Four days had passed since Harry stood on the outside of the Astronomy Tower and was ready to jump to his death until the most unexpected thing happened. Harry was stopped by Draco Malfoy, who not only didn't give him a hard time, but talked Harry down from jumping, pulled him back over the railing, held him when he cried, and then offered to end their rivalry and gain his friendship. Harry realized the foolishness of what he had planned to do and understood afterward that he didn't want to die; he was just so sick of a lot of things and it felt like he had nothing left.

Harry knew there were a lot of people who cared about him and believed that he never put his name in the goblet of fire. Harry couldn't get out of the tournament, but he was sick and tired of dealing with everyone's hate for something he didn't do and wanted no part of. Harry wanted a shred of normalcy, and since that was clearly never going to happen; he may as well go with it. Harry was going to give this tournament his everything, win or lose.

Draco was right, they were giving him crap over things he didn't do…Why not give them a reason to be upset? The last four days, Harry had kept to himself and gone quiet. It had Draco and Severus worried that he had slipped back into the don't care anymore mindset, but Harry still showed up to classes and meals; just minded his own business and ignored everyone.

Dumbledore didn't seem to care much, or think anything was wrong. Minerva was worried for her fourteen year old lion cub, but wasn't sure what to do to help. Every time she asked Harry if he was okay; he simply nodded and went on about his day. Remus was constantly checking in while Sirius was still on Harry speaking parseltongue to the dragon to get the egg. Harry hadn't bothered looking for someone to go to the ball with, it was clear everyone hated him. Except Slytherin, true to Draco's word that they always gave him warm and genuine smiles in passing.

Students of all years in Slytherin would do this. It was nice, but it didn't erase how Harry felt. Despite saying he didn't want to die, or that it had been foolish to think of such an escape; Harry felt like it would be easier if he were just gone. Voldemort could be someone else's problem. Harry didn't want to feel this way and he'd tried so much to keep his spirits up, but it just wasn't working.

At the moment, class had been let out and students were headed to lunch. Harry stayed pretty far behind, ending up being one of the last ones into the great hall. One thing Harry was becoming really annoyed with was all the staring and silence when people noticed he was around. Harry looked at Gryffindor table, then over to Slytherin where Draco was patting the place beside him.

Harry looked at his own housemates before making a hmph noise and going to his left and walking up the aisle past the Slytherins who were smiling and giving him waves of welcome. Harry got next to Draco and sat down contently. Of course, people were shocked and confused; whispers had begun about why a lone Gryffindor sat with a bunch of Slytherins.

"Ignore it," Draco told him. "Now there's a reason for them to stop and stare when there wasn't before."

"I know, guess it just doesn't feel too good." Harry muttered.

"You're with us now, don't worry too much on things." Pansy Parkinson told him. "They're just jealous."

"Even Dumbledore is giving me a disapproving look," Harry sighed.

"It's just because you're a lion in the snake den." Draco chuckled. "Don't let it get to you. It shows the rest a lot of things, like the fact you have followers of your own who believe in you and that we're not so bad. See, helping each other out."

"I guess." Harry shrugged.

"Harry, ignore everyone who doesn't support you. You don't need that negativity in your life…" Blaise Zabini stated.

"We're on your side." Draco reassured.

"I know, but it doesn't change the fact that the people who are supporting me in all this aren't the ones I share a house with…" Harry informed. "Walking into Gryffindor Tower with everyone there…It feels like I'm public enemy number one. I'm not liked, welcomed, or wanted there. It's…Not home anymore. But I don't really have a choice either."

"Nobody is hurting you there, right?" Theodore Nott, a boy sitting across from Harry, had asked.

"Some shoving here and there, or dirty looks. But no, no one is attacking me." Harry replied.

"You should eat, Harry," Draco suggested.

"Not hungry," Harry admitted.

"You're going to need your strength for the second task. Eat, Harry…Even if it's just a sandwich." Draco told him.

Harry sighed and made himself a small sandwich to snack on and Draco smiled, approving of his creation. Harry just shook his head and kept eating.

"So, who is excited for the ball?" Pansy wondered.

"Considering its fourth year and up, it could be fun." Blaise stated. "They only lowered the limit because Harry isn't seventeen."

"Great, more changes because of me…" Harry muttered.

"Hey, it's a good thing," Gregory Goyle informed. "Because of you, we now get to go."

"I guess. Have fun," Harry remarked.

"You will too," Vincent Crabbe said.

"I'm not going." Harry enlightened.

"What do you mean you're not going?" Draco inquired.

"I wasn't speaking Parseltongue, Draco. I'm not going to the Yule Ball." Harry repeated.

"But…You have to," Pansy informed calmly.

"It's just a dance," Harry replied. "It's not like I'll be terribly missed if I don't show up. I've made it pretty clear to several people, teachers included, that I don't care for this tournament and I want to be left alone."

"No, Harry…What Pansy is saying is that if you were just a normal student, you could miss it. But you're one of the champions…You have to attend." Theodore stated calmly. "It's required and expected of you."

"I'll let you know when either of those two things decide how I live my life…" Harry glanced over at him. "Unless they're going to physically drag me there, I'm not going."

"Come on, Harry…You're a Hogwarts Champion!" Draco shook him a little. "Take advantage of it. Anyone would be lucky to have you as their date."

"Even if I wanted to go, I wouldn't be asking anyone to go with me. Aside you all from Slytherin, the student body hates me and fourth year and up students already have dates." Harry mentioned.

"I don't." Pansy smiled. "I'd be happy to go with you, Harry."

"I thought you were going with Theodore?" Harry arched a brow.

"I don't mind if she goes with you. We were only going as friends." Theodore responded. "We could share her? Fine by me."

"No, thank you, though." Harry said. "I'm not stealing someone else's date."

"I'm free, if you're not against male partners." Blaise offered.

"I'm not against male partners, but again, not going." Harry told them.

"You're into guys?" Vincent asked.

Harry shrugged. "You are?" Gregory blinked.

"It's not a secret. I've never denied it, then again…No one has ever asked. Right about now, I'm sure it would just give people more of a reason to shoot me dirty looks in horror that the great Harry Potter is gay." Harry rolled his eyes. "So no, I don't go around announcing it…But I don't deny it if asked."

"I'm into both personally." Blaise nodded.

"Me too." Draco admitted with a shrug of his shoulders. "My parents don't care as long as I give them one heir to the Malfoy name later in life."

"Does your godfather and Professor Lupin know?" Pansy inquired.

"Sirius and Remus? No. Well, I think Remus suspects, but isn't saying anything." Harry replied.

"You call them by their first names?" Theodore questioned.

"Sometimes. Others, I'll use their nicknames. Siri and Remy, Padfoot and Moony. Sirius also goes by Snuffles. Don't ask, I didn't come up with the names. Sirius and Remus were my dad's best friends, though. Sirius is my godfather, but they're both pretty much my uncles. Like how you call Professor Snape as Uncle Severus, or Sev, Draco." Harry mentioned.

"I understand, don't worry," Draco chuckled. "You really should consider coming to the ball, Harry…I know you don't want to, but hiding away isn't the way to spend your night either. Everyone's expecting that, come out…Show off. Show them that them being this way doesn't hurt you, or change who you are."

Harry sighed. "I'll consider it, but no promises…Again, if I decide no and I'm told I have no choice; they're gonna have to drag me out."

"I promise it'll be a good time. You got all of us to watch your back." Draco put his arm around Harry's shoulders.

Harry gave a weak smile. "Thanks."

. . .

It was now the 15th of December, the ball was coming soon and Harry was sticking to his decision of not going to attend. Yes, he knew his new friends would stand with him, but it didn't erase everything that had happened. Harry was still upset and depressed; he wasn't even bothering with trying to figure out the golden egg, which was supposed to have a clue to their next task. Harry didn't care; he still had the mindset that if he died, then he died.

Harry got the dirtiest looks now after that day at lunch where he sat with Slytherin and he still didn't care. It was kind of satisfying to see everyone look so shocked that he was sitting there and accepted. The time was currently 9:45 pm as Harry was leaving the place where used to study and work in peace, away from everyone. Harry made it to Gryffindor Tower in record time, only to be met by the members of his house all still awake and looking at him.

"Don't mind me." Harry remarked as he started walking towards the boy's dorms.

Seamus Finnegan, Dean Thomas, and Ron Weasley cut him off. "Going somewhere?"

"Yeah, to my dorm." Harry tried to get by them. "Would you move?"

"You're not going up there." Seamus said.

"You're a traitor." Ron scoffed.

"Last I checked, traitors were the ones who turned their backs on the people first." Harry informed.

"You joined the snakes!" Dean accused.

"I'm still a Gryffindor," Harry remarked.

"YOU CHOSE THEM OVER US!" Ron yelled.

"I didn't do anything to you, Ron. Nor you, Seamus, or Dean. To any of you! I didn't put my name in that stupid cup, I wanted no part of competing!" He informed.

"Prove it, leave the competition then." Seamus argued.

"I can't. The names that get entered are subject to automatically signing an unseen contract on their own magic to compete if chosen." Harry explained. "If I refuse to compete, I lose my magic." He told them. "I didn't want this, but I have no choice."

"Yeah, right. You just want more glory and fame…" Ron folded his arms.

"I never wanted to be famous. I don't want glory. I don't want attention…I don't want any of this. Me becoming the boy who lived wasn't even my doing; that was my mother's sacrifice that made Voldemort's curse rebound. I didn't do anything." Harry said. "Now, I'm done with this…Get out of the way so I can go to bed." Harry went to shove through them, and they pushed him back hard enough to make him knock into a couch-side table.

"You're not wanted or welcome here, Potter. You've decided who your real friends are, go to your slimy snakes." Ron told him.

"For slimy snakes, they're a hell of a lot more loyal than you lot. Sure, happy to leave…Move aside so I can get my stuff then." Harry glared.

"You're not going up there, you don't have the right." Seamus huffed.

"I have the right to my own belongings," Harry was ready to pull his wand from under his sleeve, but Ron and Seamus got theirs first.

"Stupefy!" Dean cast.

"Diffindo!" Ron glared. Harry felt himself get cut all over, barely able to protect himself from the full damage it could do.

"Everte Statum!" Seamus followed.

The three spells together were dangerous. The stunner made it so he could barely breathe, then the cutting spell, and the last one sent him flying backward into the wall. Harry hit hard, then fell to the floor breathing hard and wincing.

"Boys!" Hermione scolded. "We agreed to talk to him, not kick him out and attack!"

"Forget it, Hermione. That's not Harry anymore…Ours would never have given up and definitely not gone to the enemy." Ron remarked.

Harry forced himself to get up, staggering the entire way to his feet. Harry grabbed his glasses and saw the bent frame and cracks in the lens', he was sore and was sure to have bruising. There were some cuts on his face and he touched his lip and saw blood.

"You abandoned me first, all over something I didn't do. The Slytherins accepted me because they get it, what it's like to be judged just for what house they're in. I know when I'm not wanted, I grew up in a house where I was hated for just existing…I sat with them because they've supported me. A house not my own did what McGonagall said our houses should do. Be like family." Harry said.

"It's clear to me that I shouldn't have fought the sorting hat in first year, and let it put me in Slytherin." Eyes widened. "Yeah, that's where it wanted me and I argued it after having met Malfoy, who insulted you, Ron…I wanted to be with the friends I'd made who went to Gryffindor. That's how I got put here…But it's clear to me that I was wrong and the hat knew all along where I belonged." Harry turned and left the common room, not caring that it was now after curfew.

. . .

Harry went right to the hospital wing; he knew the attacks he took did some damage. One thing was for sure, he refused to stay in Gryffindor any longer. Harry walked through the door and didn't see Poppy Pomfrey around.

"Madam Pomfrey?" Harry called lightly.

The hospital matron came out of an office towards the back and rushed over. "Mr. Potter?" She asked, taking in his appearance. "What in Merlin's name has happened to you?!"

"My house happened…" Harry informed quietly, obviously hurt and upset.

Poppy led Harry to an open bed and had him sit as she gave him a smile. "Wait here while I get a few things." Harry nodded as he sat patiently while Poppy had disappeared momentarily. Poppy finally returned with a few potions and set them down on the table. "The headmaster and Professor McGonagall are on their way. Now, these should fix you right up…But I want the teachers to see the damage first. For now, here's a pain potion." Harry nodded as he accepted it from her and drank it down, ignoring the horrid taste. Harry sat on the bed, knees pulled to his chest and head down on his knee caps, just staring out rather blankly. "Can you tell me what happened?" Harry didn't reply as Poppy just looked at him sympathetically.

It was only minutes later when Minerva rushed in and Albus was right behind her. Trailing with Albus was Filius Flitwick, Pamona Sprout, and Severus Snape. Harry saw them, and didn't know why they'd all come but maybe they'd been in a staff meeting when Poppy called them.

"Oh, my goodness!" Minerva went to Harry's side first. "Potter? What happened?"

Harry refused to talk, his mind was going over the conversation. "Poppy?" Albus urged.

"He hasn't said anything since he arrived, Headmaster…" Poppy informed. "I asked what happened and all he said was my house happened." She repeated his words.

"People in his own house did this?" Pamona gasped.

"Potter, tell me what happened?" Minerva asked. Harry didn't talk.

"Harry, my boy…We need to know how this happened, and who in your house has attacked you…" Albus tried. Harry still didn't say anything.

"Maybe I should summon Sirius, or Remus. Perhaps both?" Minerva suggested.

"We could, but it still might not get him to talk." Filius reminded. "Harry's been very quiet since the announcement of him having to compete in the tournament."

"And this…" Pamona motioned to Harry's form on the bed. "It speaks volumes to how everything is affecting him. Now, being attacked by those in his own house?"

"I'll call Sirius and Remus," Albus sighed. "Poppy, may I use your fireplace?"

"Of course, Headmaster," Poppy nodded and led Albus to it.

Severus backed away from the group and left the room; he had his own idea on how to get Harry to talk. Minutes passed as finally Albus returned with a worried Sirius and Remus at his side.

"Pup…" Sirius said gently. "What's happened?"

"Harry, please? Tell us who hurt you?" Remus tried.

"I need to know who to punish for such acts against you…" Minerva attempted again.

For ten minutes, everyone tried to get Harry to talk about what went down and he didn't speak at all. Only putting his head down on his knee caps, hiding his face.

"It's close to Christmas…Maybe I should pull him from school for the rest of the month?" Sirius sighed.

"There's the ball next week," Albus reminded. "He's required to attend as a champion."

"Albus, look at my godson…Does he appear to be in any condition to attend some dance? More to the point, do you think he cares?" Sirius remarked.

"He's not talking, how are we supposed to hel-," Remus was cut off by Severus returning.

"Move," Severus ordered. "He's not going to talk to any of you because of your allowances in making him compete. The contract was understandable…But there were ways to void it provided a proper investigation into how his name even got in there. Now, move aside…" He got them out of the way. "Draco…" Severus stepped aside to let his godson by and get next to Harry. Also with him was Blaise, Pansy, Theodore, Gregory, and Vincent.

"Harry?" Draco said calmly, touching his friend's shoulder and Harry immediately jerked away as if the touch burned him. Draco frowned. "I'm not going to hurt you, Harry…It's Dray." Harry glanced up slightly to see Draco, and the others.

"It's okay, we're not going to hurt you," Pansy said in a light tone.

"The entire house is up in arms about this, Professor," Theodore told Severus.

"I imagine so. You've all come to love Potter as a member of your own house the last few weeks." Severus mentioned. "I'll ensure they don't do anything foolish, like go after Gryffindor in revenge."

"Harry," Blaise started. "Come on now, it's your friends…Your real ones."

"Tell us who hurt you?" Gregory asked.

"Tell us so we can hurt them…" Vincent added.

"Boys," Severus warned. "There will be no hurting each other. We'll take care of the attackers as soon as Mr. Potter reveals who they are."

"Not literally, Professor…" Blaise enlightened.

"Give me time with him," Draco ordered.

The friends stepped back and used their wands to draw the curtain closed.

Draco sat next to Harry quietly, putting an arm around his shoulders. "It's just us now, Harry…" Harry lost the grip around his legs as they dropped flat against the bed and he was hunched over. "It's alright, my friend…" Draco promised. Harry turned slightly and leaned into Draco's embrace, trying not to cry. "Let it out, you're safe now." Draco had used his wand to put up a silencing charm around them and Harry caved. The tears slipped and Harry cried against Draco's chest. "I'm here, Harry. I'm here for you."