"What did you do?" Hermione asked with a small smile as Cedric turned to growl at the pretty 'Claw.
"I just encouraged her to embrace her spiritual creature, a limpet." Lune hummed, her smug smile made Hermione turn to to snickering Neville for clarification.
"She cast some spell on Cho...they were stuck together, intimately." Neville blushed as he lowered his eyes.
"What?" Hermione exclaimed loudly, Luna smiled serenely at her best friend obviously amused.
"It was a simple spell to lower inhibitions, then a twenty four hour sticking charm." Luna said bluntly with a nonchalant shrug.
"Cedric's mad he didn't get to enter the tournament and missed the drawing." Neville chuckled and looked at the blonde next to him fondly. The three erupted into laughter as Cho rushed out of the great hall in tears. Harry stared down at his plate frowning, not even paying attention to the conversation going on around him.
"I'm sure she deserved it." Hermione beamed at her friend in pride.
"Harry you seem to have a head full of wrackspurts!" Luna grinned impishly as Harry's head jerked up and he stared at the blonde as if she lost her mind.
"Oh no, Luna, how do we save him?" Hermione smiled wickedly, picking up on her playful mood. Neville glanced between them looking just as confused as Harry.
"Unfortunately, it would take hours close contact with a red haired witch." Luna's expression turned grim but her large blue eyes shimmered with mischief. The blonde leaned right over the table and whispered in Harry's ear, whatever she said made the boy blush furiously. Harry's eyes darted to Hermione as a large grin spread across his face.
"What?" Neville asked curiously, Luna turned to him with a bright smile but only shook her head.
"I think we definitely need to work on that treatment..." Harry whispered, a glazed look in his eyes. The great hall doors opened wide, crashing into the walls with a solid thump. Sirius Black strode into the great hall, looking every inch the pureblood aristocrat in brand new robes and a cool, emotionless mask on his face.
"What's Sirius doing here?" Hermione wondered curiously, Harry began to stand to go see him but paused when he didn't even look in the boys direction, Sirius's full attention was on the headmaster.
"Dumbledore, what are you playing at?" Sirius demanded angrily as he reached the head table. Albus's gaze shifted to where Harry was sitting at the Gryffindor table before returning to Sirius as he stood.
"Shall we take this to my office where we can speak privately?" Albus asked solemnly, Sirius didn't wait to be escorted but stalked from the hall, fuming. Harry went to follow, pulling Hermione along with him because she would not let go of his hand. The stubborn set of her jaw let him know that there was no use to argue. The headmaster walked calmly behind them, followed closely by Professors Snape and Moody.
"Fizzing Whizbees." Albus said to the stone gargoyle when they reached his office. The gargoyle sprang to life, stepping out of the way to allow access to the spiral staircase that lead to the headmasters office. The ancient wizard sat behind his desk and waited patiently for the other occupants to make themselves comfortable.
"What is Snivellus doing here?" Sirius barked after a short, tense silence. The potions master bristled, turning to glare at his old school rival.
"What is Miss. Weasley doing here?" Professor Snape drawled, sounding almost bored, his obsidian eyes gave him away as they burned with anger and hatred.
"Severus has my trust and has many theories on how Harry's name was entered. I'm sure Hermione would not have left Harry, even if he wanted her to." The headmaster attempted to joke to lighten the tense atmosphere, Sirius only turned his glare on to Dumbledore.
"Well, what are the theories for getting Harry out of the tournament?" Sirius snapped. Albus was about to open his mouth but Professor Moody cut him off quickly.
"The boy has to compete or lose his magic, Black." Moody grunted before taking out his flask and taking a long drink. Sirius turned to look at the old auror curiously before turning back to the headmaster.
"Can he call a proxy?" Sirius asked through gritted teeth, his knuckles were white as he gripped the arms of the chair but he kept his hard gaze on the headmaster.
"No, there are no substitutions. If he tries to get out of the tournament he would lose his magic...I believe there wa-" Albus said slowly, his expression grim but Professor Snape cut him off.
"So you really believe the spawn of Potter didn't convince an older student to enter his name?" The potions master drawled sarcastically, smirking at Sirius who looked to be ready to explode.
"Don't you dare talk about James or Harry like that, Snivellus!" Sirius roared jumping up from his seat to advance on the surly man.
"I can talk about him anyway I choose, Black! I've been teaching your pathetic excuse of godson for over three years, there's no way he broke the enchantments on that cup." Professor Snape sneered, looking unconcerned as Sirius loomed over him. "Pathetic, just like his father."
"Severus! Sirius! That's enough!" Albus said firmly, rising from his chair. Sirius and Severus froze but continued glaring hatefully at each other.
"No, Dumbledore. This is rubbish and I won't stand here and have this death eater talk about James or Harry like this." Sirius growled, Severus blinked and the marauder scoffed standing to his full height as he sneered at the potions master. "James Potter not only saved your life while we were in school but he died 13 years ago, with his wife. It's time for you to move on."
"Sirius, could you please sit down so we can talk about this, like adults?" Albus asked calmly, the others in the office waited on baited breath as Sirius took a step back from the flushed potions master. Slowly, he stalked back to his seat and sat gracefully, turning his glare back to the headmaster.
"So, what are we going to do to prepare Harry for the tournament?" Sirius asked in a deceptively calm voice.
"Unfortunately, it's in the official charter that I am not allowed to help or in any way interfere with the champions. So, Harry is left to his own devices for training." Albus said gravely, looking frustrated and disappointed. Hermione bristled beside Harry as Sirius looked ready to explode.
"So, who are you assigning to train Harry?" Hermione asked quickly before Sirius react. Albus looked at his goddaughter wearily, while she may not be Arthur and Molly's child by birth, she somehow inherited the Prewitt temper.
"Anyone associated with the schools or the ministry is barred from assisting the champions." Albus said bluntly as he watched Hermione's face grow red.
"Does it matter that I didn't enter and don't want to participate?" Harry asked hesitantly, sick of being silent as they talked about his involvement in the tournament. "It was against the rules to have a fourth champion so...why do I have to follow them?"
"Of course, Potter wants special treatment." Severus snorted derisively as he shook his head.
"Do you have anything helpful or even relevant to add or are you just here for snark?" Sirius snapped angrily, Severus sneered but kept his mouth closed.
"Headmaster, perhaps it would be more efficient if Professor Snape left us? His interruptions are not helping us come to any kind of resolution." Hermione suggested slowly through gritted teeth. Albus looked taken back as she never called him by any of his formal titles, even in front of other students.
"I think I have more important matters to oversee, rather than worry about precious Potter's begging for more attention." Severus drawled as he swiftly stood and stalked from the office, not bothering to wait for any response. He would not be dismissed by a student. Albus sighed sadly and took off his glasses, the four other occupants waited patiently while the headmaster gathered his thoughts.
"So, who will be training Harry?" Hermione asked after a long, tense silence.
"I would but I've only just gotten a handle on my magic after being in Azkaban. Maybe I could contact Remus? We've reconnected since he did a runner at the end of term." Sirius offered right away.
"No, Remus would face ministry inquiry because even though he is no longer employed as a professor, he is still connected to the school." Albus shook his head ruefully.
"I'm sure Miss. Weasley can help the boy. She is top of her class and I've heard great things." Moody said gruffly after a moment. Hermione scoffed, turning her nose up at the man.
"I'm a student, yes I know a lot of spells but this tournament is dangerous. Harry needs someone to teach him." Hermione said firmly, glancing at the frowning boy form the corner of her eye.
"I'm not an idiot." Harry grumbled, looking put out at the conversation going on around him. "I know I'm behind the other champions but what kind of challenges will I be facing?"
"That would be telling...we can't interfere. You are allowed to use any available classrooms at your disposal, I will also write you a pass for the restricted section of the library." Albus said firmly, the twinkle dimming in his blue eyes. Moody grunted irritably and rose to leave without a parting word, thinking that it was a waste of his time. The remaining trio sat in silence for a moment before Sirius cleared his throat and looked to Harry thoughtfully.
"Harry, how about you walk me out?" Sirius hopped up from his chair and waited for Harry to join him. The bespectacled boy paused momentarily to look to the headmaster then his girlfriend before following his godfather out. Hermione and Albus sat alone for a tense silence until Hermione cleared her throat.
"You can't help Harry...but you can help me, right?" Hermione asked hesitantly. While she was furious with the school and the ministry for bringing back the dangerous tournament, the man was still her godfather, the same man who saved her and brought her home to her family.
"Yes, I can...not much but I could offer a nudge in the right direction." Albus chuckled softly, the twinkle retuning to his blue eyes. Hermione relaxed back in her chair and let out a sigh of relief. "I believe runes would be a good area of study...personally."
"If you think of anything else..." Hermione trailed off weakly. The headmaster quickly got up and walked Hermione to his office door, his arm around her shoulders.
"Oh, how is Charlie? He was home this summer, yes?" The headmaster stopped her just before she got to the door. He had a sly smile on his face as his eyes twinkled madly behind his half moon glasses.