AN: I do not own Harry Potter.

To Be Hogwart's Chosen

Harry Potter ran down the train looking for Cedric. He had spent a happy several hours talking with his various friends, but that was now coming to an end. Each of his friends had plans for the summer, and this year he could actually contribute. He was really looking forwards to this summer. He knew that there was only about an hour or less of the train ride left and wanted to find the person that he was going to spend the summer with. He eventually found Cedric in the next to last car with other seventh year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws.

Harry knocked on the door, and when he had their attention, opened it.

"Hello."

"Hello, I was wondering if I could ask a question from Cedric?" asked Harry, feeling like he was intruding.

"No, go ahead."

"Thanks. Cedric, are we leaving for the muggle side of King's cross?"

"No, we are not. I'll stop by and collect you on my way out, okay?"

"Sure. Thanks."

Cedric grinned at him.

Harry, feeling as if he was being let go, smiled back, before saying goodbye to the cabin and leaving. Once the door was closed, he sighed.

"That's relieving."

"What's relieving? Bugging the real Hogwart's champion, were you?"

Harry looked up.

There, in front of him, was Draco Malfoy with his sneer, though without his goons for once.

"Hi, Draco. I had to check up with him about something, and the rest is none of your business."

"It makes sense that that you doublecheck with the real Hogwart's champion. You probably made it through the last task with his help."

"What does it matter to you anyway? Look, if you really want to happen when we disappeared from the last task, just ask your parents, okay? I mean, come on."

Draco looked taken aback.

"Ever since we met, we've been fighting. I'm getting tired of it. There are more things out there to fight for than your petty insults. Poor, rich, whatever, it's not worth fighting over. New blood, old blood, it doesn't matter as long as information is shared and we accept each other.

"What do you think I get those massive point additions at the end of the year for? It's not for getting even, it's for fighting for survival and winning. Life is more than stuff or what people say, get it? I admit that the first year the way that Dumbledore handled the points wasn't smart. I mean, it's shouting that you guys aren't worth the amount of effort you put into things. That was wrong. So, I didn't know that he was going to do that. I didn't expect him to do that, but I'm pretty sure that didn't help things. I just...

"I mean, just grow up!"

Harry stormed off to his cabin.

Draco stood there slack jawed, watching him storm off. He saw movement to his side and saw the former seventh years standing and watching him.

"Draco Malfoy," stated Cedric, "You listen to me. You are acting below your age. Harry and I have both seen and done things that you haven't needed to yet; he's had to grow up fast, even if he doesn't know things you know. Do not bug him on this until he agrees, got it? Or you know what will happen."

Draco's mouth closed with a snap.

Cedric closed the door to his carriage as he watched the blond haired boy walk down the corridor. Turning around he said, "Let's hope that Draco listens and that it's not too late to be heard by others."

This opened the floodgates of the cabin.

"What do you mean?"

"We and other seventh and sixth years are right in the age range to be recruited, by either side."

"Oh, yeah. Sixteen and seventeen."

"You really think they'll keep trying?"

"Quirrelmort, Slytherin's monster, escaped Death eaters, You-Know-Who in the graveyard, I mean, come on. Before Potter started school, when was the last time we had even heard of Death Eaters, except to gossip that so-and-so may be a Death Eater or is related to one? But now we have two times that You-Know-Who is interrupting our school in person so far? No, we'll hear more of You-Know-Who, and all sides will be recruiting."

"All sides?"

"Didn't you hear the Minister? Despite what two Tournament champions know, the Minister is refusing to believe that You-Know-Who came back for a bit. They'll most likely be going to be hampering anybody who tries to take You-Know-Who seriously."

"Do you think that Dumbledore might go against him?"

"Hmmm."

"I think at least he'll defend the school against an incoming army as best he can."

Cedric huffed and leaned back in his seat.

"Where do you think you'll be in a year?"

"I'm going into the trunk business. I've got a spot lined up."

"You've got your runes and arithmancy?"

"Yep. Where are you going?"

"Oh, my mom's got a shop that I'll be helping her with."

"I've decided to go apply at the Ministry. I mean, my dad already works there."

"I actually managed to get signed up as a beater for Ireland. Back up, but you've got to start some where."

"I've got an apprenticeship lined up. You, Cho?"

"I've got another year to finish up. I'm hoping to get into Quidditch as well."

"Do you think you'll still be playing seeker?"

Cho laughed, "I hope."

"Who knows, little Cho up in the sky in a Cannon's jersey. It's an idea."

Cho blew her cheeks out before pushing the smirking brother who was leaving school before she was.

"Hey, we are on a train..."

"Yeah, guys, keep your hands to yourself."

That was how the time passed until Cedric found himself outside the cabin with Potter's group, knocking on the door.

Harry jumped up and opened the door.

"Hey, you ready for this?"

"So how're we getting there?"

"By Floo."

"Hey mate," said Ron, "you should practice saying your destination clearly so you don't go off course next time or something."

"He's done that?" asked Cedric.

"We found him again," assured Ron.

Cedric shook his head.

"I mean, where did he end up?"

"I ended up in Knockturne Alley," Harry confessed.

"Not the best place to go when you're by yourself for the first time."

"No."

Harry gave himself a quick shake.

Cedric braced himself as the train suddenly started to slow down. He held on as the train stopped.

"Well, I guess it's our stop."

A bunch of trunks were pulled down from overhead.

"Cedric, do you have your stuff?"

"Oh, yeah, it's already in my pocket. Are you ready to go?"

Harry picked up his trunk, and said, "Yes."

Cedric nodded at him, and said, "Follow me."

.

It was a different experience for Harry, leaving the train station via the magical side as they did. He was in awe at not having to leave the station to the muggle side, not having to be picked up by his muggle relatives, not having to fear getting starved or locked up or worse... He was afraid that because of what he volunteered to do that they would treat him as badly as the Dursleys or worse. He tried not to show it, but he felt that the tension he was feeling had to be showing somehow.

Cedric Diggory was keeping a close eye on Harry Potter. He had flooed with Harry this time to keep the younger boy from getting lost, so he could feel the tension in the boy's body. Once on the other side, he let the boy step away, had seen the excitement, but also noticed that the boy flinched when he touched him without warning. As Harry was shown around, he noticed something. It was not as bad when he faced the boy and and Harry could see that it wasn't going to be a hit. Friendly behaviour generally was slower than aggressive behaviour, and he guessed that was how Harry judged when he needed to dodge or be defensive. Men were worse to Harry, as Harry had flinched when his father had tapped him on the shoulder, but his mother was able to put her hand on his shoulder with less reaction. Harry's happiness was still apparent, as his smile was not fake, but was starting to relax slightly.

He asked if he could show the younger boy to his room, which was agreed. Once there, Cedric stayed near the dresser, while Harry walked around the guest room.

"It's fine, Harry."

"What?"

"It'll be fine. I've noticed you're tense, but stepping away from what you've known all your life is going to be hard, even if it is for the better."

"I'm sorry. I'll try to be better."

"I am sure you will. Yes, we'll get you to help with the chores, but we'll feed you, give you a room to sleep in, and my parents, while they don't know you yet, will not abuse you."

Harry took a breath, and looked at Cedric.

"Thank you, for everything so far. What does it mean, when you are chosen to represent Hogwarts?"

"It means that out of everyone that put their name in or had their name put in, they represent what Hogwarts stands for as a whole. That means both the stated values and the values of all the students."

"What does that mean?"

"Okay, so you know that my father is influential, even when we're not really that rich, so some of the things that the other pure bloods value, I also value. I guess you could say that I am a traditionalist. However, I am also very accepting to new ways of doing things and ideas that muggle born wizards and witches bring into our world, just because of the cultural differences between our worlds. Yes, there is a culture here, and the fact that many of the more liberal minded are trying to erase that is my understanding of why many of the pure bloods just don't want to allow muggle born students here in the first place. Therefore, I can represent both mind sets."

"How does that work with magic? From what I've seen, most people think that Dark is bad, but not everybody can be Light. I guess, remember how people were after me in second year because I can talk to snakes?"

"Promise not to run away? If you want to ban me from your bedroom afterwards you can do so, but please hear me out."

"I can promise not to run away or push you out until you talk."

"Magic can be categorized, yes, but a lot of the stigma that is going on is being used by hypocritical people. I mean, even though they say that they despise Dark magic, they still use it on a semi-regular basis."

"What? What do you mean?"

"I mean that magic should be split into different categories. All magic you have learned so far requires mental thought, yes? However, that is not true of all magic. Rune magic does not require you to imagine it happening and force the magic to do so. I learned magic separated into different categories. Will, Body, and Soul. Stuff that is typically degraded as Dark magic is Soul and the ickier parts of Body and Will magic. Will magic is what is typically seen as light, the stuff we learn in school. Body magic is mostly seen as dark, as the things that our body uses to move the magic, blood and voices, though unblooded runes is seen as a grey area. These things will make the magic still act even though we are no longer around to force the magic into shape and can be triggered without one being there. It is the reason that just pushing some of your magic into a rune to work doesn't count under the Trace and can be done by some higher lever squibs. Soul magic is all considered Dark magic, with one exception - the Patronus charm. However, it is as Dark as the rest of it.

"Soul magic requires complete emotional focus in casting. The Patronus is seen as Light because it requires good feelings and memories and a desire for them to protect you. However, the Cruciatus requires the same: emotional focus of the pain and a desire to share it, but it is called an unforgivable. Why that is unforgivable when casting diffindo multiple times has a worse result I don't exactly know.

"The popular spells don't require that dedicated emotional focus and honesty with yourself.

"I guess this is enough to think on?"

Harry, by the end of this, was looking uneasy with how his world had started to tip. He did answer, "Sure."

"I'll leave you to think some, then."

"Thanks."

.