Harry Potter and the Champions Closer Ties

by Michael in Arizona

In fourth year, when Ron PROVES to be a disloyal fair weather friend who doesn't deserve Harry's friendship by not standing by Harry 1000% after Harry's name comes out of the Goblet of Fire, a more mature Harry has enough maturity to have the backbone to NOT forgive the traitor or accept him back. Harry then builds stonger friendships as well as closer ties with the other champions

2. The Champions Meet in the Tent

I"Why don't we all go back to the tent and introduce ourselves to each other properly?" suggested Cedric.

Harry, Viktor, and Fleur all nodded in agreement and followed Cedric back inside the Champions' Tent.

"So," began Harry, trying to make them all feel more comfortable by going first, "My best and favorite subject is Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"There's no question that Defense Against the Dark Arts is the most important subject," admitted Cedric, "But my favorite subject is Transfiguration. I just think the idea of turning something into something else is just super cool."

"That is true, "agreed Fleur, but my best and favorite subject is Charms. Charms allows me to produce beautiful magic. "

"Well, I was never very academically inclined," admitted Viktor, "My passion is flying."

"I love flying too," beamed Harry, "I've been on the Gryffindor Quidditch Team since I was a first year."

"I'm on the Hufflepuff team," added Cedric, "I'm the team captain in fact."

"My old captain, Oliver Wood, graduated from Hogwarts at the end of the spring semester," explained Harry.

"Did you like Wood as a captain?" asked Cedric.

"Yes," answered Harry at once, "I respect Oliver for not being racist, sexist, or agist. Wood's teams included a couple of black players, a pretty even mix of boys and girls, and from my point of view, I really appreciate that he welcomed me onto the team when I was only eleven when he was fifteen himself. Plus, he took me under his wing and taught me the rules of Quidditch."

"I wasn't a fan of Wood," admitted Cedric, "I always felt he was TOO obsessed with Quidditch. He was so obsessed with Quidditch and winning that I legit believe he would have your team practice and train during lightning if it had come to it."

"I'm not a fan of Quidditch because I'm not a fan of flying, " piped up Fleur, "I'm not fond of brooms. I strongly prefer hippogriffs and thestrals."

"Hippogriffs are beautiful creatures," said Harry fondly, thinking of Buckbeak, "But I don't like riding them. Brooms are far more enjoyable for me. "

"I'm glad to hear that you appreciate the beauty of animals," Fleur told Harry approvingly.

Harry didn't respond to this. He liked animals well enough, but, well, not all of them. He was certainly not fond of Aragog.

He was however curious about one thing.

"What are thestrals?' Harry asked Fleur.

"Winged horses," answered Viktor.

"They can only be seen by people who have seen death," added Fleur quietly.

"Thestrals are gentle creatures but have a bad reputation in some circles because of their association with death," Cedric told them, "My dad is Head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures at the Ministry of Magic, so I know a lot about Magical Creatures."

Fleur beamed at him.

"Hippogriffs are still my favorite animals," cooed Fleur, "I have mixed feelings about thestrals. They are gentle and comfortable to ride, but I can see them because I saw my grandma die."

"My favorite animals are dogs," said Cedric simply.

"I don't have a favorite animal," said Harry matter of factly, "I like some animals and dislike others but I'm not someone with any passion for animals."

"I'm not either, but my dad's job has caused me to become very knowledgeable about animals," explained Cedric, "I did take Care of Magical Creatures though. I'm not doing at N.E.W.T level though."

"My favorite animals are sharks," offered Viktor, and Harry, Cedric, and Fleur looked at him in surprise.

Fleur, meanwhile, wondered, "What are N.E.W.T. s?"

"Tests we take after seventh year," explained Cedric, "We sit our O.W.L.s after fifth year."

"What do those letters mean?" inquired Viktor.

"Ordinary Wizarding Levels and Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests," answered Cedric patiently.

"At Beauxbatons, " Fleur, "We sit our exams after six years of study, not five, I think that is better. "

"We sit ours after five years of study at Durmstrang," added Viktor

"What is Madam Maxime like?" Cedric asked Fleur. "

"Madam Maxime is kind and gentle, but also no nonsense," replied Fleur, "She would never tolerate a poltergeist at Beauxbatons. And she keeps a close eye on the student body to ensure that there is no bullying at Beauxbatons."

"Well, Karkaroff is not very nice," acknowledged Viktor, "He teaches us the Dark Arts and encourages us to use them. "

But before they could talk any further, Ludo Bagman came in and said, "Time to inform you of what The Second Task is. "

Harry, Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur all suddenly became silent and attentive.

"So," said Bagman cheerfully, "Notice that the golden eggs you all collected have hinges?"

"Yes," chorused Harry, Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur.

"Inside each egg is the clue about the next task. Once you interpret what is inside the egg, it will tell you what the Second Task is. Remember that the Second Task is on February 24th, 1995. Good luck to all of you," finished Bagman brightly, walking out of the tent.

As Harry, Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur looked down at the golden eggs they were holding, Cedric had an idea.

"If any one of the four of us figures out the clue in the egg, let's share it with the others and then we can all talk about the Second Task together.

Harry, Viktor, and Fleur all agreed to this, but Harry felt a certain curiosity.

"What did each of you do to get by your dragon?" inquired Harry.

"I transfigured a rock into a dog and hoped the dog would distract the dragon.

"Not a great strategy, " said Harry honestly, "No dragon is going to go after a dog over a human."

"I got my egg, but I also got burned, "I'll say I succeeded at the task but paid a price for my not so great approach. Mom and dad won't be happy about my burns."

"I hit my dragon with a spell in its eyes as a dragon's eyes are its weakest point," revealed Viktor, "I got my egg, but the dragon went into agony and squashed half the real eggs. We weren't supposed to do any damage to them."

"A reasonable idea with a flaw," observed Harry.

"I hit my dragon with a charm that put it into a sleepy like trance," said Fleur proudly, "I got my egg quickly, but the dragon did it me with a burst of fire and my skirt caught fire. I put it out with water from my wand."

"Your idea was the best Fleur, " said Harry clearly.

"Certainly, smarter than mine," admitted Cedric.

"And without the flaw of mine," added Viktor.

"So," piped up Cedric, "If we agree to help each other with the Second Task in the ways we previously discussed, let's shake hands on it."

Next nanosecond, Harry, Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur all shook hands with each other, and all smiled at each other.

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Much love from Arizona for all the support. Love you all -Michael :)