A new year begins, and not in the best way possible for Harry and his friends.

HARRY XXIX

1995

The first week of the term, after the end of the Christmas holidays, proved to be a terrible time. This was best evidenced by the double lesson of Potions Harry was going through right now. Snape and his Slytherins proved to be as unsufferable as always. Some people would think that Harry would get used to the provocations, insults and vulgarities, and to a certain extent, he did, but it didn't make those lessons any more enjoyable.

Right now, Harry was going through a particularly unpleasant moment in the lesson. He had trouble following the instructions with all the sources of distraction around him. As a result, the mixture of his potion was more muddy than liquid, and it took a red color instead of the desired pink. His result was better than Ron's, whose potion was still boiling despite the fact he reduced the fire, looking like a yellow magma in fusion. Hermione, as always, had a perfect solution.

And like always, Snape described in great lengths how Harry had failed to follow the instructions as indicated, reminding him in front of the entire class that his statute as a champion of Hogwarts and the opportunity to avoid final exams at the end of the year did not give him the freedom to neglect his lessons, to the great enjoyment of the Slytherins who didn't miss any opportunity to mock him. And today, Harry was not the only one targeted by the Slytherins. Not far away, Parvati was also being targeted, especially by the band of Pansy Parkinson.

"Potter? I knew you had strange tastes, Patil, but now that is the pinnacle of everything."

"I wonder what that boy from Beauxbatons would think if he knew you dated the enemy of his champion."

"How did you avoid scratching your pretty face on his glasses when you kissed?"

"How did you feel when Skeeter revealed he traded you for Granger? Must have hurt to know he preferred a chipmunk to you."

"Were you disappointed when you found out he didn't have what it took? You know, under his…"

Each new comment was more insulting, more vulgar than the previous one. And those for Harry from the band of Malfoy were no better, though they were not only about his former relationship with Parvati.

"Afraid of the second task, Potter? Did you solve the egg? I heard Diggory solved it within hours."

"Forfeit, Potter. You'll enter history as the only champion to give up in the Triwizard Tournament."

"Got a taste for foreign witches, Potter? No surprise. Who in Great Britain would like to go out with you?"

"I never saw someone dancing so ridiculously."

"I'm not surprised you chose a stupid girl to date, Potter. What I'm surprised about is how you managed to convince her to stay an entire month with you."

And sadly, the Slytherins were not the only people Harry received unpleasant treatment from. Thankfully enough, it wasn't from Ron this time. His friend seemed to have quickly forgiven Harry for making him go with his ex-girlfriend to the Yule Ball. Most of the Hufflepuffs also kept treating him quite fairly now. He even got the impression that it was even better than before Christmas. Maybe time kept doing his work. Or maybe, and that caused him to feel suddenly warm, it was because he went to the ball with one of them. No, the unpleasant treatment came from the very other person who was being harassed by the Slytherins.

Parvati threw daggers with her eyes in his direction during the whole lesson. This didn't seem to help her cause, for her potion was not very well done. But Snape didn't give her anymore attention than if she was a cat, and so she didn't suffer much from this. She seemed to consider that Harry was responsible for all the mockeries she was receiving. Lavender seemed to think the same, even though she was the one to reveal to her entire table during the Yule Ball that Harry broke up with her. Harry considered this was quite an unfair treatment he received from both girls. After all, it was Parvati who made the first steps towards him. Harry didn't think he would have dated her otherwise. She also proved to be very cold towards Ron ever since the Yule Ball was over. She probably thought he should have taken better care of her that evening. She never missed an opportunity to tell anybody that she was going to Hogsmeade tomorrow with the Beauxbatons boy who she danced with during the ball, and she seemed to hold Harry responsible for settling her with Ron for the beginning of the ball.

"For the next lesson, I want two rolls of parchment on the effects of this potion on the individuals depending of all factors affecting the effects of this potion," Snape said. "Now leave."

Harry breathed in relief. This week was finally over. It wasn't too soon.

"Ignore them," Hermione said as the Slytherins threw him another string of mockeries as a farewell before the weekend.

"I've been trying to ignore them for four years now," Harry replied.

"Yeah, and it doesn't seem to be working," Ron added as they headed out of the dungeons. They hurried as it meant escaping the lingering glare of Snape faster.

"I can't wait for our visit in Hogsmeade tomorrow," Ron said once they approached the Entrance Hall.

"Yes, me too." A good day at Hogsmeade may rid Harry of some of the preoccupations that bothered him twenty-four hours a day ever since the Yule Ball was over.

"You're coming to Hogsmeade, Harry?" Hermione asked. She looked very surprised.

"Yes, of course, I'm coming." He wasn't going to miss that. "Is there a problem?"

"I just thought you would want to take advantage of the common room being quiet. Really get to work on that egg."

That was another thing that bothered Harry ever since the Yule Ball. After Christmas was over, the perception of the approaching date for the second task had become more dominant. Harry had only made a few attempts to understand the egg before Christmas. He hadn't done much. He opened it a few more times to see whether there was something behind that scream he didn't notice the first time, without any success. He also observed the egg more closely, trying to see if there was anything on it, inscriptions, symbols, but the golden egg had a perfectly sleek surface, and the only thing that was out of the ordinary was the way to open it. He had tried to advance a little on it after Christmas, but his attempts to try and understand it had all failed. He couldn't say that he tried very hard either. His mind was occupied by so many other things, and he struggled to complete his homework before the end of the holidays like never before. It was as if his work speed was halved.

"I… think I might be about to solve it," Harry said. "I may be about to make a major breakthrough."

"You are? Really? Well done!" Hermione reacted.

She looked really impressed. Harry didn't lie. Not really. He could make a breakthrough the next time he worked on the egg. Maybe there was something, some key to get to find the solution that he didn't find yet, and he may find it all of a sudden the next time he would look at the egg. But he hadn't been really telling the truth to Hermione either. But he didn't want to spend an entire day working on the golden egg after the miserable week he spent.

In the Great Hall, most people were discussing the upcoming weekend at Hogsmeade.

"I wonder whether Bilton received something new," Fred was discussing with his brother.

"I need to replenish my stock of Sugar Quills," a boy in his third year declared.

"You think we will come across the students of Durmstrang and Beauxbatons in the village?"

"I'd love a warm Butterbeer from the Three Broomsticks. Those at the ball were fine, but they were cold."

"There's a new book about how to play tricks to your parents at Tomes and Scrolls."

"I need that woman at the Hairdressing salon to make my hair as shiny as those of Fleur Delacour."

Harry too was looking forward to this visit of Hogsmeade. He had spent the entirety of the previous one with Remus and Sirius, trying to think about how to face the Triwizard Tournament, and travelled with his Invisibility Cloak. It was in the time where the whole world seemed to have decided to get on his case.

"You'll see, Harry," Ron said. "You'll get through the second task like this." He snapped his fingers. "After defeating that dragon…"

"There are far worse things in this world than dragons, Ron," Hermione countered. "I don't think Harry should get complacent. The second task will probably be way harder."

This did nothing to reassure him, but Harry didn't believe Hermione was wrong either. As she listed all the things the second task could potentially involve, Harry saw Cedric Diggory and Cho Chang entering the Great Hall, hand in hand. He often spotted them together recently. And each time, the jolt to his stomach, accompanied by a surge of fury, along with clenching fists on the occasion, manifested. This happened again this time as he watched them sitting at their respective tables, but not far from each other.

Here was another thing that plagued Harry through the whole time since the Yule Ball. He wanted to kick something whenever he saw those two together. He tried to ignore them as well as he could, but it was difficult to completely avoid his eyes from falling on either Cho, Cedric or both of them. Each of them individually was already hard to miss, so together it was even harder. Harry did his best, but he could hardly not feel angry at Cedric for the clue he gave him at the end of the Yule Ball.

Take a bath.

What kind of advice was this? Did he want to make fun of him? Harry had warned Cedric directly about the dragons. If he really wanted to help him, why not give him the solution and tell him what the second task was directly? Did Cedric think of himself as someone brilliant for this joke? Did he hope to impress Cho with that?

Harry dug his fork deeply and strongly into a potato. Hermione noticed it.

"Harry, are you alright?" she asked worried.

"Very well, Hermione," he lied. "Things could not be better."

"What's going on with you? If you're worried about the egg and the second task, you still have several weeks ahead of you. And you said you were about to break through it, didn't you?"

"Hermione, that's not what this is about," Ron interrupted. "We just came out of a Potions session and the Slytherins and Snape have been more unsufferable than ever. I had the impression it was worse than the time after the Goblet of Fire threw Harry's name."

This had been the time when he and Ron had been at odds. Harry was grateful to see that Ron was still conscious back then that these things could affect him.

"I think the visit to Hogsmeade will do us all some good," Hermione decided. "I know I'm telling you to ignore all of this, but even I must say this is hard to suffer sometimes."

"Thank you, Hermione," Ron said. "You made my day."

"I think we should go and see Hagrid tonight. Again."

"I agree. Let's hope he will answer this time."

One more thing that had made the Slytherins even worse this week. On Monday, they had the bad surprise of seeing a certain Professor Grubbly-Plank giving their lesson of Care of Magical Creatures. Harry asked her where Hagrid was, but to no avail. She simply refused to give him an answer. The Slytherins gave them the reason of Hagrid's absence through an article of Rita Skeeter. An article that revealed that Hagrid was a half-giant had been published in the Daily Prophet, giving ample details about Hagrid's past that even Harry didn't know. Ron had been very surprised by the revelations. Harry wasn't. He already knew. His mother had told him two years ago. As for Hermione, she already suspected as much, so she wasn't surprised. However, ever since the article was published, Hagrid was nowhere to be seen, neither for the lessons of Care of Magical Creatures, neither at the staff table during meals, neither in the grounds performing his duties as gamekeeper, nor anywhere else. This had been another subject of mockeries by the Slytherins.

Harry also thought it would be good to try again to talk to Hagrid. They had tried every day over the week, without results, but they couldn't stop. They had to try. They were all worried about Hagrid.

As he thought about it, his eyes fell on the other thing that occupied his mind during this week. This thing was a person, and she had a name. Her name was Susan Bones.

As always when he saw her lately, her felt some kind of warmth flood him. It was as if a hot liquid went through his veins and entire body, warming him. It was a nice feeling, but it also came with a certain pang, which brought him to that night so many days ago.

It already seemed like an eternity since the Yule Ball happened. Harry didn't exactly know what happened at the ball, but whatever it was, he was no longer looking at Susan the same way he used to. It wasn't only the things he felt when he saw her, but also the fact that his mind kept returning to the thing she asked him that night after the ball, before she ran away. Ever since, she occupied his thoughts on a daily basis, and he even dreamed about her more than once. He couldn't help but look at her when she was around, and he noticed details about her that he either missed or never really cared about before.

Despite this, he and Susan had not talked ever since the ball. Their paths crossed on a few occasions, in the corridors, and also in class when the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs had common lessons, but as much as Harry was looking at her, distracting him from the lessons so much that he got bitten by a plant in Herbology this week and performed quite poorly in Transfiguration, he also avoided her gaze, and he had the impression that she was avoiding him too.

Harry was not really looking at opportunities to come across her either. Once, Hermione said she was going to the library to work with her on Ancient Runes, and when she asked Harry if he would come, he refused, saying he would work on Charms in the common room instead. The truth was that Harry didn't really understand what he was feeling. He never had any intention when it came to Susan. He only went to the ball with her because he was desperately looking for a dancing partner. He never had any romantic idea about her. And yet, ever since the ball, she was omnipresent in his mind, to the point she even distracted him from his other concerns like the golden egg, the Tournament or Hagrid. The only thing she didn't seem to distract him from was his hatred for Cedric Diggory and the rage he felt whenever he saw Cho with him.

This was part of what made him confused. He wasn't sure about what he was feeling for Susan, for he still felt the same jolt in his stomach whenever he saw Cho, and he was still angry with Cedric for inviting her to the ball before him. What was he actually feeling? Whatever he was feeling for Susan, it was different. It didn't stir the same emotions in him than for Cho. He had thought asking Hermione about this, but considering how close she and Susan were, Harry didn't think it was a good idea to share this with her, and he didn't want to talk about it with Ron either, not after the fiasco with Parvati at the ball. Here was at least one girl for which Harry was sure he didn't feel anything anymore.

As a result, Harry kept all of this inside of him. In the first days, he had tried to ignore all this. He tried to pin it on the way the Yule Ball went quite well in the end. Harry had always got along well with Susan. She wasn't the most talkative person, but he appreciated her presence whenever she was there. He could remember the times when they completed homework together during summer with Hannah. Susan would shoot him an apologetic look as Hannah launched into a monologue on any subject that was unrelated to the current work to do, but Harry would shake his head to mean he didn't mind, and they would smile back at each other, almost silently laughing at the situation. Harry had always liked her way to smile and laugh shortly, quite different from the constant and long giggling Parvati could go through. Maybe all these things he felt were only due to the adrenaline or excitement from the evening and Christmas. So Harry tried to just let it go, and hoped it would be gone within a few days. The only problem was that weeks later, it wasn't gone. And Harry still didn't know what to do about it, although he couldn't stop himself from looking at Susan when he had the opportunity. Such as right now, while she was dining with other Hufflepuffs, her back turned on him, which gave Harry a clear view of the plait falling on her back.

"Hey! Harry! Are you there?"

Someone snapped her fingers in front of him. He made a jump and turned to see Hermione looking at him.

"I asked you a question. Were you listening?"

Harry was disoriented. It wasn't the first time this week Hermione or someone else needed to bring him back to reality as he was lost in his thoughts. And from what he could tell, Hermione was beginning to be fed up with all this. She was the one to call him back to the living world the most often, even kicking him in the leg several times within a lesson sometimes.

"Sorry. What were we talking about?" he asked, feeling sorry while a part of him wished he had more time to look at Susan's back.

"We were trying to plan out visit to Hogsmeade tomorrow," she said, impatient.

"No need to plan a visit to Hogsmeade," Ron said. "We go there and go wherever we fancy."

"Yes, but we could at least agree on priorities. The places we want to go the most. Do you have one, Harry?"

"I don't know," he said, not really thinking about it. "Perhaps we could go to Tomes and Scrolls. I guess there's something you'll want to buy there."

"Good," Ron said surprisingly. "There are a few new numbers of the Mad Muggle that just came out, and apparently they're hilarious. I'll buy a few."

So they agreed. Harry didn't participate to the conversation for the rest of dinner. It was hard for him to not look towards the Hufflepuff table. He forced himself to not do it though, since he didn't want anyone to notice who he was looking at. It became easier once Susan and her friends left their table, but again, a part of Harry wished she didn't. He focused on his plate the whole time.

Their visit to Hagrid proved as fruitless as the last time. He didn't answer despite their insistent knocking. Harry was silent again on their way back to the common room while Ron and Hermione kept wondering what they should do about their big friend. It was Friday evening, so of course no one was in the mind of doing homework tonight. Those who did would most likely be at the library at this hour. Ron suggested they played a game of chess, but before they could position their pieces, Hermione interrupted them.

"Wait, Ron. First, I think we need to have a conversation with Harry."

That wasn't something Harry expected, and Ron didn't seem to expect it either.

"Eh… You're sure? Now?" Ron asked.

"Yes, that cannot continue," Hermione declared.

She looked decided, though Ron didn't seem to share her certainty. Still, she went straight to talk to Harry. He was glad that they were alone in their corner of the common room with no one else in hearing distance.

"Harry, you haven't been yourself lately."

"No?" he asked, trying to look uncertain as to what she was talking about.

"No, you haven't," she confirmed. "You seem to be on another planet most of the time, and not only during lessons, but all the time. You've been barely talking to anyone, even us."

"That's not true," he protested.

"Yes, it's true. Even Ron noticed it. We've talked about it."

Ron was looking away, and Harry understood that it was an admission of guilt.

"Look, I understand why you wouldn't feel good. We're all on the nerves with what's happening to Hagrid, but that's clearly not what's bothering you because you've been like that since Christmas."

Harry's heart began to pound very quickly. Did Hermione notice? Did Ron notice as well? He looked at both of them, but Ron seemed like he wished to be elsewhere right now, and Hermione's body language or facial expression did not give anything, except that she was very focused on Harry right now.

"And with Hagrid's problems right now," Hermione continued, "our studies, the homework, the golden egg that you haven't managed to solve yet and everything else, it's really not the right time to bother about this."

Harry's heart was beating so hard that its sound reached his ears.

"So if you want an advice, Harry, forget about her." He wished it was that easy. "Forget about Cho."

Harry was so surprised, so taken aback, that he was also surprised to not have jumped up to the ceiling of the tower under the effect.

"Cho?" he asked.

"Yes." She was talking kindly, but firmly. "Look, Harry. I know you wished she came with you at the Yule Ball, and I know you've had your eyes on her since last year. But she's with Cedric now. I'm sorry if it's a hard truth to hear, but this is the truth. And I don't think she's going to leave him anytime soon."

That caused a pang to Harry, but it was nothing when compared to the relief he felt that Hermione was not talking to him about the other matter that distracted him lately. Her next words were proof enough of that.

"You really thought we wouldn't notice how you look at her? How you react when she and Cedric are together in the surroundings? You look as if you're going to attack a dragon again."

"She's right on that," Ron admitted.

So, they did notice how he behaved in Cho and Cedric's presence, but not the other thing. He really was relieved.

"Look, mate," Ron said. "I don't get why you're so angry and gloomy because of that. It's not as if you ever dated. You dated Parvati, and I never saw you grieve after you broke up." That was because Harry wasn't in love with her. This was only… He wasn't sure, but whatever it was, it wasn't love. "And look, the girl is pretty and all, but if she's stupid enough to date Diggory, that's her problem, not yours."

Hermione didn't seem to approve Ron's last words, but she said nothing about it and went on.

"Harry," she said. "You should forget about her. We have other concerns right now, and you have even more than us. You need to focus on the important things so you will be ready to face the second task. You must solve that egg, and you won't succeed if you spend your time chasing an impossible relationship. There are more important things than petty love stories right now."

Ron nodded with her, seemingly totally agreeing with each and every one of her words. This reminded Harry that neither of them had talked about their argument the night of the Yule Ball since Christmas, or about Krum and Hermione. It was as if they agreed to behave as if the events of that night never really happened, much like Harry never told them about what happened on his side.

"Yeah, mate," Ron added. "Look at me. I went to the ball with Parvati, and even though she dropped me in the middle of it, I never made a mountain out of it."

No, but he made a mountain out of something else. And Hermione had something to say on the matter as well.

"I would say that, from what I was told, you dropped her as much as she dropped you, Ronald." But Ron didn't seem to have heard her. He continued speaking as if she never interrupted.

"Right, the things that matter is that Hagrid remains in his home without seeing anybody, everyone in our class believes Grubbly-Plank is better than he is, even though it's true, and we have the Slytherins who keep mocking us while Snape and the others give us homework that are impossible to finish without missing a few nights of sleep. So let's focus on the important stuff and throw the rest away."

Harry nodded. They weren't wrong. It was true that whatever his intentions may have been and may still be about Cho, she was with Cedric. And not a single time did Harry think that they might break up. Perhaps this was what made the most angry and frustrated.

"Yeah, you're right," he said.

"Good," Hermione said relieved.

"And don't worry. There are other beautiful girls in this school," Ron pointed out. Harry thought that he noticed Ron's eyes wandering towards Hermione as he said so. "Now, can we play?"

All of a sudden, Harry had no envy to play. "No. You two, play. Me… I'll go to the library," he said.

"The library? It's Friday," Ron reminded him.

"I know. I just… I think I just had an idea. About the egg. I need to do some research."

Much in line with what he expected, Hermione looked thrilled. "It's a good idea, Harry. If you think you can get it done with the egg this evening, then you'll be able to enjoy the day at Hogsmeade tomorrow much better."

"Come on, Harry. It's Friday. Friday! Take a rest at least for this one," Ron complained, as if what his friend was doing was totally stupid.

"I'll see you later. Maybe. I'm not sure how long it will take," Harry said while picking up his bag.

"Okay. Good luck, Harry," Hermione said.

"Have a good evening with your egg," Ron said as he left the common room of Gryffindor. "Do you want to play chess, Hermione?"

In the dormitory, after he put the egg in his bag, Harry took out his Invisibility Cloak. Harry had lied, but only partially. It was true, he wasn't going to make research on the golden egg at the library. Cedric's advice from the Yule Ball came back to his mind. Harry still loathed him, but anyway, he was set on getting rid of one of the things that plagued his mind these last few weeks. He went straight to the place where he might be able to deal with it once and for all.

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