I've been getting attacked by plot bunnies...I've tried to write them out so I can come back to this but they keep distracting me. Any tips for a cure? I've got another story with about 30k words already by trying my method and only two chapters of this written out. I refuse to slack off and leave this story, I have so many ideas :)
22 November 1994
The news papers did not portray Harry in a flattering light, in fact they seemed to over look his adamant statements that he did not enter himself. Rita Skeeter, who pulled Harry into a broom closet for their interview, released an article chronicling his fictitious adventures and his tendency to grow teary eyed at the mention of his parents. Her articles revealed Harry to be unstable, in constant need of attention, while his fellow champion, Cassius Warrington, was an outstanding student who was robbed of his time in the spot light. Krum was, of course, heavily covered on all fronts. As a famous professional quidditch player who caught the snitch at the last World Cup, he was quoted daily speaking out about the injustice of Hogwarts having two champions and his regret of even entering the obviously rigged tournament. Fleur Delacour was reduced to nothing more than her bloodline. Laying out the girls family tree to show when the veela gene was introduced, they speculated if her status would give her an advantage over her pure wizard competitors. It seemed her classmates were all too eager to speak of their time in school with the quarter-veela, who was reported as snobbish and cold.
True to his word, Albus did keep a closer eye on his old friend Alastor. It unnerved him that there actually were subtle differences in his behavior. While the old auror was known for his paranoia, Alastor Moody now jumped at shadows. Albus desperately hoped it was only old age getting to his friend and not something more nefarious. He decided to have the DADA professor keep a close eye on Harry, see if he could determine if the boy was planning properly for the first task. Alastor was known for bending the rules to suite his own agenda, which was taking down dark wizards.
"Hey Potty!" A malicious voice called out loudly through the courtyard. Hermione's head whipped around, finding her boyfriend advancing on a group of Slytherins.
"I swear he fancies Harry." Hermione grumbled. Luna snickered at her side as she linked their arms together and started walking towards them. Eloise and Ron grudgingly got up slowly from the stone table to follow. While they did come to a truce about not bad mouthing Harry, they didn't leap to his defense as they once did.
"Well, Harry does have a nice bum." Luna hummed as she twirled her wand through her fingers. Hermione smirked as she playfully shoved the blonde without halting her brisk stride, wanting to join her boyfriend as quickly as possible.
"-I don't think you'll last five minutes." Malfoy rambled with a condescending smirk. Harry gripped his wand tightly in his hand as he scowled at the blonde and his friends standing behind him.
"Bugger off, tosser!" Harry snarled, taking a step forward with his wand raised. Hermione reached his side and placed a hand on his arm to stop him, the raven haired boy relaxed at her touch and glanced down at the redhead who was glaring furiously at the blonde.
"Oh, Potter needs his girlfriend to defend him?" Malfoy pouted dramatically as his friends roared with laughter. Hermione smirked as Luna stood on the other side of her boyfriend snickering.
"Oh, Draco...when will you learn?" Luna asked with a bright smile, her head tilted to the side. Malfoy's face hardened as he watched the girls come to stand beside Harry, his eyes narrowed as Hermione's hand idly slid down Harry's bicep.
"What have I said about talking to me, Looney?" Malfoy snarled furiously as he stepped closer to them.
"What have I said about talking to a lady, Malfoy?" Neville barked as he stormed up to the group. A large crowd circled the Gryffindors and Slytherins, watching eagerly and hoping for a duel. Luna smiled warmly at Neville as he imposingly placed himself between Luna and the Slytherins.
"I don't see any ladies here, Fatbottom." Malfoy smirked as his eyes travelled down Hermione's form. Harry instinctively reached out to pull the red head behind him to hide her from his gaze.
"Oh, brilliant Malfoy, really." Hermione drawled sarcastically as she rolled her eyes at her boyfriend and pushed his arm away. "Very original, seriously were you the one to come up with those adorable little buttons?"
"Shut up, blood traitor!" Pansy's shrill voice called out from behind Malfoy. The blonde glowered at Hermione as he fingered the badge on his chest.
"Really, there were much better phrases out there than Potter stinks. I bet I could come up with a dozen phrases for you...Manky Malfoy, Draco the Duffer, Support Draco Malfoy, his father will hear if you don't, Draco Malfoy, Mummy says I'm a special ickle boy!...maybe your name just inspires shame though, so much easier to-" Hermione laughed loudly as she rambled, Malfoys face growing red before he whipped out his wand.
"Peragitatum!" Draco shouted, aiming his wand at Hermione. Her eyes widened as the dark blue curse came straight towards her. Harry wrapped his arms around Hermione, putting himself in front of her.
"Protego propulsa!" Luna waved her wand around Neville and a shimmering purple shield stretched before the group. The curse was deflected, hitting the tree behind the Slytherins, making many small but deep slices along the trunk. The crowd was silent as they saw the damage of the curse the blonde sent at another student.
"Buggering-" Ron growled as he charged towards the blonde from the crowd. Neville caught him by the back of his robe but Ron was fighting furiously to get to the wide eyed Slytherin.
"I uh-" Malfoy opened and closed his mouth, looking between the tree and Hermione who was staring at him incredulously from behind Harry. Harry reached out and tried to help Neville subdue Ron, albeit reluctantly. Hermione was clinging to his jumper and he really wanted to see someone pound the git.
"Moody's coming." Eloise whispered urgently as she grabbed Ron by the hair and pulled him back. The read head yelped as he turned to glare at the girl but she ignored him, pulling him away from the confrontation. Their friends followed suite, sending Malfoy scathing looks as the crowd parted to let them through.
"Pathetic. Like father like son." Luna whispered, her blue eyes shining with disappointment as she turned to follow her friends. A red beam of light whizzed by her head but she didn't bother to turn around.
"Curse a student in the back will you?" Moody snarled as he whipped out his wand. With a quick flick, Malfoy transformed into a pure white ferret. Laughter erupted from the crowds as Moody made him dance through the air, shoving the traumatized student down his friends trousers. Hermione paused to watch, still clinging to Harry but Eloise did not pause in her stride, dragging an irate redhead away by his hair.
"The amazing bouncing ferret." Harry whispered in awe as he watched the white rodent dance through the air.
"Alastor!" Professor McGonagall shrieked. The couple sighed as they realized the entertainment was over and their friends disappeared in the crowds.
-0-
"Apparently, Hagrid wants you to visit him tonight after curfew." Hermione whispered breathlessly as Harry trailed light kisses along her neck. She lazily ran her fingers through his hair as he grunted, not really paying attention to what Hermione was saying. The red head squealed as Harry's hands trailed down her sides and she claimed his mouth again, taking his bottom lip between her teeth.
"Weren't..." Harry groaned as Hermione's hands slipped beneath his jumper and she dragged her nails along his back. "I uh...can't" Harry cursed under his breath as she lightly nipped at his neck, relishing the feel of her skin.
"Can't what, Harry?" Hermione smiled wickedly as she pushed him with her legs and flipped them over so she straddled his waist. Harry's eyes widened as her skirt bunched up, exposing more of her thighs, he tentatively lowered his hands, lightly touching her exposed skin with his finger tips.
"Can't concentrate." Harry said absently as he stared at his hands on her leg. Hermione blushed as she grabbed his hands, bringing his attention back to her face. Her red curls were wild, her lips puffy from kissing, and he definitely left a mark on her neck Harry smiled broadly as he thought she never looked so beautiful.
"Harry!" Hermione laughed, giving his hands a squeeze. The bespectacled boy beneath her shook his head to clear it and looked up at her sheepishly. She smiled down at him warmly, loving the attention. "Ron said Hagrid wants you to visit him at midnight."
"Why?" Harry whined pitifully as he let his hands rest on her hips.
"Probably something to do with the tournament...Charlie is coming tonight." Hermione bit her lips nervously. While Sirius was trying to teach Harry advanced magic, Hermione was busy trying to find runes that could help him. So far she only found a fire resistant rune that could be used on a wizard and a notice-me-not that was targeted for dragons.
"I think I'm prepared. I've been able to make the shield to absorb dragon fire and I can conjure a sword." Harry said petulantly, Hermione scowled down at her boyfriend.
"I'm just worried, the magic Sirius taught you really wipes you out. Those spells are made for fully grown wizards, I just worry that you'll exhaust yourself and get roasted." Hermione whispered tearfully, Harry pulled her down to his chest so her face was buried in his neck
"I'll be alright. Maybe Luna's right and I should just ask the dragon to kill itself nicely." Harry whispered into her hair. Hermione chuckled weakly as she rolled off of him.
"We were supposed to be working on something." Hermione smirked as she looked at her boyfriends messy hair. He turned to her with a lopsided smile.
"Well, I think we were but when I asked when we were going to tell Eloise and Ron about the corridor you distracted me." Harry chuckled.
"I just..." Hermione groaned as she grabbed her flaming cheeks. "I like having something separate from my brothers." She whispered guiltily.
"You mean you want to take advantage of me without your brothers barging in to protect your virtue." Harry snorted, a blush creeping up his cheeks at the thought of Fred and George catching them in a broom closet.
"Maybe...just a bit." Hermione smiled coyly as she ducked her head to hide her blush. She looked up at him through her lashes to see Harry looking incredibly smug so she smacked him in the chest playfully. "Arrogant prat! I grew up with six older brothers...I had nowhere that I could escape...so, maybe I want to keep this a secret just a little longer?"
"Eloise?" Harry countered with a smug grin, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
"She still blames me for the stealing her work." Hermione huffed, rolling her eyes in annoyance. "I swear, she's deluded herself into thinking that she did it all alone. Yes, she did point out that it was odd Scabbers was so old...but it wasn't all her, was it? I was the one to start the research on Sirius and Luna was the one that came up with the idea that Sirius never had a trial. It was a group effort and I told the-" Harry leaned forward, sealing her lips with his own, effectively cutting off her rant.
"She went to Minnie behind my back last year, don't have to convince me." Harry whispered as he rolled and pinned her to the floor with his body. The redhead smirked, while Sirius was not always such a good influence the old marauder was instilling healthy doses of rebellion and confidence.
"You know, that's not always going to work. Can't just shut me up with a ki-" Hermione started but Harry leaned forward, leaving a trail of light kisses down her neck.
"I'll figure it out." Harry said softly against her ear.
-0-
"Have fun!" Hermione smiled against Harry's lips in the empty common room. The bespectacled boy pulled her close to him as he covered them both with his cloak, as long as she was close to his side it easily covered them both.
"Don't you want to come with me?" Harry smirked as the realization that she could see her brother set in. She squealed and practically dragged him all the way down to Hagrid's hut by the hand. When they arrived, Hagrid was pacing on his porch, pausing every so often to check his reflection in the window. The half giant was wearing his furry brown suite and it looked like he tried to tame his wild hair. Hagrid's head snapped up and looked around quickly.
"Harry?" Hagrid whispered loudly. Harry pulled the cloak off them when they reached his steps, Hermione's nose scrunched up at the smell that hit her.
"Hagrid is that your cologne?" Hermione gasped, she turned her head into Harry's shoulder, trying to take a large breath of unpolluted air.
"Well, hello Hermione. Shoulda known you wouldn't miss this." Hagrid grinned, smoothing down his oily hair, ignoring her question.
"Hagrid, what's in your hair?" Harry asked incredulously, it reminded him of Malfoy's hair but the games keeper's mane obviously could not be tamed so easily.
"I just wanted to look nice." Hagrid mumbled, his face blushing brightly under his beard. "Its too much." Before Hermione or Harry could react, Hagrid stuck his head into a barrel of water on his porch. "Come on, get under your cloak, got somethin to show ya."
"Okay, Hagrid." Harry smirked as he watched Hagrid shake like a dog to dry his hair. Hermione pressed a kiss to his cheek before slipping from beneath the cloak.
"I want to talk to Charlie." Hermione smiled sheepishly when Harry reached out to pull her back. Hagrid was already walking away from them towards the forbidden forest. The students follow close behind, the half giant was mumbling to himself nervously and running his fingers through his hair. His discomfort became obvious when they saw a tall figure standing along the edge of the forest by the Beauxbaton's carriage.
"Monsieur Hagrid!" Madam Maxim simpered and fluttered her eyelashes,making both Hermione and Harry pause in their steps.
"Olympe!" Hagrid smiled broadly as he walked up to her. "You look lovely this evenin." He bent at the waist clumsily as he kissed the woman's knuckles.
"Who is this?" Olympe turned to eye Hermione suspiciously.
"Hermione Weasley." Hermione said shortly, cutting off the tall woman. "Going to see my brother."
"But of course." Olympe sniffed delicately and threw her shaw across her shoulder. She smiled brightly at Hagrid who looked up at the woman in obvious adoration. "Shall we, Hagrid?" She practically purred, Hermione made a face behind them as Harry barely suppressed a chuckle. The group quickly made their way deep into the forest, much further then Hermione and her friends ever ventured before. Loud roars just up the hill made Hermione shiver as she pushed on.
"Hagrid! Is that you?" A tall blonde haired man with a thick Swedish accent waved the group over, he had a bright smile on his face, severe burns covered all exposed skin.
"Gunther! How have you been? How's Norbert?" Hagrid asked excitedly as he grasped the man's hand.
"You mean Norberta?" Gunther chuckled with a wry smile. "She's adapted quite well at the reserve."
"A girl?" Hagrid cried happily, tears brimming in his eyes as he thought of the baby dragon he loved. Olympe made an impatient noise in the back of her throat making Hagrid jump and blush furiously. "Oh, I'm sorry. Olympe Maxime, headmistress of Beauxbaton's, meet Gunther Andersson, he runs things up at the dragon reserve in Romania. One of the largest in the world."
"Pleasure." Olympe simpered and offered her hand to the gentleman she towered over. Gunther just smiled pleasantly and nodded his head politely.
"Oh, and this is Hermione Weasley. Couldn't wait to see Charlie." Hagrid roughly shoved Hermione forward.
"Nice to meet you." Hermione smiled weakly as she rubbed her shoulder. Gunther's eyes widened when he heard the girls name.
"The little Weasley? Oh, Charlie talks about you and your brothers all the time!" Gunther gushed excitedly as he pulled her into a tight hug. Hermione squeaked in protest but she was ignored as he dragged her forward, towards the high fence.
"Woah, there!" Hagrid exclaimed as a flume of fire shot into the air, followed by a monstrous roar.
"Merlin!" Hermione exclaimed loudly as soon as they were inside the enclosure. Four larger than life dragons were inside iron cages, dragon handlers grouped together as they dropped the bars to move them. Hermione went to visit Charlie only a couple times at the dragon reserve because of how expensive international port keys were. He showed her and their brothers the dragon pens but none of them seemed this enraged. There was only one area Charlie refused to let them see because it was too dangerous, sector 5, the nesting mothers.
"Hermione!" Charlie's shout made her turn to see her older brother dashing towards them. The bulky red head wrapped her in his arms and spun her around as she laughed at his excitement. "What are you doing out here? I thought I would come up to see you in the morning."
"You write to tell me that you are coming to the school for work in the dead of night and not expect me to come see you?" Hermione scoffed as he set her on her feet.
"It's after curfew." Charlie scolded half heartedly, Hermione only smirked with a raised brow.
"Not excited to see your little sister?" Hermione asked innocently, as she took in her surroundings.
"Well, I see you have it all in hand. I've got to go check on the perimeter and make sure John hasn't snuck into the school." Gunther chuckled as he quickly shook Hagrid's hand and took off.
"John?" Hermione asked curiously as her brother watched Gunther sprint away, she raised a questioning brow but Charlie just shrugged sheepishly.
"John's been talking about finding a cute seventh year to spend the week with." Charlie chuckled but Olympe's indignant snort made him realize they weren't alone.
"Charlie!" Hagrid exclaimed with a chuckle as he shook the dragon handlers hand in greeting. "This is Olympe Maxime, headmistress of Beauxbaton's."
"Pleasure. You will of course warn your associate to stay away from my girls." Olympe glared down at the red head menacingly. Charlie raised a brow with an amused smile on his face.
"I think he was looking forward to meeting a nice English girl, John's American." Charlie chuckled unrepentantly as he kissed the tall woman's knuckles. "So, where's Harry? I've yet to have that friendly chat I've been practicing."
"Probably asleep." Hermione shrugged nonchalantly before turning to glared up at her brother. "There will be no chat. At least not until after the first task."
"Understood." Charlie raised his hands in surrender with a small smile. "So, he have a good idea about what he's going to do?"
"Hmmm." Hermione hummed noncommittally as her eyes darted over to the French headmistress currently whispering the Hagrid's ear. Charlie pulled her to the side by her elbow, glaring suspiciously at Hagrid and his guest.
"Why did he bring her?" Charlie whispered.
"Hagrid fancies her, obviously. Not sure if she's just using him to find out about the task though. How can you be okay with the champions slaying a dragon?" Hermione demanded, glaring accusingly at her brother. Charlie took a step back in alarm.
"Slay?" Charlie asked incredulously. "No! They need to just get past them. They are all nesting, we put a golden egg out for-"
"AHHHHH!" A high pitched, terrified scream cut him off. Turning towards the gate, Gunther appeared moments later with a small first year Slytherin, he was dragging the boy by the back of his robe with a murderous look on his face.
"Of all the idiotic!" Gunther growled angrily at the boy, his face ashen as he watched the dragons with wide eyes. "If you had made it past the gate, they would have torn you limb from limb!"
"I...I-uh." The first year squeaked in terror as he momentarily took his eyes off the dragons.
"I'll take him back to the castle. Have a little chat with his head of house." Hagrid grumbled regrettably, looking longingly at the dragons.
"Thank you, Hagrid." Gunther said shortly as he practically threw the first year at the half giant.
"I'll see you tomorrow." Charlie pulled Hermione into a quick hug before she rushed to Hagrid's side. Harry made his presence known by briefly touching her hand as they made it out of the gate. From the corner of her eye she saw someone dashing through the forest towards the castle.