lol hi

—oOo—

Leo walks quietly beside Hermione—if quiet doesn't include his tinkering with some metal wire, and him muttering what others would assume is nonsense because it's a mix of Spanish and Ancient Greek. Harry and Ron walk in front of them, discussing the class with Professor Creepy.

"The way he talks," Harry mutters, "you'd think we were all going to be attacked any second."

Leo chuckles. He doesn't know what's protecting him in this school but outside of it, he's been attacked almost every second. It's like Camp.

"Yeah, I know," says Ron. "Talk about paranoid…" Ron glances nervously behind Leo and Hermione before adding, "No wonder they were glad to get shot of him at the Ministry. Did you hear him telling Seamus what he did to that witch who shouted 'Boo' behind him on April Fools' Day? And when are we supposed to read up on resisting the Imperius Curse with everything else we've got to do?" [1]

"At least you can read," Leo huffs.

Ron howls in laughter. "You really are a funny bloke, Leo."

Leo chuckles nervously. "No, I literally can't read."

"It's true," Hermione adds. "I had to dictate to him what's in the Potions book so he can understand what to do."

"Wait, you really can't read?" Harry asks.

"I never really got the hang of reading English, or any language except Ancient Greek," Leo replies with a shrug.

"Whoa, you can read Ancient Greek? That's so bloody awesome," Ron says.

"Ron, language!" Hermione scolds him.

"Why can't you read?" Harry asks.

"It's my dyslexia," he says with a shrug.

"What's dyxelsxica?" Ron asks.

Leo laughs. "Basically words go jumble when I try to read."

"Tough luck, mate," Harry tells Leo.

Leo wants to ask more about Harry and the Killing Curse but decides not to. It's not his business. And mainly because they already reached the stairs on the way to Gryffindor Tower and they bid him a "See you later."

Leo sighs as he walks back to the Slytherin Common Room.

As soon as he enters, the Slytherins whisper among themselves, looking at him.

Weird, Leo thinks.

"What's… going on?" he asks the people in the common room.

"Is it true you fought the Imperius Curse?" an older student asks him.

"Er, yeah, it's true, why?" he asks.

"How? Were you being trained to throw it off?" someone else asks.

Leo shakes his head. "No, today's the first time I was hit with that curse."

"...How did you do it?" she asks.

Leo shrugs. "I don't know. I just… did it."

She seems to deflate with his answer before she talks to her friends at the corner of the Slytherin common room.

Leo looks at her for a moment before going up to the dorm, and taking a quick nap before dinner.

—oOo—

Leo tries to focus on his food. He had already burnt some of it under the table with his fire—which he had been doing since this morning so he didn't need to look like an idiot with the Goblet of Fire again.

"I wonder who will be the champions for the Triwizard Tournament," Nott wonders beside him.

"What is the Triwizard Tournament? We don't have that in Ilvermorny," Leo asks.

"Basically, three champions from three different schools will go through three trials and compete," Zabini explains.

Schist, that's terrible, Leo thinks. From what he's heard, dragons will be used for the tournament. For what? Flying? Or something else…

"There is also a prize money of one thousand galleons for the champion," Zabini adds.

Leo doesn't know what galleons are but it seems to be of high value based on the gleam in Zabini's eyes.

After a while, the golden plates on the table disappear and the noise of the Dining Hall stops. Leo looks around why that is, to see Professor Headache standing at the front as well as two other people—a man and a large woman, possibly also a giant like Professor Hagrid?

"Well, the goblet is almost ready to make its decision," said the Headmaster. [1]

"What in the gods' name does he mean by the goblet making the decision?" Leo whispers to Nott who shushes him.

The Headmaster continues, "I estimate that it requires one more minute. Now, when the champions' names are called, I would ask them please to come up to the top of the Hall, walk along the staff table, and go through into the next chamber—" he indicated the door behind the staff table—"where they will be receiving their first instructions." [1]

Oh, Leo thinks, the goblet chooses the champions? That's why the twins are trying to put paper in the goblet!

He watches as the Headmaster gives a great sweeping wave with his wand. At once, all the candles except those inside the carved pumpkins are extinguished, plunging them into a state of semidarkness. The Goblet of Fire now shines more brightly than anything in the whole Hall, the sparkling bright, bluey-whiteness of the flames almost painful on the eyes. Everyone watches, waiting… A few people keep checking their watches… [1]

The flames inside the goblet suddenly turn red again, reminding Leo of his first night here at Hogwarts. Sparks begin to fly from it. A tongue of flame shoots into the air, a charred piece of paper flutters out of it. Leo gasps, as well as everyone else. [1]

Professor Headache catches the piece of paper and holds it at arm's length so that he could read it by the light of the flames, which has turned back to blue-white.

"The champion for Durmstrang… will be Viktor Krum."

Everyone applauds, especially the Slytherin table since the Durmstrang students are seated with them. Leo sees a guy who looks every bit like a star celebrity stand up from his table and walks towards the Headmaster. He goes into the chamber which the Headmaster pointed at earlier.

The goblet of fire turns red once more. A second piece of paper comes out of it.

"The champion for Beauxbatons is Fleur Delacour!"

Another round of applause. A girl whose looks can rival a goddess with silvery blonde hair stands gracefully and walks between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables.

The girl walks into the chamber and silence falls again. And the goblet turns red.

"The Hogwarts champion… is Cedric Diggory."

"No!" he hears Draco exclaim down the table.

Leo's surprised he even heard Draco from the uproar from the Hufflepuff table. A good-looking guy stands up from said table and enters the chamber.

"Excellent!" the Headache calls happily. "Well, we now have our three champions. I am sure I can count upon all of you, including the remaining students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, to give your champions every ounce of support you can muster. By cheering your champion on, you will contribute in a very real—" [1]

He stops speaking.

The fire in the goblet has turned red again.

Another piece of paper comes out of it.

Whispers fall in the hall.

The Headmaster looks at the name in the paper.

"Harry Potter."

Leo's brows rise. Harry isn't of age. How could he have put his name in the goblet? And he may have only known Harry for a day but the guy seems to be the kind to not want any attention befalling him. What's going on? A heavy feeling falls in the pit of Leo's stomach. Something's not right.

He looks at where Harry is seated, just as everyone is.

Leo cringes at the look of utter shock on Harry's face.

There was no applause. Harry is frozen on his seat.

After a beat, he sees Harry turn to Ron and Hermione but they, too, seem blank.

"Harry Potter!" Rumbleroar yells again. "Harry! Up here, if you please." [2]

Leo sees how hesitant Harry stands up, walking through the gap between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables. The Headmaster leads him to the chamber but he seems to not be his usual cheery self.

Immediately, the students are in an uproar.

Some of the Slytherins around him seem to have learned some colorful language as they speak out their thoughts to the new predicament.

Leo wouldn't have thought Draco could come up with more insults but he was wrong.

Even Nott and Zabini expressed their distaste that Harry put his name in the goblet and was chosen—that it wasn't fair that he will get all the fame and glory if he wins.

The students from the Bulgarian school yelled that it was unfair that Hogwarts has two champions while they only have one. The same was said by the students from the French school.

This goes on for a while until everyone is going to their respective dormitories.

"Go on without me," he tells Nott beside him as the Slytherins walk to the dungeons.

"Where are you going?" he asks.

"Just… go."

Leo sneaks away from the crowd to wait for Harry in the Great Hall.

It took some time and Leo is starting to get bored as he sits near the stairs when the doors of the Dining Hall open with the pretty girl and the large woman coming out. Not long after them, the celebrity guy and a man walk out. All four of them don't seem to notice him, and all four of them seem to be angry.

After a while, finally, Harry and the Hufflepuff champion comes out.

"So... tell me…" he hears the Hufflepuff say. "How did you get your name in?"

"I didn't," Harry says. "I didn't put it in. I was telling the truth."

Poor dude, no one probably believed he didn't want to be called, Leo thinks.

"Ah… okay," said the other guy. Leo can tell he didn't believe Harry either. "Well.. see you, then." And the Hufflepuff leaves. [2]

Harry stays standing, as if frozen.

"Harry," Leo starts.

Harry turns in surprise to see him walking away from the stairs to walk nearer to him.

"Oh, Leo, hey… What brings you here?" Harry asks in a subdued voice.

"Just waiting for you," he replies with a shrug.

"Why? To ask how I put my name in the goblet?" Harry asks bitterly.

Leo lets out a heavy sigh. "Gods no. I know you didn't."

Harry looks at him in surprise. "Huh? What?"

"Look, I know we've only known each other for a day, but I can tell you weren't happy that your name was called. I've had my fair share of being the source of all trouble. So, I'm here to ask: How are you holding up?"

Harry stares at him for a moment before his stance deflates. "Not good."

"That bad, huh? What, they didn't disqualify you or something?"

Harry shakes his head. "Apparently we're magically bound to compete." He sighs. "And they all seem to think I want to be there."

"But you don't."

"But I don't."

"Well, that's schist. Does that mean someone put your name in the goblet?" Leo asks.

"That's the most likely scenario, yes." Harry replies.

"Why would someone want to make you compete?" Leo asks himself out loud. "Especially when dragons are involved."

"What?!" Harry exclaims.

"What what?" Leo asks him.

"What do you mean 'dragons are involved'?" Harry asks, eyes wide.

"Oh, before I got here at Hogwarts, I was in Romania traveling alone. I managed to visit the Dragon Sanctuary. The people there told me that some of the dragons there were transported here in Scotland for some tournament. I was so curious, I came here at Hogwarts to—er, enroll."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"I hope I'm not going to fight a dragon," Harry whispers with a gulp.

"Gods, I hope not," Leo replies. Both feeling pity for Harry and the dragon he might face. He doesn't want either to be fighting anybody.

"You know, I'm not supposed to know what the first task is," Harry replies.

"Oh. I ruined the surprise, then. But, better to be prepared, right?" Leo tells him.

"So someone really is out there trying to kill me," Harry says, more to himself.

Leo's brows rise. "You think someone's out to get you?"

Harry shrugs. "It's a possibility. People try to kill me every year."

Leo blinks. "What? Like monsters?" he asks.

"No, like dark lord followers and the dark lord himself."

Another blink. "The dark lord?"

"You don't know about it?" Harry asks in surprise.

"I'm a foreigner, remember?" Leo reminds him. "From a different continent?"

Harry sighs. "It's a long story."

Leo sighs back. "That's what Nott and Zabini said. Anyway, it's your story to tell and I'm here if you're ready to talk about it."

"Thanks. Lots of people always ask me about it. It's a bit refreshing to know someone who doesn't know my life more than I do," Harry tells him.

"So you're that famous, huh?" Leo jokes.

Harry rolls his eyes which makes Leo laugh.

"You know, I have experiences with people trying to kill me, too, so I get it."

"Really?" Harry asks in surprise.

"When I was a baby, my Tia Callida put me inside a fireplace, so yeah, really."

Harry winces. "My childhood wasn't, er, good, too."

"Man, we really are alike," Leo says with a laugh.

Harry lets out a small laughter as well. "I don't know. You're more extroverted than me," Harry says, finally giving a small smile.

"Nah, to be honest, I prefer to be alone. I spend way more time with machines than people. It's my energy. People think it's me being extroverted, when really, I just have a lot of energy," Leo replies with a shrug. "It's a sickness."

Harry laughs. "Thanks, Leo."

"For what? Having a sickness?" Leo jokes.

Harry laughs again. "No… For believing me. Though, I didn't really have to make you believe me. You're a good friend."

"I got your back, Harry. And if you need some help with dragons, I'm pretty good at taming them."

"Wait, what? Really?" Harry asks in awe.

Leo laughs. "Just one of my secret talents."

"How in Merlin's name did you learn to tame a dragon?"

"Long story short: I've been around places. And I told you this afternoon: weird schist like me. Even big things like dragons. You just know how to speak their language."

"I don't think I can wiggle my body around to make dragons understand my body language," Harry replies, grimacing.

Harry laughs. "No. You have to talk to dragons. They can understand people."

"Really?"

"Yeah, you just have to speak Ancient Greek."

"Oh yeah, you told us you can read Ancient Greek. You can speak it, too?" he asks.

"Yeah, sometimes not on purpose," Leo laughs. "I wasn't even taught it. I just know how."

"I get what you mean. I know a language that I just know how to speak in," Harry says.

"What language?" Leo asks.

Harry gives him a small look before saying, "Parseltongue."

"Parseltongue… Where did I hear that before?"

"Parseltongue is the language of the snakes. Parselmouths are those who can speak to snakes using Parseltongue… They're incredibly rare and only the heirs of Slytherin can speak it," Crock told him in Romania.

"Oh! The snake language!" Leo says. "Wait, I thought it's rare? And that only the heirs of Slytherin can speak it? Are you an heir?" he asks.

Harry blinks. "In a way. Long story."

Leo nods. "I see. In your own time, Harry. But wow, speaking to snakes. That's awesome. I wish I can do that."

Harry gives him a look. "You really are an odd bloke, Leo."

"What? Why?"

"When people found out I'm a Parselmouth, they basically treated me as the next dark lord. You don't seem to have that bias," Harry replies.

Leo shrugs. "You know… Sometimes we just have abilities that we thought are burdens to us, and that people can perceive them as dangerous and even evil… but maybe it's just because it's misunderstood. What's so wrong about speaking to snakes? It's just another language," Leo says.

He glances at his hand, remembering how much he hated his fire when he was younger… How his Aunt Rosa called him a diablo for killing his mother in the very same fire he was gifted. How he believes it himself.

"Thanks. You're a good guy, Leo," Harry says, bringing him back to reality, before grumbling. Harry grumbles. "Anyway, that's great then… I guess I have to learn how to speak Ancient Greek by November twenty-four. Leo, that's impossible!"

Leo hums. "I can teach you how to speak enough lines to at least calm them down. And you can learn whatever magic that can help you along with it. Besides, we're not sure if you'll even fight one. For all we know, you're just flying with them."

"No, they said the first task is to test our courage. I am a hundred percent sure now that we're fighting dragons," Harry says.

"Dear gods, dragons aren't even all that bad. They're quite gentle when they're calm," Leo grimaces. "Which is why I'll help you learn enough to calm them down, so you don't get hurt and the dragon doesn't get hurt."

"You really love dragons, huh?"

"My best friend is a dragon," Leo replies, deadpan.

Harry lets out a bark of laughter. "Merlin, I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here, Leo. Thanks again."

"No problem. What are friends for?" Leo smiles.

Harry blinks then smiles. "Thanks, mate," he says, clapping his hand on Leo's shoulder. "Well, I feel a lot better. I might go back to my dorm to rest. Thanks again, mate."

"Of course," Leo says with a grin before giving a final nod to Harry and walking towards the dungeons to his common room.

—oOo—

FOOTNOTES:

[1] From Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 16 "The Goblet of Fire", pages 268 to 271.

[2] From Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 17 "The Four Champions", pages 273 to 283.