After being told to leave from the Headmaster's office Harry and Fleur were on their way to the entrance lobby walking he said "Fleur, thank you for standing up for me and showing me how to prove my innocence in front of everyone" Fleur shook her head "Non, you don't need to zank me I only said ze truth" she paused asking " 'Arry are you scared about zis tournament?"
Shaking his head with a smile Harry said "No, I am more afraid about losing my friends cause if they don't believe me" as his smile vanished. Seeing him like that broke her heart she cupped his face his eyes were teary "Look at me, if zey do not believe you zey are not your friends and even if everyone leaves you I weel not" beaming at her he said "Thank you for being there for me and with me" she didn't reply verbal but gave a smile with a nod.
"Fleur I don't know what will happen in this Tournament but I want to survive and I also want you to survive cause I don't want to lose my" he paused for a second "Friend," he said looking in brilliant pools of blue of her eyes.
Looking at him amusingly she asked "So I am just a friend huh?" he blushed but didn't answer and she chuckled he loved teasing him it was becoming her favorite activity
"Well, we will get zrough it just like your God-fazzer said" giving him a reassuring smile.
"Ya we.. Wait! You know Sirius?" he asked looking bewildered at her to which she only gave a nod. "How?"
Fleur chuckled looking at his shocked expression "When I woke up in ze 'ospital wing after ze night of cup 'e was zere when I told what 'appened zat night wiz 'Eadmaster who introduced me to 'im"
Harry gave an understanding nod as they reached the entrance lobby.
He gave an apologetic smile before saying "I would have dropped you to the carriage but I have to go tho common room, I am sorry"
Fleur shook her head knowing what he was about to face next "you don't need to drop me 'Arry I will go myself, you need to face your friends, Bon Nuit 'Arry " wished hugging him. Stiffening for less than a second he wrapped his arms around her trying to return the wish in the same language "Bon Nuit Fleur" and butchering it in process with his English accent which made the French woman chuckle internally.
It was after a minute they broke the hug after which she exited through the main gate stopping and turning back to wave back at him before making her way to Beauxbatons carriage.
He turned bracing himself and making his way towards the Gryffindor common room. Stopping in front of the portrait taking a deep breath saying the password and entering.
xx Grimmauld Place xx
As green fire flared in the fireplace as Sirius Black stepped out of it. As he did he turned around without wasting a second, grabbing some floo powder he threw it in the fireplace saying "Tonks Residence"
green fire flared up once again as he called "Andi are you there?" a minute later a voice called from Otherside which was Andi's asking "Siri, what happened"
Sirius sighed replying "There is something we need to talk about, can you come here at the earliest you can? bring Nymphadora along too" Andi answered "yeah she is in the shower I will get her. We will be there soon keep floo open" and the connection was terminated.
About after 15 minutes both Andromeda and Nymphadora came out of the fireplace. Andi in worry asked Sirius "what is it, Siri?"
Sirius sighed saying "Settle down both of you" gesturing at the seats of the lounge area. As both women settled down, he started "It's about Harry" he paused before continuing "He has been chosen as Champion of Hogwarts in Tri-Wizard tournament"
Both witches stared at him like he grew a second before yelling "WHAT?!"
Nymphadora asked enraged "How the hell did that happen?! The competition is exclusively for of-age wizards and that is the rule of ministry. That means to compete he needs to be of age which he is not, HE IS ONLY FOURTEEN!"
Andromeda turned to her angry metamorphegus of a daughter who had the fiercest red hair she ever saw at that moment, placing a calming hand on her shoulder "Calm down dear let him finish first" calming her down. She turned to Sirius nodding for him to continue, so he did "He didn't enter his name but someone did and they want him to die by the end of this tournament"
Nymphadora gave a mock surprised expression before saying "Oh! I didn't figure that out thanks cousin" sarcastically
Sirius smiled at her replying in equal sarcasm "Aww! My pleasure cousin" before turning serious again "Now that its clear I think we have to start his training a little early than I originally planned which was supposed to be in Summer"
Nymphadora smirked saying "Well I can help you with that and besides he already asked me to train him"
This confused Sirius as he cocked his head asking "why did he ask you to train him?"
Nymphadora shrugged "I don't know but I will ask him when I see him tomorrow" This increased Sirius's confusion which showed on his face, seeing this she answered "I am heading there with Shack for the security of the tournament so I will be at Hogwarts for the whole duration of the tournament. I will train him to survive this tournament which will allow me to spend some time knowing him better" grinning madly at the thought.
Sirius sighed in relief saying "Thank Merlin! For now, it would be enough it also has added benefit of you both getting to know each other also Fleur as she is going to be part of your family"
Andi nodded "Yeah that's an added benefit. I think he needs to be trained in Occulumency too can but that can wait till summer"
Both Sirius and Nymphadora nodded as the latter stood up saying " I should leave I have to wake up early to meet my intended" smiling as she left the same way she came.
Sirius looked grim as he mused "Well this is somewhat good at least it gives him a fighting chance to my godson who is forced to enter a death tournament" he looked up at his cousin with a mischievous smiled on his face "I think it's time to bring our sister home Andi, Wizengamot session is next week in which I will demand her trail. I will meet Madam Bones before and set up for her to be transferred into ministry holding cell so there will be no excuse for them to give a later date"
Andi was impressed by the cunning of her Gryffindor cousin "Well looks like you are embracing your Slytherin side huh?" he smirked nodding "Well I am best of both what can I say, I am an enigma!"
Andi rolled her eyes standing up "Well see you later Siri when you come out your dream of being an enigma" flooing back home
xx Back at Hogwarts xx
The scene Harry saw was not something he expected.
The common room was decorated, loud music was playing on the radio to which some of the people who trusted him were dancing. He spotted a huge golden glittering sign floating over the fireplace that read 'OUR CHAMPION HARRY POTTER!'
Though the number of people celebrating him being forced in the tournament was small as the majority of the house believed he cheated he was happy.
Dancing in front of Fireplace were Hermione, Neville, Twins, Katie Bell, Alicia Spinnet & Angelina Johnson, and other house members were glaring at them.
Among those was Ron who noticed him "Hey see who it is our cheating champion Harry Potter!"
The sheer venom in his best mate's voice took him by surprise. Did he expect him to throw his regular jealous fit? Yes, but not this never this. Music was turned down as everyone turned to eye him.
Twins came in front of Harry saying "Oh Great One! teaches how to prank! We seek your wisdom! Oh Great One!" they said bowing in front of him on their knees this making everyone chuckle a little
Ron stood up saying "yes please tell how you cheated to get attention all to yourself?" sarcastically but venom in his voice was ever-present. The light atmosphere created by Twins faded as the room fell silent. Harry sighed saying "Guys I did not put my name in the goblet" he surveyed the room for reactions but got nothing but denial to believe apart from the people who were partying as they gave nods implying they believe him.
But Ron was not taking any of it as he scoffed before snapping back "Of course you lie why wouldn't you cause you don't want anyone to get the spotlight as you are an attention-seeking brat just like Snape says!"
Hermione had had enough of her brother being patronized for something he didn't do, that too by the boy whom they thought of as friend once. She stepped in front of Ron and slapped him so hard that he lost his balance, yelling " RONALD BILLIUS WEASLEY! I can understand everyone else to will think like that but you of all people know what he has been through! what three of us have been through! How can you say that about him knowing everything you do?!"
Ron now enraged yelled "YOU MUDBLOOD! YOU DARE TO SLAP ME! YOU WHORE HE IS NOTHING BUT A ATTENTION WHORE AND YOU ARE HIS CUMDUMP!"
The room once again fell in silence, suddenly the temperature of the room fell and magic started cracking in the air. Out all standing in the room, only Twins & Hermione knew what was happening at that moment. Hermione was frozen as she couldn't believe what she heard. Twins looked at Harry who was furious and walking towards the spot where Hermione was standing.
He stepped in front of Hermione hiding her behind him with his arm as he faced Ron who was shaken to his core as he felt Air pressure pushing him down and choking him simultaneously, he was barely standing.
Harry looking in youngest Weasley brother's eyes saying in a low and dangerous tone "Say whatever you want to me but if you or anyone else said one word about those I care about there will be a hell to pay. Consider our friendship over Weasley and from here on never talk to me or Mione if you know what is good for you!" in cold fury. Ron could do nothing but gulp nodding.
Harry turned to his real best friend and tense air was gone in an instance. " 'Mione will you be okay?" it was a rhetorical question as he could see as she was shocked and had teary eyes. She gave him a nod with a weak smile, he knew she won't be able to sleep this night just like. He gave her a small smile before looking at his housemates. Turning to those who were his real friends saying "Thank you guys for Believing in me you can continue the party I have had a long day I am going to turn in for tonight" with that he went up the dorm stairs and sleeping the moment he laid on his bed.
The next morning after his workout Harry was sitting with Hermione who had tear trails on her cheeks looking tired, Neville and his Quidditch team far from Ron who was near the Head table with Seamus and Dean. It was news of the day that Golden Trio is broken, as they were in the middle of the silent breakfast his eyes continuously wandering to find Fleur. That's when he saw her walking in the hall with someone behind her who he was not expecting to see, Dora!
Fleur came sitting beside him greeting "Bonjour 'Arry, 'Ermione" turning to Harry holding our a parcel for him "Tonks told moi to give you zis" passing the package which had a note stuck on it
'Sorry Harr-bear couldn't find your mum's recipe but I promised so I will find it and make them for you. For now, these are store-bought, Oh and meet me at Black Lake after Breakfast'
Harry gave a small smile saying "Thanks Fleur after we are done let's go for walk around Black lake!" Fleur gave him a small nod as she observed the sad look on Harry's face and Hermione's face which was worst than Harry's. Also, the absence of their third friend was an indication that last night was worse than she thought it would be. Concerned looking at all this she couldn't help herself from asking " 'Arry what 'appened last night?"
The question caught Harry off-guard, he was able to mask his emotions from everyone yet somehow Fleur always got through his mask. With a sad smile, he answered "I was wrong in my choice of friend and I realized that last night I will tell you on the walk"
During their walk to Black Harry told Fleur about events of last night. But before she could comment on that they reached the Black lake and spotted Dora who was waiting for them.
Getting closer to her they were noticed by Pink haired Auror who greeted them smiling "Wotcher Harry-bear, Fleur"
Harry in confusion asked, "Okay, how do both of you know each other?"
Dora chuckled answering "Well Harry-bear when you were taking your beauty sleep for 3 weeks I was assigned as your bodyguard and Fleur was there all that time by your side until she got the letter to go back for her school. We became good friends as we waited for you to wake up"
Harry looked at Fleur in asking "You were there all that time beside me?!" in a mixture of shock and glee.
Fleur shot a glare at Tonks who simply smirked before blushing and answering "Oui, I wanted to talk to you before I had to leave I didn't know I was coming back and I was scared I will not meet you again so I stayed as long as eet was possible"
Harry didn't know what to say so he turned to Dora "So I suppose you are on an assignment here?" Dora nodded saying "Yep, I am here to watch over the security of the tournament and also to train you as I can't let my favorite person die can I?" Harry forgot all the gloominess he had from skirmish from last night hearing this news
He was overjoyed hearing this answering with a smile "Well you know I too don't like the Idea of dying any time soon" Fleur was excited at the aspect of training with her friends still in with a slight nervousness due to her past experiences with a female friend she felt a need to ask permission to join their training, so she did "Can I join you two, I can teach 'im something too"
Dora flashed a coy smile at her before saying "Three heads are better than two" she turned to Harry asking "So what are you doing in physical training you wrote to me about?"
Harry shrugged dragging his hand through his hair "Nothing much just doing some rounds around the lake and some free body exercises nothing special" Dora gave him an impressed look before praising him "Not bad Harry-Bear" giving him a hungry look checking him out admiring slightly muscled form result of his exercise. Shaking her out of her fantasies of things she wanted to do with him she continued with a little pink blush on her cheeks saying "We will check results tomorrow morning you" clapping her hands and rubbing her hands excitedly "I will meet both of you here at 6 sounds good?" receiving nods from both teens.
Dora beamed asking "Great! now any idea on the first task?"
Harry sighed shaking his head "No but I am going to the library to see what kind of tasks were there in the past then at least we can see what we might be up against"
Fleur gave him a suspicious look asking "Why do I zink that this was 'Ermione's idea?" Once again Harry was surprised how she knew half asking "how di…" seeing her smile he sighed in defeat finally admitting the truth "Yes okay, It's her idea but I never said it was mine anyway" shrugging.
Fleur smiled as her suspicion was correct saying taking hold of her hand "I will come wiz you to research as Tonks just said 3 'eads are better zan two"
Dora chuckled seeing this interaction before saying "Okay, this is where I take my leave as I have a lot of work to do. Harry- Bear keep out of trouble will ya?" looking deep in Harry's emerald pool of eyes and concern in her voice showing clearly as she stroked her hand through his long messy black hairs.
Fleur assured young Auror with "I will see zat he doesn't get in any trouble"
Harry pouted saying "Hey! I don't go looking for trouble, it always finds me!" making both witches laugh at his comment. Dora smiled bidding them farewell saying "Okay Harr-bear take care, you too Fleur" as she turned walking in the direction of Hogsmeade Village.
Harry turned to Fleur asking "so to Library then?" offering her his elbow which she looped her arm with a nod. Walking back to the castle and then to the library.
Reaching the library they found Hermione sitting in between stacks of books lost in her world as it was her coping mechanism. Harry sitting in the chair across from his best friend asking concerned for her "'Mione how long have you been here?"
His question caused the bushy-haired girl to break away from her stupor as she smiled saying "Oh! Harry Fleur I didn't see you coming, I am here since after the breakfast" she continued "I have read all the rules of the tournament and erm.." she paused before continuing sheepishly "..you can't have any help from school faculty that means you are on your own and I can't help but think this is all so unfair you didn't put your name in the tournament and now you can't get help from professors to train!" huffing in irritation.
Harry held his hand up in a calming manner saying "Calm down 'Mione, Calm Down! It's okay I am going to train with a friend of mine she is an Auror" Hermione looked at him in surprise before sighing in relief that he was not going in the death tournament completely unprepared "Okay introduce me to her later, for now, let's see what we can find about the first task"
With that on three of them dived headfirst into the books scraping them for every possible information they can find.
It felt like an eternity before all of them were both satisfied and terrified from what they found in the texts and tomes they read especially on called 'Tri-Wizard: A History Written In Blood'
Harry rubbed a bridge between his eyes saying "Well I think it's official, Fate has it out for me. I mean how am I suppose to battle these XXXXX & XXXX class beasts?" Fleur shot him a glare making him rephrase his sentence with an apologetic smile saying "oh sorry I meant 'we'" his response made her nod with a stern expression.
Hermione chuckled commenting "Fleur you already got him whipped" Fleur smirked retorting "I can say zat about you also" Hermione gave a small nod getting saying "Anyway it seems like you are mostly going to face a Dragon, Manticore, or Chimera. I don't think they will bring a Nundu to fight anyone cause even no single wizard can defeat it. Though I did read about Newt Scamander who not only defeat but also tamed a Nundu there are still some speculations about the authenticity of that event. Also in all the first tasks of the past, there was always something protected by beast and champion that means both of you have to retrieve it"
Harry snorted musing "ya like that is going to be simple"
Fleur nodded grimly in agreement "Oui, I agree but we should come up with a plan to face any zree of zose, I zink Manticore would be 'ard to face 'as it 'as 'uman level intellect it will be 'ard fight, for Dragon I can use sleeping charm on it, I 'ope I don't face Chimera" Harry gave her same look she gave him a minute ago making her rephrase "O, I mean I 'ope we don't face ze Chimera" making Harry smile smugly as he just turned the table around.
"Ya, me too but it is just as in case I think it's better to avoid it and go for the object it is guarding in which speed would be essential" he added before pausing and turning to Hermione asking " 'Mione what do rules say about us using supports items?"
Hermione turned some pages into the huge tome titled 'Rules of Tri-Wizard Tournament' taking a moment she read from the book "It says Champions that is both of you can only have one item on you and that also includes your wand, it also says later in the arena you can summon any item you need"
Hearing this he grinned from ear to ear saying "Then I have a way to beat any of them, One word: Firebolt" this made Hermione smile as she was impressed by his idea to counter the speed beasts thought it was not full proof but a nice idea none the less. But the idea was quickly shot down by Fleur saying "You can't use zat cause if zey are using zis beasts zey will certainly set wards up for the safety of audience and judges"
Harry's face fell as he realized she was right and throwing his hands up he said in irritation "See as I told you, Fate has it out for me" he sighed before saying in a determined tone saying "Lets train as much as we can which will be the somewhat limited cause of classes but let's make most of what we can"
Hermione and Fleur exchanged looks before bursting out in a fit of laughter which earned them a warning from Madam Prince. Fleur wiped a tear-off from her eyes and informing him " 'Arry as a champion you are allowed to skip ze, classes, only for training"
Harry gaped at new information "Hey! No fair I didn't know that, at least let a guy know what he is made fun of!"
It was time for lunch as they finished and they headed towards the Great hall to eat some lunch after tiring themselves in research of hours.