Crumpled Horn Plot Bunnies
By Andrew J. Talon
Disclaimer: I do not and probably never will own Harry Potter or any other copyrighted works mentioned in this story. I am not writing this for profit.
There is a way to have Harry be confident and a dick, without coming off as a 13 year old's edgelord fantasy. Is this it? I'll leave it to you to decide.
Kind of a continuation of the last chapter.
Ron stood in the Champion's Tent at the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament in shock. He'd seen his best friend fight a dragon, and... And it had finally hit him. Hit him that Harry... Was telling the truth. Someone had put Harry in just to kill him. It had to be. Just like the last three years.
How could he have been so stupid? So arrogant? He felt like the worst friend in the world.
Next to him was Hermione, who looked as shaken as him. She had, in contrast, stayed at Harry's side throughout the weeks before the First Task. Throughout Harry's fight, she hadn't looked away once. There were fingernail marks on her cheeks from where she'd grasped her face in terror for Harry. Ron couldn't blame her. That hadn't changed about her-Hermione had remained steadfast and loyal to Harry.
Though, her sense of fashion had changed. She was wearing a short skirt and very nice black stockings, kept warm with Warming Charms. And.. Was that make up she was wearing?
It looked very nice, but Ron honestly couldn't figure out why she had changed.
The tent flap parted, and Harry entered. His hair was messy, as was typical. His glasses were firmly on his face. He had burn marks on his uniform. Under one arm was a golden egg-The item he had stolen from the dragon.
"H-Harry, that was incredible!" Hermione squeaked. Harry spared her a short glance, then fixed his eyes on Ron. Ron winced-Harry always had an intense stare. The kind of thing that would make you want to hide from how cold it was.
"I... Harry," Ron tried, "I'm... I reckon someone's trying to do you in!"
Harry remained silent, glaring. Ron winced. Hermione looked back and forth between them, and scowled.
"Ron," Hermione prompted, "don't you have something to say to Harry?"
Ron scowled at Hermione, and then looked back at Harry in determination. He then sighed, and lifted his chin.
"One free hit," Ron said, pointing to his chin. Hermione blinked.
"One wha-?"
Harry crossed the distance between them, and punched Ron as hard as he could in the temple. Ron fell back, slamming hard into the tent floor.
"Harry!" Hermione cried.
Ron groaned and looked up. Harry stood over him, still staring intensely.
"I don't like hurting my friends," Harry said quietly, "don't ever make me have to do that again."
With that, Harry held out a hand. Ron stared up at him for a moment, wincing as he held his cheek. He then reached up, and grasped Harry's forearm. Harry pulled Ron up into a hug, and patted his back.
"Good," Harry said.
"Wh-What was that?" Hermione gasped.
"His apology," Harry stated, "and I accepted."
"Yeah," Ron said, now smiling.
"Oooh! You two are impossible!" Hermione cried, stomping her foot. "Is that how you solve all your problems? Violence? Crazy violence? I don't understand you at all! And Harry! I'm so glad you're alive but what was that?! How did the dragon's chain break like that?!"
"All I'll say is that I had nothing to do with it," Harry stated, "and it was just sheer luck the dragon attacked the judges while chasing me."
"You could have gotten them killed!" Hermione cried.
"Yeah, and one of them is trying to kill me, so it's fair," Harry retorted.
"Ooh! You're so impossible, Harry! You can't just do things like this! You need to see Madame Pomfrey! You almost died today and you attacked Ron, you crazy-!" Hermione tried, getting a big head of steam worked up... Which Harry silenced with a deep, messy snog. "MMMPH?!"
Ron's jaw dropped as Harry snogged the hell out of Hermione, bending her over as he embraced her tightly. Hermione's arms flailed around in shock for a moment... Before they wrapped tightly around his neck.
"Mm! Mmmmngh!"
Harry broke the kiss, and pulled Hermione back up. She looked entranced, her cheeks rosy red as she panted for breath. Harry was also panting hard, as he cupped Hermione's cheek.
"I'll always come back to you, Hermione," Harry growled softly, "always."
"I... Oh..." Hermione managed a nod, "o-okay..." She let out a giggle, probably the first time Ron had ever heard her make that sound.
"Uh," Ron coughed awkwardly, "they're... Gonna announce the scores..."
"Tell me what they are later," Harry grumbled. "I wanna lay down."
"N... Not until Madame Pomfrey sees you," Hermione managed. Harry sighed, and nodded.
"Fine," he grumbled. "Just don't bug me about it anymore."
"Okay Harry," Hermione said, giggling again as he wrapped an arm around her waist. She squeaked and turned bright red. "HARRY!"
"I'll see you at the medical tent," Harry said. Hermione flushed, nodded, and turned and headed out, giggling once more and waving goodbye at Harry. As soon as she dropped the tent flap, Ron fixed Harry with an astonished glare.
"Are-Are you two-I mean-!" Ron tried. Harry gave Ron an aloof expression.
"It's the best way to shut her up," Harry said, though there was a hint of pink on his cheeks.
Ron opened and closed his mouth. He then shrugged, as he slowly came to the realization he was the sane one of their Trio.
"I... Can't argue with that?"
Because hey, he should be fairly stoic by now.
