The world of Harry Potter and its characters belong to JKR. I do not support JKR. Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Trans people are people.
TW: Non-graphic violence, swearing.
Chapter 4: The Champions
The days following Umbridge's obligatory departure from Hogwarts were kind of a blur, as the Minister himself came to Hogwarts demanding an explanation. Harry and Cedric showed him, albeit reluctantly, the scars that had been left by Umbridge's black quill. The headline in the Daily Prophet the next day was something worth remembering.
Minister Fudge: Danger to Children or Incompetent?
Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic set for trial on grounds of Child Endangerment.
After a formal apology towards Harry and Cedric and making himself clear that he was in no way seeking a form retribution for their past claims the Minister made to appoint a new person as the DADA professor at Hogwarts, and thanks to a certain person's volunteering Kingsley Shacklebolt ended up as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. There was a surge of excitement amongst the students at the idea of an Auror teaching them Defense Against the Dark Arts.
"It'll be like last year with Professor Moody." Dean Thomas said, Harry, Ron and Hermione grimaced knowing who Moody had been impersonated by. Neville also grimaced and went green, but Ron had no idea why. Harry looked sympathetically at Neville, but didn't say anything to him. As the trio walked towards the DADA classroom, Ron noticed Hermione looking quite as excited as everyone else, however not everyone else was holding on tight to five new books that weren't even in the school list.
"I just want to be prepared." Hermione said defensively, her cheeks going pink.
"Hermione," said Ron, accustomed to her behavior, but nevertheless shocked by it. "There's being prepared, and then there's using a Time Turner to study twelve classes at once." he looked pointedly at her, while she huffed and put her nose in the air walking hurriedly to class. "I mean honestly," Ron said to Harry, who looked exasperated with Ron and Hermione's usual bickering. "You would think after third year she'd learn to calm do–" Ron was cut short as he had run into Hermione. "Blimey, Hermione! What the bloody–"
"I think maybe we should wait until we go into class," she said hurriedly as he whipped around and turned to Ron and Harry, they were both surprised to see Hermione of all people telling them to use their remaining free time somewhere outside class. "I mean it's a beautiful day outside, isn't it?" She asked while only looking at Ron, who looked out the window, it really was a nice sunny day, good enough for Quidditch, maybe he and Harry could go for a quiet training session. However, while he turned his gaze to the outside he didn't notice Hermione shoot Harry a quick look with her eyes at the inside of the classroom, and Harry's eyes nearly bulged out of their skull.
"I mean yeah," said Ron, unaware of what Harry and Hermione were hiding from him. "But, I kind of want to see how Kingsley will teach his class." He made to walk through the door when Harry put his hand on Ron's chest.
"Hey Ron," said Harry in that tone of voice he used when he tried to lie to McGonagall and failed. "You know what? Hermione's right–"
"Hermione's always right." said Ron in a matter-of-fact tone, he failed to see Hermione blush at his statement.
"And since she's right why don't we use our free time to practice some Quidditch." he looked even more determined to get Ron to enjoy his short free period… No, he was determined to get Ron away from that classroom, but why? There were few things that would make it particularly unpleasant for Ron to want to be there: if Kingsley's nose had become hooked and his hair greasy; if his face had become toad-like and he decided to sport a pink cardigan; maybe he had brought an Acromantula to the class, but that wasn't right, that was something that Hagrid would do.
His gut was telling him that whatever was inside that classroom was not something that Ron would be afraid of or disgusted, no. Whatever was inside that class was something that would make him angry. "You're right," he said feigning ignorance to their intentions, he then did a double take at the window. "Is that Hagrid?!" Ron knew it was a low blow, not only Harry, but he and Hermione were missing the company of the half-giant that normally taught them Care of Magical Creatures, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Harry and Hermione looked hurriedly at the window giving Ron enough time to dash through the door. His gut had been right, the sight did not disgust, at least not in the conventional sense, nor did it scare him, it made his blood boil.
There standing besides Kingsley talking his ear off was Percy Weasley, his horn-rimmed glasses looked different from the ones Dad had given to him when he became a prefect. They used to look, although a bit worn out, quite approachable, it made his prat of a brother look less like a prat, his new glasses just made him look even more like a traitorous prat. He was writing on a clipboard when he took notice of Ron, Harry and Hermione were by his side immediately, Hermione looked worried while Harry looked cautiously at Percy. He stopped talking to Kingsley and headed towards Ron, somehow in the few months Percy had been away he had managed to look even more like a prat.
"Ron," he said in a cheery manner. "So good to see you," his eyes drifted towards Ron's chest where he wore his prefect badge. "I heard of the good news, it seems like you decided to follow in my footsteps and made a good enough impression to make the prefect badge." Ron wanted nothing more than to throw his prefect badge right at Percy's stupid face. "I originally heard from Dolores Umbridge that you had been appointed as Gryffindor's prefect…" Percy looked as if he was swallowing a sour lemon at the mention of Umbridge. "Such a pity, really looked like a lovely woman that one…" he drifted off, Harry scoffed and Percy realized that he was speaking to one of Umbridge's victims.
"Yeah," said Ron. "So lovely. Maybe she could make you use that black quill of hers. I… will… not… act… like… a… prat… every… five… seconds…" The usual humour that would've come with one of Ron's jokes failed to appear, Percy's previously upbeat demeanor changed into one reminding Ron of Malfoy brandishing his prefect badge at the Hogwarts Express.
"You better be careful with what you say around me Ron," he straightened his back, and pulled out his clipboard. "Seeing as I am the new Hogwarts High Inquisitor." The trio's eyes nearly fell out of their skulls. Ron clenched his fist so hard he thought he might cut into his palms with his nails. "You see Minister Fudge saw potential in me, seeing as I'm already Junior Assistant to the Minister of Magic he has a lot of trust in me. He knows I was once prefect and Head Boy here, so he can trust that I will be respected around here." He walked back towards the front of the class as the classroom started filling with students.
Ron still had his fist in a tight grip when class officially started, Hermione was giving him worried looks while Harry was trying to calm him down.
"Good afternoon," Kingsley said in his low voice. "Please bring out your wands and books." The class looked excited already, Ron heard Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil squeal in excitement. "Now, I would like you all to turn to page–" Kingsley was interrupted by Percy as the older Weasley in the room cleared his throat. The action reminded the class of Umbridge clearing her throat whenever she interrupted a teacher.
"I'm sorry Professor Shacklebolt," said Percy and Kingsley looked surprised at someone referring to him as a professor. "But, according to the books accepted by the Ministry there is supposed to be no use of wands during this class." He looked pointedly at Kingsley, while Ron glared daggers at his older brother. "I would appreciate it if you stuck to the Ministry's directions."
A class that was quite similar, but not exactly the same as Umbridge's, followed that day. Kingsley would find ways to teach them actual magic, and once he even confunded the prat to shut him up for good. At the end of the lesson they had half a good DADA lesson and half a… Well what they went through couldn't even be called a lesson.
Ron was in a very bad mood by the time class ended. There was no one that dared approach him, not even Harry or Hermione. Because of all the people to have replaced the toad of course it was his prat brother. He felt like punching his git face, how could he not believe Harry? How could he doubt his family?
What a hypocrite he was, just a year ago he was basically ready to wear one of those 'Potter Stinks' badges. He knew how unfair he had been to Percy, he was always trying to impress everyone including his own family, and Ron would be lying if Percy's money reason didn't resonate within him. What truly made Ron so mad, was how similar they were. Ron and Percy were always the outcasts, Percy found his place as his parent's golden boy with perfect grades and badges and everything else, but that didn't mean anything to the twins who would always pick on him for simply wanting to achieve he never really fit in with the family's loud nature. Ron had nothing, he was just the extra Weasley that was just there, Harry Potter or Hermione Granger's best friend or one of his sibling's brother.
Then he became a prefect just like Percy, and the twins started teasing him just like they did with Percy. He just wanted to be seen like his other brothers did, he wanted to be prefect, because Bill, Charlie and Percy had all been prefects. What was so wrong with being like them? The twins never made fun of Bill or Charlie, and Bill was Head Boy just like Percy. It was just unfair.
The last person that he wanted to see just so happened to run into him, as he made his way towards the Great Hall for dinner he ran into Draco Malfoy. He looked as cocky as ever, his face wore a sneer and Ron had to look down on the shorter boy. Malfoy took a quick glance at Ron and snorted as he whispered something in Pansy Parkinson's ear. It must have been hilarious, because the next moment Pansy was snorting like a pig, Crabbe and Goyle, who found the other eating pudding with fork funny, laughed as well.
"Hey Weaselbee," said Malfoy.
'Honestly,' thought Ron. 'Can't he think of a better nickname?' It was at that moment that Harry and Hermione walked through the corner, spotted Ron and quickly made their way besides him.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" asked Harry.
"Oh nothing, Potter," said Malfoy. "Was just talking to Pansy about how unfortunate the Gryffindor Quidditch team is this year. Not only do they have you on the team, but they'll also be adding another Weasley. So how will that work Weasel will your brothers and you be sharing a broom." Ron gripped his wand inside his robes and was about to take it out when Hermione put her hand on his wrist.
Ron looked over at his friends, both Harry and Hermione shook their heads. Ron released the grip on his wand and continued his way to the Great Hall, when Malfoy thought it was a good idea to open his mouth again.
"Of course you walk away Weasel," said Malfoy. "Need Scarhead and Mudblood to babysit you all day?" Surprisingly, Harry was the one that took out his wand first, he was quickly stopped by Hermione who put both her hands on his wrist.
"Harry, no!" she exclaimed.
Unfortunately, for Malfoy, as she prioritized Harry, Ron had the perfect opportunity to charge at Malfoy. Ron saw the Slytherin's expression go from mirth to surprise, he launched himself and tackled Malfoy to the ground as he relentlessly started beating on the blonde boy's face. It was quite easy seeing as not only was Ron twice the size of him, but he grew up in a family where wrestling for the last bacon sandwich was normal. Malfoy grew up with a silver spoon up his arse.
He laid blow after blow on Malfoy's face. Crabbe and Goyle were in shock momentarily, before they tried to kick Ron in the ribs. Harry and Hermione, however, saw through this and quickly casted a Stupefy on both of the goons. Pansy Parkinson was screaming for help from a professor as she just watched Ron continuously beat on Malfoy. Ron had to admit that Malfoy was not that hard to handle however, the Slytheirn not only managed a few punches on Ron, but took to strangling him, or biting his fingers.
"Stop!" a male thick and deep voice bellowed. Ron disentangled himself from Malfoy and turned to look at Godric Gryffindor.
"Thank Merlin, you're here Lord Gryffindor." said Pansy, before anyone else could explain what had just happened. "Malfoy and I were just walking towards the Great Hall, when those three." she pointed at Harry, Ron and Hermione. "Suddenly they decided to attack us." She then walked towards Malfoy and kneeled down, dabbing the blood from his nose, lips and eyebrow with a handkerchief.
"I see," he said. "100 points," Harry, Ron and Hermione's eyes widened as much as they could. Ron was about to protest when Gryffindor continued. "From Slytherin." Now it was Malfoy and Pansy's turn to look surprised. "For the use of a disgusting slur against a muggle-born student. And believe me Mr. Malfoy, I'll have a talk with Professor Snape and Mr. Filch for an appropriate punishment." Malfoy's already pale face somehow turned whiter. Ron could feel a smile tug at his slightly beaten face.
"B-but, what about them?!" Pansy all but screeched.
"5 points from Gryffindor each for attacking fellow students." The trio looked around each other with bemused expressions, getting fifteen points off compared to the one-hundred points that Slytherin just lost didn't sound so bad. Pansy looked like she wanted to say something, but Malfoy simply glared at her and she quickly quieted down. "Now, Ms. Parkinson please get Mr. Malfoy to the infirmary." Pansy stood up with Malfoy who looked less than happy and they made their way to the Hospital Wing.
Harry and Hermione helped Ron up, and before they could leave to the Great Hall Gryffindor stopped them. "Oh and Mr. Weasley," Ron turned around and gulped. "30 points to Gryffindor," Ron's eyes couldn't have gone wider even if he wanted to. "For defending a housemate's honour." With that Gryffindor made his way to the Great Hall, leaving Ron speechless. Harry and Hermione had to drag Ron, who looked to be in shock, to the Great Hall.
Needless to say his mood had considerably increased. As they sat down, Ron couldn't help but feel smug when Parvarti Patil asked him about his bloodied lip. "Oh, you see I got into a fight with Malfoy," the Gryffindor table resisted the urge to roll their eyes, they were all accustomed to the Slytherin's constant teasing. "And turns out Godric Gryffindor particularly liked the way I beat the ferret's arse and gave me 30 points." As he finished everyone's jaw hung open as they glanced from Ron to their founder who sat at the end of the Table. Godric was aware of the stares he was receiving and where they came from, he raised his chalice and winked at Ron while smirking.
"No," said a familiar voice besides Ron, it was Fred.
"Bloody," continued George on the other side of Ron.
"Way," they finished together.
Dinner that day was filled with Ron filling in on everything that happened with Malfoy, Harry was happy to have the spotlight off him for the time and happily aided Ron's story. Hermione scowled at Ron being praised for being so violent, but as Ron gave her his signature lopsided grin a melancholic sort of look dawned upon her eyes. And with the appearance of Malfoy with medical patches the looks Ron was receiving was something to be envious about.
The mood of the Weasleys in particular suddenly soured when the new Hogwarts High Inquisitor made his appearance at the staff table.
"What is that git doing here?!" asked Fred, scowling at his older brother.
"Apparently Fudge wanted a replacement for the toad," answered Ron angrily, his good mood was gone.
"And he settled on a prat?!" responded George.
The hall ate in peace, unaware of the tension between the young Weasleys that were still at Hogwarts and the High Inquisitor. As the students settled down Dumbledore rose from his seat and started an announcement.
"As some of you know," the old Headmaster said. "Your previous Defense Against the Dark Arts professor Dolores Umbridge," most of the hall scowled at the mention of her name. "Was appointed by the Ministry of Magic as the Hogwarts High Inquisitor, but due to heinous acts inside the walls of this school she is no longer allowed inside Hogwarts. But, according to the Minister of Magic, a new High Inquisitor is required in the school. And it is my duty to introduce him, Mr. Percy Weasley." Dumbledore started clapping, the hall following soon enough.
All of the Weasleys, as well as Harry and Hermione seated at the Gryffindor table, kept quiet. That was until Fred and George started shouting out loud over the clapping. "Big headed boy! Big headed boy! Percy the prat likes to play with his toys!" Percy was the only one outside those close to the twins that actually seemed to pay attention to them, and the only one to know what it meant as his cheeks went slightly pink.
The twins later explained how Percy used to pick up random sticks and draw Head Boy badges. When they were small he pretended to be Bill and bossed his stuffed animals around, and the one time that the twins had caught him doing it they sang that song to annoy him. Needless to say, Percy stopped playing Big Brother Head Boy ever since.
As Ron continued eating he kept licking at his bloodied lip. Hermione noticed and she went to clean it with her thumb, unfortunately she chose the exact moment to put her thumb on Ron's lip when he went to lick his lip. Both of them looked at each other, before Hermione pulled her hand away. That was the most each of them had blushed in a while.
The next day Ron woke up and headed off to Potions, there he was surprised to encounter not only Salazar Slytherin for the third time, the first having been during Potions a couple of weeks ago and the second during Herbology where he had assisted Harry, by telling him through Legilimency the exact amount of dirt to use for a strange plant that had a lovely scent of chocolate. But, he also encountered Godric Gryffindor, who was looking at a vial of armadillo bile in his hands.
"Good evening," said Salazar, prompting Gryffindor to look up and settle the vial down. "I'm afraid to announce that Professor Snape won't be attending your class today," the Gryffindors looked quite excited at this, while the Slytherins were simply not as compliant with the idea. "So today, Lord Gryffindor and myself shall be instructing you on how to brew a Wit-Sharpening Potion."
The class started brewing it, as Ron started mashing the ginger roots he heard a voice inside his head.
"Cut them, it works better that way," he heard the voice of Godric Gryffindor. Ron looked at the founder of his house who sneakily winked at him. Ron followed his instructions letting the cut ginger roots be added to the potion, now turning to a lime green. He continued to follow everything that Godric Gryffindor dictated, it looked as if Ron had been imperiused.
As the class presented their potions to the founders only five students had brewed an acceptable Wit-Sharpening Potion, including Ron himself. Salazar Slytherin walked through the students' potions before he stopped in front of Hermione's cauldron. He looked straight at her and she had the same look when he first showed himself at the Great Hall at the start of the term. Ron put his hand inside the pocket of his robes and gripped his wand, he felt a tug in his mind and his eyes went to Godric Gryffindor, who put his hand in front of himself as if to stop him.
"A more than adequate Wit-Sharpening potion, Ms. Granger," he said, surprising everyone except for Godric Gryffindor. "For someone without a magical background."
'And there it is,' thought Ron. 'I'm going to gut the bloody git.'
"Salazar!" bellowed Gryffindor.
"What?" Slytherin as if he had said nothing wrong. "I'm merely complementing one of our students for a job well done, Godric."
"You are certainly not doing that and you know it!" Gryffindor's voice had lowered its volume; however his intensity had not ceased. "How many times must we have this conversation?! What will it take for you to realize that muggle-born students are not a safety hazard for the school?!"
'Wait?! What?!' thought Ron. 'A hazard to Hogwarts?' Everyone seemed to have the same thought as Ron. How could muggle-born students with no previous knowledge of magic be a danger to a place like Hogwarts?
"You seem to disregard every piece of evidence just like always," said Slytherin, his voice now as intense as Gryffindor's. "Muggle-borns bring nothing but trouble to this place, but more specifically their relatives." Muggle-hating didn't seem like a far reach, but people were still staring in confusion at the Slytherin founder. "Muggles constantly show jealousy, envy, and a complete show of hate to anything that is different. By letting in muggle-borns we bring ourselves attention from those Muggles! They are nothing, but dangerous, horrible peo-"
"That's not true!" said Harry out loud. He looked from Slytherin to Hermione who now had tears swimming in her eyes. "Not all muggles are bad and if you thi-"
"Oh please Mr. Potter," Slytherin said before his eyes glowed red and Harry's eyes fogged for a fraction of a second. And for the first time in Ron's life he saw Harry looking scared, and angry at the same time. He looked at Slytherin murderously, but also pleadingly, for some reason. Slytherin waved his wand over his face and a double chin as well as a walrus moustache appeared on his face, his long hair shortened into a nearly parted thick hair. His skin seemed to turn purple and Ron realized who Slytherin had morphed into… It was Harry's uncle.
"BOY!" Slytherin's smooth and silky voice had changed into Harry's uncle's more rough, it sounded more like growling. He bellowed right at Harry. "If I hear the M word in this house ONE MORE TIME! I'LL STUFF YOU INTO YOUR CUPBOARD MYSELF!" Harry's uncle's (He really needed to remember his name) face had turned several shades purple, then the mustache and double chin disappeared, now being replaced with a horse-looking feminine face, the nearly parted black hair now grew and turned blonde. Slytherin had turned into Harry's aunt.
"Freak!" said in an almost screech. "That's what you are! Did you have fun at that school filled with little freaks?!" Slytherin's face morphed back to normal, and he looked at Harry with something between a triumphant grin and a pitying grimace. At that moment Harry simply took his things and hurried right out of the Potions classroom, Ron didn't wait to follow him.
"Harry!" he called as he saw his best friend walking hurriedly towards the Gryffindor Tower. "Harry!" Ron reached the Fat Lady's portrait and opened the door to the common room, there was no one except for a few first-years enjoying their free periods. "Have you seen my friend? Scrawny looking, wears glasses, messy hair?" A girl pointed at the dorms and Ron quickly made his way towards his dorm room.
When he entered the fifth-year dorm it was empty, there was no one, not even a single hint of another person in the room besides Ron. That would be the case if Ron didn't know his best friend well, he approached Harry's bed and reached for the air as he grabbed a silvery silk like substance. Harry's Invisibility Cloak slid down his body. He sat looking down at his lap. Ron sat beside him, he wanted to say a million things at the moment, yet he didn't know what to say. A silence fell upon them.
"It wasn't tha-'' started Harry.
"If you say it wasn't that bad, I swear to Merlin Harry I'm going to fucking beat your head in." Harry immediately fell silent. How could he say he was fine? How could he not say anything all this time? Ron knew things were bad, he knew of the bloody bars on Harry's window when he hadn't responded to any of his letters. He noticed how Harry always looked skinnier than when he last saw him at the end of term. But, did he truly know bad things were for Harry? A sudden rage threatened to overtake him, and it took all of Ron's willpower to not go with Fred and George and plan a surprise visit to the Dursleys. But that could wait, for now, he needed to be with his best mate.
"D'you remember why I was mad last year, Harry?" asked Ron out of nowhere. Harry looked surprised by the sudden change of subject, but also equally grateful.
"Hermione said something about you being jealous." Ron couldn't help but to snort and roll his eyes.
"Yeah," said Ron. "I guess that was part of it. But, what really got me angry at first was the fact that you hadn't told me. I could handle the jealousy Harry, I've been used to it for years, what I couldn't handle was the fact that you kept something from me." Harry looked anywhere but at Ron's eyes.
"You're my best friend Harry... Actually, best friend doesn't really cover what I think of you. Harry... You're my brother. Those people are not your family. I am your family, Hermione is your family, Sirius is your family. Ginny, Fred, George, my whole bloody family. We're all your family." Ron made sure to emphasize every important person that cared for Harry. Now it was his turn to look everywhere but at his best mate. Blimey, he was getting choked up.
"I know that I don't usually say it, because blokes aren't really supposed to say these types of things to each other. But I really bloody lov-" Ron was cut off as Harry hugged him fiercely, he didn't have to see his face to know that Harry was crying as much as he was. They didn't end the hug, even when Neville knocked on the door and entered the dorm to get his Mimbulus mimbletonia.
When they were ready Ron patted Harry on the back. "You're not going back to those bloody wankers." Harry laughed at the insult.
"I don't think that's your decision to make Ron," said Harry as he detached himself from his best friend.
"Oh trust me," said Ron. "If I need to put your scrawny arse in my bloody trunk and drag you to the Burrow I will."
As they got down the stairs they saw most of the Gryffindors from their year resting inside the common room. Hermione was looking at Harry with worry in her eyes, Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil were looking at Harry as if he were a puppy with a broken leg, Neville gave Harry some notes from Potions and proceeded to apologize for how mediocre they were, Dean shoved Seamus, who looked like he wanted to strangle Dean.
"Look Po- Harry," said Seamus. "I-I... Well…"
"What?!" said Harry heatedly. To be honest Ron didn't blame him, the git had it coming to him after believing the Daily Prophet. "Finish calling me a liar?!"
Seamus almost shrank down, but he didn't back away. "Listen," said Seamus. "I reckone- I know I was wrong. You and Diggory aren't really that bad, in all of the years I've known you I've never taken you for a liar. I don't think you suddenly started now. What I'm trying to say is that… I'm sorry, mate." Everyone looked between Harry and Seamus, it was like a time-bomb waiting to be set off. Then, Harry extended his hand at Seamus who gave him a tentative smile, before shaking it.
"Does this mean I'm in the group?" he asked Harry excitedly, Ron and Hermione's eyes suddenly widened and looked at Harry who was clearly confused by the question.
"What group?" asked Harry, he looked around and Ron could see the gears turning in his head as the only people that didn't look confused by Harry's were Ron and Hermione. "What group?!" he asked his best friends.
"Harry…" said Hermione tentatively. "Do you remember when I proposed that you'd be the one to teach us Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
It was the day of the Halloween Feast, and Harry couldn't be more excited as well as anxious. Yesterday, after the fourth DA meeting, Kingsley had asked Harry what he'd been up to. Harry turned out to be an unfortunately bad liar, however Kingsley seemed to know that a group of students had decided to have their own DADA lessons. He didn't say anything regarding how true it was and only left a note with a couple of pointers on teaching.
Now that wasn't what had Harry worried, neither were the whispers about the Boy-Who-Lived living in an abusing muggle home. Ron was there to glare or threaten to curse, hex, jinx, punch, or kick anyone who talked behind Harry's back, and to be honest the apparent news that Godric Gryffindor had punched Slytherin right in the face after he and Ron had exited the classroom had cheered him up. Ron had moaned and said he would've loved to see that.
No, what truly had Harry worried was the announcement of the Champions, because heaven forbid that Harry Potter would have a normal school year. The twins were not making it any better, they had opened a betting business a fortnight before the end of October and students kept placing bets on who had been chosen by the founders as their Champion.
It would seem that unsurprisingly the number one option for Gryffindor was him. Malfoy was Slytherin's favorite choice, this gave the young Malfoy heir an arrogant air as he walked through the halls. Then came Hufflepuff, Cedric was the main option seeing as he was Quidditch Captain and Head Boy. Zacharias Smith was not one bit happy with the news and kept insisting that anyone else could also be Hufflepuff's champion. And finally Ravenclaw, they were unsurprising as the main choice kept changing every couple of days, some days it was Roger Davies and some Terry Boot. Padma Patil had looked particularly pleased when she had been the main choice for Champion for three consecutive days
The feast had started and Harry was just waiting for it to be over, maybe he could walk out before Gryffindor's Champion was revealed. That way no one would even think twice about who was chosen when Harry wasn't available. As they settled down their plates, forks, spoons, and knives everyone stared right at the founders. They all looked incredibly pleased with the effect they had induced into their students.
The first one to stand up was Helga Hufflepuff, she cleared her throat before speaking out loud to the students inside the Great Hall.
"Good evening Hogwarts," said Hufflepuff. "As you know the feast has ended, and it is time for us to reveal the Champions of Hogwarts to the whole school." The Great Hall erupted in clapping and cheering, Hufflepuff raised her hands as if she were about to clap and every student seized. "Thank you. Now, for the revelation to start." The Four Founders stood up and stood in front of the staff table.
"For the Champion of Hufflepuff," said Helga Hufflepuff and she placed both her arms on her heart and a bright light appeared, a diamond that looked to be covered in dirt appeared on her hands floating. She raised her palms as if she was trying to hold water with her hands, and the diamond started floating above the Hufflepuff table. The diamond suddenly descended on the ground and it seemed to swim around like a mole in the ground before it appeared at Cedric's feet and fly in front of him, floating in the air, Cedric took it in his hand and the dirt fell off. Harry could see a small smile form on Helga Hufflepuff's face. "Cedric Diggory!" she exclaimed. The hall erupted in clapping once more as Cedric stood up and made his way beside Helga Hufflepuff, he gave the diamond back to Hufflepuff who hugged him and took the diamond back.
The banners came down and the same badger that had shown itself when Lady Hufflepuff had first come through the doors of the Great Hall made its appearance.
"For the Champion of Ravenclaw," said Rowena Ravenclaw and she repeated the same process as Hufflepuff, but instead of a diamond covered in dirt it was a sapphire. The Ravenclaws had never looked more anxious even during exam times. The sapphire floated through the air like a piece of paper in the wind, it came close to Roger Davies and Padma Patil. But nevertheless it floated right in front of Luna Lovegood, there had never been a silence like the one that moment. Luna's already wide eyes seemed to momentarily widen before she grabbed the sapphire in her hand. "Luna Lovegood!" No applause came and Ravenclaw had to very loudly clear her throat before Ginny whistled at Luna.
"Way to go Luna!" she shouted, her cheering prompted the hall to clap, Neville stood up and loudly clapped for Luna, Harry and Ron were cheering for her and soon enough most members of the DA were cheering for her enthusiastically. Luna looked at Ginny and smiled as she skipped her way besides Rowena Ravenclaw. She handed the sapphire back to her founder and the banners changed from a yellow background to a blue with a bronze eagle.
"For the Champion of Slytherin," said Lord Slytherin. Now it was a green emerald. Or at least Harry was sure it was an emerald, it looked exactly like a gemstone, but it didn't seem to be completely solid. It turned into an almost liquid as it made its way through the Slytherin table. Malfoy looked greedily at it, and when it stood still for no longer than a second, it must've been enough for him to think he was Slytherin's Champion. Malfoy grabbed the substance, it turned into a gelatinous thing in his fist, before it floated above him and splashed down like a water balloon. Everyone tried hard to not laugh, as the substance detached itself from Malfoy leaving him dry, but embarrassed. It floated right in front of Daphne Greengrass, the Slytherin girl that took Potions and Care of Magical Creatures with Harry. To say she looked shocked would be an understatement, she gulped and grabbed the liquid-like emerald in her hands and it turned into a full solid. "Daphne Greengrass!"
The Slytherin girl made her way to Salazar Slytherin and handed him the emerald back. The banners changed to a silver snake in a green background and the Slytherins cheered. It was no surprise as Harry had heard from Sirius that the Grengrass family were a notable Pure-blood family.
"For the Champion of Gryffindor," said Godric Gryffindor's deep commanding voice. A bright red ruby that looked to be on fire flew above the Gryffindor table. Harry's head was filled with a single thought. 'Please not be me. Please not be me. Please not be me. Please not be me. Please not be me.'
The fire that surrounded the ruby was lively and to Harry's horror it started flying right at him. No, this was not happening. Even if that bloody thing chose him he would absolutely refuse, he was done with stupid bloody tournaments. And apparently someone was listening to him because the next moment the ruby skipped him and floated right in front of the person by his side. Relief waved through Harry, before realization dawned and he turned to look at his best friend with the most shocked expression he had ever seen him with. Ron looked absolutely petrified in his seat, everyone looked shocked as well. Hermione had to shake her head as if to make sure she wasn't hallucinating and nudge Ron.
"Grab it Ron," she whispered to him. Ron looked at her, and gulped. He grabbed the flaming gemstone in his fist and a burst of fire came from the spaces that Ron's grasp didn't fully cover.
"Ron Weasley!" Gryffindor almost roared. George had to slightly shove Ron for him to stand up and make his way to Gryffindor. Harry looked around and he could see the twins, who although looked shocked, showed nothing but awe. Ginny was the same as a smile threatened to make its way into her opened mouth. Hermione looked absolutely impressed, if Ron could see her expression he would most probably blush. The Gryffindor table erupted in applause and cheering and soon most of the hall started clapping too.
"That's my brother!" shouted Fred.
"He's Gryffindor's bloody Champion!" shouted George.
The both of them started whistling loudly, and as Ron handed the ruby back to Gryffindor the banners changed one last time and red was covered in a golden lion that roared in a sort of triumphant way.
"We," said Rowena Ravenclaw. "The Four Founders of Hogwarts present to you, the Champions of Hogwarts!"