AN:

"" means outloud

'' means inside head

_ or more means to be determined

xxxxxx (underlines) means reading what the book said

() means me making a note

(I'm not going to try accents just yet, maybe later)

I'm getting annoyed at spending about an hour putting those fancy lines in, so I'm gonna stick to the lines I originally had.

I've just spent an hour, fixing my format, saving it, then, when I go to post it, it's all garbage. Either it becomes a big chunk, or completely underlined, it keeps happening.

So if the format us weird, I tried, and failed.

Chapter 4: Weekend Studying

Madness

"Tempus, " and a 6:30 popped up

'Now that the week is over, I'm going to enjoy relaxing.' Is what I thought as I got up.

I looked around and saw that I was the only one up, Ron, Dean, Seamus, and Neville were all asleep. I stood up and did my morning routine.

When I walked down the stairs, I saw Hermione waiting for me by the couches.

She saw me, "What took you so long?" She got up and walked towards me, "we're behind schedule." And she started dragging me out of the common room.

"Behind schedule? What do you mean?" I pull myself from her grasp and walk beside her.

"We were supposed to start practicing an hour ago, but since someone took so long to get up, we're behind schedule." She sounded so matter-of-factly.

'How is that my fault?' I follow her absently. 'I guess we're skipping an early breakfast today.'

Hermione led us to the third floor, then to an empty classroom.

"This is where we will be practicing spells." She spends the door, revealing a disused classroom, with dust everywhere.

"Um, it's neat." I gaze swept through the room. There were desks, chairs, a few blackboards, and a few glass containers.

I walked into the room to get a closer look. Not only was everything covered in dust, but there seemed to be some animal droppings. Walking to the far side of the classroom, I saw a sheet on the floor. It looked like it was covering something.

Picking up a corner, I threw it open. I uncovered the corpses of rats and other small rodents.

"I know why it stinks." I covered the rodents back up and looked towards Hermione. "Please tell me, you know the vanishing charm?"

"No, why?" Hermione started towards me. She saw the sheet I was holding, "Oh, don't worry. We'll get them clean up in no time."

I looked at her skeptically, "So, um, what's first?"

"I've made a list for you to go over, find what you think you'll need, and we'll go over it."

I looked at the list and read:

Protego-

Reducto-

Stupefy-

Bombardment-

Concutere-

Ruptura-

The list went on and on with charms, spells, and transfiguration, so I stopped and looked at Hermione.

"When did you have to write such a long list?" I waved the parchment in my hands.

"I've been reading about spells in the libary, and every time I saw a spell that looked like it could help, I wrote it down." She pulled another parchment out of her bag. "So what should we start with?" She dipped he quill in her ink.

I looked at her and shook my head, and then I looked at the paper. "Let's just go in order. So we're starting with Protego."

Hermione put her quill down. "So all of them. You want to go over all of them." She put her parchment, quill, and ink up, "Okay."

She pulled out a book, "This book has the first few spells." She opened it, and after a few minutes, she spoke, "Okay, here's the bit about Protego."

I looked at the page and read the wand movement section.

Wand Movement: Point wand and do a small circle, starting at the top. When the circle is done, move the wand in a downward motion.

I then looked at the incantation.

Incantation: Protego

I move to the other side of the classroom and take my wand out. "Protego!" I move my wand as the spell required. Nothing happened.

'I did the incantation correctly, and the wand movement was good. So what else do I need?' I try it a few more times. I didn't get a shield at all. 'It's the visualization part that gets me. How can I visualize an invisible shield?' I throw my wand up and catch it. I keep throwing it up and catching it, 'maybe I should visualize a visible shield and work from there, but that won't work. So how should I do it?' I throw my wand up again, but fail to catch it. I watched as it hit the ground and bounced up a bit.

I bend over and pick up my wand, I then walk over to Hermione bag and pull out a clear parchment.

I crumbled the parchment up, and I crumbled it up until it looked like a ball. I then pointed my wand at it and used the general transfiguration spell. "Mutatio!"

The crumpled parchment turned into a rubber bouncy ball.

Hermione looked at me, "Why did you do that?" She snatched the ball out of my hands.

"I needed a ball, and I got dragged here before I could gather my things."

Hermione glared, "I mean, why did you turn it into a ball?"

I hold my hand out, "I thought if I saw it hit something a few times, I could visualize a shield better."

Hermione handed me the ball and nodded. "Next time, ask me first, please."

"Okay." I walked to a clear wall and threw the ball at it. I watched as the ball bounced backed to me. I kept throwing the ball at the wall. After about 10 minutes, I put the ball on the floor and tried the spell again. "Protego!" This time, I could feel the shield forming, then it stopped.

I picked up the ball and threw it some more. After another 10 minutes, I stopped and stared at the ball. 'Maybe I should try with a non-bouncing ball.'

I pointed my wand at the ball, "Mutatio!" The rubber bouncy ball turned into a ball that wouldn't bounce as far.

I throw the ball towards the wall and see how it hits the wall and bounces off and how it hits the floor. I threw it a few more times before I tried the shield charm again.

I pulled out my wand again, "Protego!"

This time, I could see how it would hold up. It worked. I managed a shield, but it evaporated. I tried again, and the shield stayed up for the same amount of time before it melted again.

I breathed heavily, 'That's harder than it looks.' I continue to breathe heavily.

I looked towards Hermione, "Hey, can we get some breakfast now? I don't want to miss Hedwig. She'd be mad at me if I did."

Hermione laughed, "Fine, let's get some breakfast, then it's right back here."

"Tempus, " and a 7:10 popped up.

Sitting down, I got a plate and added bacon, sausage, waffles, and eggs to it. I looked at Hermione and noted that she had a similar plate to me.

"How long were you putting spells on that list?" I twirled my fork around.

Hermione finished chewing, "Since your name came out of the Goblet." She took another bite of her waffle. After she finished chewing, she took a sip of orange juice.

"So, have you ever seen Star Trek?" Hermione asked me.

I shook my head, "My cousin doesn't like shows like that. He likes wrestling, and other types of fighting sports." I twirled my fork again.

We talked about Star Trek until Hedwig came.

Hedwig, along with all the other owls, came be swooping in. Hedwig landed on the table in front of us. She was carrying something.

I took the mail off of her and looked at Hermione. "Did you ask for something?" I handed her the mail.

She took it, "Yeah, I had Hedwig get me the Daily Prophet." She opened the newspaper and read it.

I picked up my bacon and held it out for Hedwig. "Hey girl, how have you been?"

She took the bacon and ate it whole. Chirping happily, she jumped closer.

I stroked her feathers, "That's good. Hermione has me practicing spells."

Hedwig snatched a piece of bacon from me. She allowed me to stroke her feathers for a bit longer.

She ate all the bacon off my table before hopping to Hermione's plate and snatching her bacon.

"Bye, Hedwig." I waved to her as she flew away.

I looked towards Hermione, I was about to ask about Picard, but she was entranced by the news.

I waited until she finished reading the news. "Can I see it?"

Hermione nodded and handed the paper to me.

Hogwarts Fourth Champion:

Fraud or Champion.

By: Rita Skeeter

This last week, we at the Daily

Prophet, have been investigating the

Rumors of weather Hogwarts has

Two champions instead of one.

I have asked many of my sources

And each of them has said

The same thing.

Harry Potter is the Hogwarts Champion.

Now, as you might not know, Amos Diggory, a wizard who works

In the Department for the

Regulations and Control

Of Magical Creatures, has been

telling anyone who would listen that

his son is the champion.

The question we want to answer

Is Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived the Triwizard champion?

Or is Amos Diggory's son the Triwizard Champion?

Now, don't worry. I have already found the answer. Cedric Diggory, Amos's son, was the first Hogwarts Champion.

But in a shocking turn of events, Harry Potter's name came flying out as well.

To the surprise of everybody.

To ensure that we, the Daily Prophet, only give you true and relevant informational

We spent the entire week going through our sources, double-checking our work, and then triple checking. Just to make sure

We give you the right info.

The news is in. The champions for the Triwizard Tournament are as follows:

Fluer Delacour, the Beauxbatons champions;

Page 3 to read more about

Viktor Krum, the Durmstrange

Champion;

Page 4 to read more about

Cedric Diggory, The Hogwarts

Champion;

Page 5 to read more about

and

Harry Potter, the Hogwarts

Champion.

Pages 6 - 8 to read more about

I put the Daily Prophet down and stared at the picture. It was of the Goblet of Fire, with the Headmaster and Headmistress standing off to the side.

I groaned. "I'm gonna get out of here before more people see this." I pushed my plate away and stood up.

Hermione nodded, "Don't forget to practice."

I walked out of the Great Hall, and I walked the halls. I didn't actually have a destination in mind, I was just walking and thinking.

'How come I had a multi-page about page, yet every other champion only had a single page?' I checked my pockets for something, anything. There wasn't anything in my pocket, so I started heading towards the Gryffindor house.

"Tempus, " and a 9:00 popped up.

The Fat Lady portrait was vocalizing, well, screaming, but she was trying.

After she succeeded, by hitting the glass against the wall, she asked, "How was it? Did you like it?"

"Yea, it was great." I rubbed my ringing ears, "Demiguise."

The magical doorway opened, revealing the red and gold common room. People of all years were hanging around, either on the couches or near a corner or walking around.

I walked past them, ignoring their requests and questions, and went to my dorm.

Walking up the stairs, I could hear the chatter from the main room slowly losing volume.

I walked to my bed and sat down. 'How come they all think I did it? I've said it multiple times that I didn't, yet no one believes me. Now, it has gotten me on the news. Last time that happened, Malfoy taunted me for weeks.' I grabbed my bag, which was hanging from my curtain rod. I looked through it and saw that I had everything I previously had in it. Parchment, quills, ink bottles, and books. My gaze drifted towards my trunk, 'Should I?'

I got up and headed towards my trunk.

I opened it and got my invisibility cloak and the Marauder's map. I put them in my bag, and then I shut my trunk and started walking back downstairs.

I stopped at the door and dawned the invisibility cloak.

I opened the door and made my way to the main room. As I made my way down the stairs, the noise was getting louder.

I made my way through the crowd, careful not to touch anyone or alert them.

About halfway to the door, I got distracted. I heard someone say my name.

"Can you believe Harry was able to put his name in the Goblet?"

I walked closer and saw that it was Katie Bell. She was talking to the other two females on the Quidditch team.

"Why didn't he tell us how he did it?" Angelina Johnson looked around.

"We can ask him when he comes down." Alicia Spinner nodded her head to the stairs.

Katie shook her head, "he keeps denying doing it, so I doubt he'll tell us."

Alicia stretched. "You're right, but based on the past years, he intentionally put his name forward."

Angelina and Katie looked at her, "What do you mean?"

"Well, every year, the spotlight is on him: first year in quidditch, second year, he was the Heir of Slytherin, third year he's being chased by Sirius Black. He's obviously wants the attention."

Angelina and Katie nod, "You're right. But I still wanna know how he put his name in the Goblet of Fire."

I slowly started walking away. 'How can they believe that? I'm not chasing attention. If anything, I want to get away from it.' I go to the portrait doorway and wait for someone to open it.

It didn't take long.

As soon as I left Gryffindors house, I headed towards the third floor.

'What should I do? Maybe Sirius knows how my name ended up in the goblet.' I round a corner and enter the Grand Staircase.

Walking down the stairs, 'I'm going to write to Sirius, he could give me some good advice, and possibly help me.'

With that thought, I headed to the first floor.

"Tempus, " and a 9:45 popped up.

Arriving at the Owlery, I looked around. There was nobody else here.

The Owlery was an old, worn down building. It had cobblestone walls, and the inside was full of different types of wooden perches. The owls were of various colors. Some were just brown, some were completely black, some had brown and tan feathers, and some were a multitude of different colors.

Walking up the spiraling stairs, I arrived on the middle floors.

I saw Hedwig on a perch, happily munching on some bird feed.

"Hey girl, I couldn't find you in the dorm."

Hedwig beak snapped up. She stared at me and seemed to say, no, duh.

I laugh at myself, "I'm about to write a letter. Could you send it to Sir- I mean Padfoot?"

Hedwig went back to eating the bird feed.

I went to the table and pulled out a parchment, quill, and an ink bottle.

Dear Padfoot,

In case you don't have the necessary money or just don't want to read the news,

I have been chosen to be a champion, even though I didn't put my name into the ring.

I was wondering if you had any idea on how my name was entered

Into the tournament?

Also, I haven't heard from you in a while and am a bit worried.

From,

Harry Potter.

I rolled the letter up and tied it. I then muttered, "Sigillum." I watched as the rolled paper was magically sealed.

I went to Hedwig, "Can I tie this to you?" I hold up the sealed message.

She held up a talon, so I tied the message to her foot. "Thank you, girl." I patted the feathers on her head.

I watched as she flew away. I heard one last hoot before I couldn't see her anymore.

As I made my way out of the Owlery, about five owls flew past me. Turning around, I saw that the owls were chasing something. Looking at the owls, I saw that the thing they were chasing was a beetle.

I continued to walk out of the owlery, hoping that Sirius would get the message soon.

"Tempus, " and an 11 popped up.

Arriving at the empty third floor classroom, I put my things down on a somewhat clean desk and pulled out my wand.

"Protego!" A shield formed, but the shield was not whole. While it was intact, some parts of the shield were sticking out, while others weren't fully expanded out. It was also lopsided. 'This could be why it fizzled out early, too much mana in some places and to little mana in others. It needs to be evenly distributed.'

Stopping the mana flow, I watched as the shield winked out of existence.

'It's weird. How do I evenly distribute the mana?' I throw my wand up and catch it.

'My wand is the only reason I can manipulate the mana, but I can't feel it with the wand. And even then, the manipulation of the mana isn't even that good. Professor Flitwick said that it doesn't really channel the magic and mana. It forces it out.'

I do the wand movements a few times without the incantation. I nod and try the spell again

"Protego!" This time, I focus on making a flat, balanced shield. The shield wasn't completely flat, but it was better than the last attempt, yet it disappeared after a few seconds.

I kept trying until, eventually, after about an hour and a half, I succeeded in making a shield stay for longer than a minute.

I decided to stop for a bit, and I did my homework for Potions and Divination. After I finished my homework, I went to the Great Hall, talked with Hermione, and together we came back here. After spending a few hours on the shield spell again, we went to dinner, then to the Gryffindor common room.

"Tempus, " and an 8:30 popped up.

I was on the couch with Hermione, talking about what we learned in primary school, when Neville sat down next to me.

"How was your day?" Neville looked towards me, waiting for a reply.

"Oh, um, it was good. I've finished the homework for Potions." I look at him, then quickly added, "How was yours?"

"I finished de-weeding the Greenhouses, and my Flitterbloom is looking healthy." Neville stuttered his response, "I'm pretty sure with the way our Flitterblooms are growing, they'll be fully grown by next week."

We talked a bit more about classes and homework before Hermione left to go to bed.

Neville and I talked for a while longer, I talked about my trouble with the shield charm while he talked about plants.

"Good night." Neville stood up and left. Leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Sitting in front of the dying fire, I hit my wand against my hand. 'The shield charm is amazing, but it would be better if it could actually stop an attack.' I pointed my wand and started doing the wand movement for it, but stopped. 'Probably not a good idea.' I looked around and saw that there were still some students out of bed. 'If the shield is supposed to stop attacks, then it will take mana to hold up to an attack. I would probably need the same amount or more, so mana holds it together, gives it form, and prevents anything from passing it.'

The fireplace died. I looked at the fireplace, "Lumos." A ball of light lit up at the tip of my wand.

I looked around the main room, no one else was there, and none of the lights were on.

Shaking my head, I headed to the dorms. I did my nightly routine: brushing my teeth, changing clothes, making sure everything was in the right place.

I then laid in bed, put my wand and glasses on my nightstand, and went to bed.