Author Note 1 – I am sorry for the little delay between posting, I had planned to be constantly releasing stories on the weekly schedule. But there was a family emergency and had to go home for a couple weeks to help my parents and there was just a lot going on that needed to be done. However, I feel everything that could be done is done and I am back home, so everything is back on track for editing and posting. Will be releasing a couple more bonus stories or chapters as my way of thanking everyone who has been interested in my stories and those of you who reached out.


Anyone who is looking to provide support and get access to early chapters for my stories or see my original content, please visit Pa t-reon / FavoriteAuthor

On that note, a big thanks to my newest patrons – Stormfox2, Richard J., Aryan n., Shannon S., Bernadette R., and David! I do not know if I would be as motivated without the support.


Amused by the whole situation, Harry sank back into his bed and gazed up at the ceiling, pondering whether Ron would ultimately follow through with his plan to enter the tournament. He couldn't help but wonder how Ron would look sporting a beard if he did indeed decide to participate.

With a hearty chuckle at the thought, Harry rolled onto his side and soon drifted off to sleep, knowing that he would wake up to a day that was bound to end unpleasantly.


Despite feeling a bit anxious before falling asleep the previous night, Harry awoke the next morning feeling remarkably rejuvenated. As he emerged from his sleep, he indulged in a very pleasant stretch before directing looking over towards Ron's bed, intending to wake his friend before heading down for their breakfast. However, he froze abruptly as he noticed the absence of his friend and the bed appearing to still have been made from the prior night. With a knowing look at the empty bed, Harry couldn't help but let out a chuckle, imagining how Ron might currently be looking with a beard, while silently hoping Ron hadn't taken any unnecessary risks with his invisibility cloak.

After exchanging morning greetings with Neville and Dean, who were just starting to sluggishly stir in their beds, Harry departed from the dormitory. He descended the stairs and entered the common room, where a smile spread across his face at the sight of Hermione deeply engrossed in her Arithmancy textbook, as she meticulously scribbled notes onto a sheet of parchment, her nose almost touching the pages of the book.

Approaching Hermione's table with a quiet stride, Harry settled in beside her, inadvertently startling her with his presence as he sat down.

"Oh … good morning, Harry," Hermione greeted, a touch flustered. "I honestly didn't expect you up this early … I was just hoping to get a bit of work done."

Chuckling softly, Harry glanced at her, replying, "Good morning to you too, Hermione. I didn't realize we had anything pressing in Arithmancy," he quipped, gesturing toward the book she had been so engrossed in.

Hermione's gaze flickered down to the textbook and then back up at him, a slight flush creeping into her cheeks. "Oh, it's nothing for class. Just something separate I was attempting for Professor Vector," she explained, swiftly closing the book and clearing off her things from the top of the table. "Are you ready for breakfast already? Shall you fetch Ron and we can all head down together?"

Harry hesitated for a moment, his expression wavering with uncertainty. "Well … he wasn't exactly in the room this morning," he confessed, glancing at Hermione with a hint of apprehension.

Confusion furrowed Hermione's brow as she processed his response. "What do you mean he isn't in your room? Ron has never been an early riser in all the years we've been here …," she remarked, before trailing off, her confusion morphing swiftly into realization. Her features tightened with a sudden flash of anger. "Harry ... he couldn't have! He must know there's no way he could bypass that age line! How did he even think he could make it there after curfew …?"

As Hermione trailed off, her gaze fixed on Harry, who, in a moment of discomfort at her inspection, reached back to rub his neck in embarrassment.

After a brief pause, Hermione's anger reignited as she glared at Harry. "Harry Potter! He's your friend. You gave him the cloak, didn't you?" The accusation in her voice held a mix of disappointment and frustration, directed at Harry.

Harry gave a slight nod to Hermione, observing as her expression gradually shifted back to its usual demeanor. Her gaze shifted between Harry and the entrance to the common room, her frustration evident in her mutterings. "Ugh … that … that foolish boy. He ought to know better than to believe a fourth-year could outwit Dumbledore's age line or any enchantments guarding the goblet. Even with the help of his brothers."

Shaking her head in exasperation, Hermione redirected her attention to Harry, her tone tinged with concern. "But why didn't you try to stop him? He would have listened to you."

A hint of amusement flickered in Harry's eyes as he met Hermione's gaze. "Would he have listened, though? Ron is a good friend, but … well … when he sets his mind to something, he can be quite stubborn. Besides, some mistakes, I suppose, he needs to make on his own. And I highly doubt Dumbledore would have protected the goblet with anything dangerous. Knowing him, it might just be something embarrassing. I'm sure Ron is alright."

Hermione regarded Harry, the last remnants of her anger dissipating as she cast a fleeting glance over his shoulder, as if hoping to spot Ron descending the stairs behind him. Disappointment flashed across her face before she refocused on Harry. "Well, I just hope he's alright. If we don't have to wait for Ron, would you like to join me for breakfast?"

A warm smile spread across Harry's face. "There's nothing I'd enjoy more. Let's grab something to eat, and perhaps we can spend some time today watching as people put their names into the Goblet of Fire."

His response elicited a bright smile from Hermione. She hastily gathered her belongings, swiftly packing them into her bag before darting up to her room. Returning slightly breathless, she joined Harry, and together they strolled down to the Great Hall, engaged in conversation about their courses, a subject that Harry found much more agreeable than discussing the impending Triwizard Tournament and who the champions would be.

As Harry and Hermione descended the stairs and made their way toward the Great Hall, they encountered a group of Beauxbatons students lining up at the Goblet of Fire, taking turns entering their names. Among them, Harry spotted Fleur and offered a friendly smile and wave. Fleur, amidst a crowd of admiring boys, with vacant expressions on their faces, vying for her attention, looked up towards him just as Harry redirected his focus to Hermione, engaging once again in their previous conversation as they stepped into the bustling Great Hall.

Unbeknownst to Harry, as he entered the Hall, was that Fleur was still glancing in his direction at his retreating form, a fleeting look of surprise crossing her features before she resumed her task of attempting to enter her name into the Goblet of Fire.

Seated comfortably at a table, Harry and Hermione began serving themselves breakfast, relishing the peaceful ambiance of the mostly vacant Great Hall, a stark contrast to its usual lively atmosphere. With a quick survey of the room, Harry noticed that apart from a handful of Hufflepuff students, most of the Beauxbatons students were already settled at the Ravenclaw table. Although other than Luna he did not see any other Ravenclaw students seated among the Beauxbatons students at that early hour. And it appeared that there were only a couple of Slytherin students at their table, two early risers sitting separately rather than travelling and eating in their typical packs.

As Harry subtly shifted in his seat to catch a glimpse of the solitary Slytherins, intending to identify them, his attention was abruptly diverted by Hermione, who nearly choked on her glass of milk, interrupting his scrutiny of the Slytherin table.

Glancing over his shoulder in response to Hermione's sudden reaction, Harry pivoted just in time to witness Ron sliding onto the seat beside him, finally joining them at the breakfast table. The sight that greeted him was utterly unexpected … Ron was beardless. Harry was caught off guard, having assumed that the process of removing the magically induced facial hair, especially considering that Madame Pomfrey likely had more than a couple of patients based on the twins successful sale the previous night, would have taken longer.

Yet, before Harry could fully process Ron's arrival or his beardless appearance, Hermione reacted with a blend of concern and sternness. "Where have you been?" Her tone bore an unintended yet eerily accurate resemblance to Mrs. Weasley's inquiries, momentarily startling Ron, who glanced at Harry, who was attempting not to laugh remembering Mrs. Weasley's tone when she asked the same question the first time he arrived at The Burrows, for some semblance of support.

Harry, somewhat bemused by the situation, offered a nonchalant shrug, directing his attention to Ron. "This one's on you, mate," he remarked.

Ron, slightly taken aback, lowered his gaze to his plate, then lifted it to meet Hermione's expectant stare. "Well ... I suppose you've figured out where I disappeared to overnight," he began tentatively.

Hermione's nod was steeped in a visible wave of anger as she snapped at Ron, her frustration evident in her tone. "Ron, I can't understand why you attempted to enter the competition. Dumbledore explicitly warned about its dangers, even with the alterations to the rules. It's restricted to older students for a reason. Older students had died in the past. I can't believe you would …"

Her tirade was abruptly interrupted by Ron's quiet interjection, causing both Harry and Hermione to turn toward him, surprised by his unexpected admission.

"I didn't," Ron confessed, his voice subdued, yet resolute. Hermione's anger persisted as she questioned him further. "You didn't enter? Then where were you this morning? Harry mentioned you weren't in your bed, and I know you took his cloak."

Ron's gaze faltered, dropping momentarily to the floor before he lifted his eyes to meet Hermione's, a mixture of guilt and resolve in his expression. "Well, I'll admit I went down and planned to put my name in. With Harry's cloak, I made it all the way to the Goblet undetected, but ..." He trailed off, glancing toward Harry before continuing. "But as I standing there in the Entrance Hall, about to approach the Goblet and enter my name, I … I guess I froze and I remember what you had said."

Hermione's gaze bounced back and forth between Ron and Harry, her face reflecting an obvious question as she had not been privy to their earlier conversation. But Ron took it upon himself to continue, elaborating on the scenario, perhaps seeking to explain himself.

"I guess I've just always been striving to shake off the label of merely being the youngest Weasley boy," Ron began, his tone introspective. "Your words from last night got to me, Harry. I want to be recognized for something I actually did, to find my own place like all my brothers did. I just wanted to do something and have it define me."

Ron's voice carried a mix of vulnerability and determination. He continued to share the revelation that had struck him the previous night. "But as I stood there last night, facing the Goblet of Fire, it dawned on me that I shouldn't go through with it. Having a moment to think for myself, even I could admit that the challenge of the Triwizard Tournament is probably more than what I'm capable of dealing with … maybe you'd have a shot at it, Hermione, or even you, Harry. I guess I just realized that there must be other ways to carve out my identity beyond being just Charlie or Bill's youngest brother."

Ron released a heavy sigh, his gaze shifting between his two friends, the weight of his thoughts evident in the furrowed lines on his forehead. With a nonchalant shrug, he continued talking, "I spent most of the night doing bugger all, just thinking about it ... and I think … I think I am ok with it. I don't need to match up to my brothers, or to be like you, Harry. I just need to strive to be the best version of Ron Weasley."

Harry regarded his friend with genuine admiration, a glimmer of pride shining in his eyes. "That's fantastic, mate! It's truly great to hear."

Taking a moment, Harry turned his gaze toward Hermione, immediately recognizing the conflict written on her face, the battle between wanting to congratulate Ron for his personal growth and still grappling with her lingering frustration over his actions. Eventually, she let out a soft sigh, mustering a smile as she addressed Ron, "Harry's right, Ron. That's a great attitude and really something to be proud of."

Ron beamed contentedly as he glanced back and forth between his friends, a clear sense of happiness evident in his expression. With a relaxed sigh, he promptly began loading his plate with an impressive mound of food, displaying his usual eagerness to indulge in a hearty breakfast.

Amused by Ron's standard appetite, Harry chuckled before focusing his attention back to his friend. "I know it's been a few days, but how about we make this version of Ron Weasley a bit better at Quidditch after breakfast?"

Ron's smile widened, nodding enthusiastically as he threw himself into the impressively piled plate of food, clearly thrilled at the prospect of taking to the skies on a broom and eager to get underway.

As their breakfast progressed, conversation ebbed and flowed, meandering through trivial topics, talking about nothing of consequence, allowing them to relax and savor the breakfast fare. However, after a slight pause in the conversation, Ron suddenly paused mid-bite, erupting into laughter as he pivoted on the bench to face Harry and Hermione.

"It's a good thing I didn't attempt to use the twins' potion," Ron chuckled, catching Hermione's curious gaze, which was accompanied by a raised eyebrow. "Why?" she inquired.

Smiling, Ron continued his story, recounting the moment he stood in front of the Goblet of Fire, undecided about entering but having the opportunity to observe others' attempts. "I watched Seamus come in and try to enter his name, he was followed by the two Slytherins and several others who had been chatting with my brothers about their potion. Every single one of them tried but then failed to fool the age-line and enter their names."

Harry could feel his amusement bubbling up, sensing the direction of Ron's story. He observed Hermione's inquisitive gaze fixed on Ron as she inquired, "They tried to enter? What do you mean? What happened?"

A grin tugged at Harry's lips as Ron burst into laughter while explaining the aftermath of each failed attempt. He described how, almost immediately after each contestant crossed the age-line, a surge of magic hurled them out of the circle, promptly giving them a rapidly sprouting beard that bore a striking resemblance to Dumbledore's.

Harry couldn't help but wish he could record Hermione's shifting expressions. Her face cycled through stages of curiosity, shock, and eventually settled into a struggle to stifle her amusement, the effort to contain her laughter evident in her expression.

It was Ron's account of the consequences faced by those attempting to fool the age line, coupled with the mental image of the bustling Hospital Wing and Hermione's struggle, that finally broke through Harry's composure. He joined Ron in laughter, the sound of their shared amusement filling the air. Their laughter served to break the tension that had held Hermione, prompting a small, reluctant smile to form on her lips. Under her breath, but still audible to her friends, she muttered, "Well, serves them right. They should've known better than to try crossing the line."

As they wrapped up their breakfast, the trio exited the Great Hall, noticing a significant increase in the number of students filling the space compared to when they had initially sat down. Stepping into the Entrance Hall, Harry caught sight of Cedric stepping back from the Goblet of Fire, a group of his friends surrounding him, applauding and cheering. As Cedric pivoted to head towards the Great Hall for breakfast, Harry waved toward the Hufflepuff Prefect, "You entered,

The older student came to a stop beside Harry, nodding at the group of friends trailing a few paces behind him with a slight hint of guilt evident in his expression. "Yeah … my friends were pretty insistent on me entering. Not sure if I'll end up being chosen though. Hogwarts has plenty of really strong contenders," Cedric admitted modestly.

Harry looked up at him with genuine admiration, impressed with his humility. "Honestly, Cedric, I can't think of many better representatives for Hogwarts than you. If you do get selected, count on me to cheer you on."

Spotting Cho descending the staircase at the far end of the hall, Harry gestured over Cedric's shoulder, diverting the attention. "Looks like your breakfast date is here," he remarked, waving at the approaching Ravenclaw Seeker. Cedric's cheeks flushed slightly in response to Harry's playful comment, prompting a chuckle from his surrounding friends who, too, glanced around to notice Cho's approach. Before Cedric could respond, Harry swiftly added, "I won't keep you from your meal or your company. Off for some flying myself. Can't have Gryffindor losing to Hufflepuff again next year in Quidditch."

With those words, Harry left the group that was accumulating in front of the Great Hall, rejoining Ron and Hermione, who awaited him at the foot of the staircase. Together, they ascended the steps and set off in the direction of the Gryffindor common room. As they approached the portrait guarding the entrance, it swung open to reveal Angelina leading the way, radiating an air of confidence despite the less-than-subtle nervousness etched across her face. She was trailed by Alicia and Katie, the Gryffindor Chasers following her stride for stride.

Angelina strode past them, seemingly oblivious to their presence at the top of the staircase. However, as Alicia and Katie drew nearer, Harry gestured toward Angelina who was quickly descending the stairs, inquiring, "Is she heading off to enter?" Both Chasers nodded in confirmation.

"That's great," Harry said with a smile, and Ron leaned back towards the staircase, shouting a heartfelt, "Good luck, Angelina!" after the departing Gryffindor Chaser. Acknowledging the offered encouragement, Alicia and Katie nodded toward the trio before dashing down the stairs in an attempt to catch up with their friend who had already descended more than a floor.

After picking up their heavier robes, Harry and Ron exited the castle and made their way toward the Quidditch field. But not before they extended an invitation to Hermione to join them or even simply come and watch. However, Hermione had politely declined, letting them know she planned to catch up on homework, which Harry took to mean she planned to get even further ahead. She mentioned that while flying in the brisk autumn air might be enjoyable, watching alone from the stands while they flew around held less appeal.

Engaging in a couple of hours of general flying practice, Harry and Ron dived into a series of training routines that Harry remembered from those Wood had drilled Harry with during his tenure as the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. As they neared the end of their session, Harry watched a lone figure making its way toward the field, from the direction of the Great Lake. While Ron was focused on the maneuver he was trying to perfect and was oblivious of the approaching individual, the solitary arrival piqued Harry's curiosity, prompting him to glance in that direction.

Harry fixed his gaze on the approaching figure, instantly recognizing the telltale features of dark hair, a distinctive curved nose, and the somewhat awkward gait belonging unmistakably to Victor Krum. Glancing over, he noted that Ron still hadn't noticed the Bulgarian Seeker's arrival or his seating in the stands. Seizing the opportunity, Harry guided Ron through some of the more complex drills and maneuvers they had been practicing earlier, pleased to witness his friend execute them flawlessly.

After an additional fifteen minutes of flying, Harry decided they were finished, much to Ron's slight dismay. Descending to the ground in front of the stands where Krum had been observing, Harry signaled the end of their training session. As Ron landed beside him, he couldn't help but question Harry's choice of landing spot. "Why'd you land all the way over here? Our stuff's on the other side of the field."

Instead of vocalizing an immediate answer, Harry simply nodded toward Victor Krum, who had now left the stands and was approaching them. Ron's expression shifted swiftly from confusion to instant recognition, a dawning realization spreading across his face. Caught off guard by this revelation, he stumbled slightly upon landing, managing to regain his balance at the last moment without falling.

As Krum approached them, he greeted Harry with a nod, acknowledging, "Harry Potter, it's a pleasure to officially meet you." Turning to Ron, he awaited the redhead's introduction, prompting him for his name, which elicited a slightly nervous squeaky response from Ron.

The older boy tilted his head slightly, observing both Harry and Ron. "You both handle a broom quite well. I understand Harry's a Seeker. But what about you? Are you a Keeper?" he directed at Ron.

Ron shook his head with a tinge of disappointment apparent in his expression. Before Ron could respond, Harry interjected, providing an explanation. "Our team's previous Keeper completed his last year Hogwarts last year, and the position is currently vacant. I'm just helping my friend here practice so he can make the team next year."

Grateful for Harry's support, Ron beamed with appreciation before turning to Krum, nodding enthusiastically and managing to mutter a shy, "Yeah."

"Ah, yes, … I had heard about your school's Quidditch teams that compete throughout the year," Krum remarked, his tone tinged with a hint of regret. "It's a shame it was canceled to make way for the Triwizard Tournament. I don't see why they couldn't have both events simultaneously. I would have liked to watch your team in action. I bet it's quite skilled."

The disappointment at the cancellation of Quidditch seemed evident in Krum's tone, a sentiment that resonated with Harry and Ron. Krum then shifted his focus to Ron, "From what I've seen, and without even witnessing your competition for the position, I believe you stand a good chance to make your team ... I've flown with worse teammates."

Ron was taken aback by the statement, staring at Krum with a gaping mouth. However, before Ron could gather his thoughts, Krum had already redirected his attention back to Harry, leaving Ron momentarily speechless, attempting to process the unexpected compliment from the renowned Quidditch player.

"But as good as your friend is at flying, Harry," Krum began, focusing his attention on Harry, "You are something else. I saw you fly at the World Cup, and I must say, I was impressed. I've never witnessed anyone maneuver the way you did. I was participating in a pregame event with some teammates and some fans, when I decided to break away and sit alone in the stands to catch the races. Your performance at the end … it caught my attention ... I was truly impressed. If you have some spare time during the year, I'd love to fly alongside you."

Pausing for a moment, Krum's stoic expression softened, and a smile finally graced his features. "Perhaps I can learn a few things from you."

Glancing back toward the direction he had arrived from, Krum shook his head faintly before returning his gaze to Harry. "But I must leave now. My headmaster ... he seems to hold some dislike toward you for some reason, and it's probably best he doesn't find out we were talking. I'll see you later and perhaps we can talk more."

With those words, Krum turned on his heel and started striding away, leaving Harry and Ron standing there.

However, barely taking three steps away, Krum glanced back over his shoulder in Ron's direction. "You might not be as good as Harry, but you're welcome to join us for flying. I'm sure there's something you could gain from the experience," he offered before continuing his departure.

Harry chuckled softly to himself, observing Ron's reaction. If Ron had looked surprised before during their conversation with Krum, now he appeared as though he might faint.

Glancing back towards Krum, Harry noticed that the Bulgarian Seeker had swiftly reached the edge of the field and was making his way back toward the Durmstrang ship.

Realizing Ron's dazed state, Harry gently shook his friend, attempting to bring him back to reality. Together, they collected their belongings and started their walk toward Hogwarts. However, observing Ron's state, Harry couldn't help but laugh; it seemed as though Ron might accidentally walk into a ditch, as he stumbled over almost everything in his path. Muttering in a daze the entire way up the castle, Ron repeated in disbelief, "Krum invited me to fly with him ... he thinks I'm a decent flier ... he invited me to fly with him ..." Harry had to reassure Ron several times that the experience had indeed happened and help prevent Ron from hurting himself on the way back, as his friend was still awestruck and clearly overwhelmed by the unexpected interaction with Krum.

As the boys dropped off their belongings in their dormitory, they quickly made their way down to the Great Hall for lunch. Having arranged to meet Hermione there, intending to have lunch and then study and hang out together while spending the majority of the afternoon in the Entrance Hall, observing the students entering their names into the tournament.

Upon arriving and settling at their seats in the Great Hall, Harry and Ron were joined almost immediately by Ron's mischievous twin brothers, who took positions on either side of them.

"Well, hello there, Ronald," George greeted, a mischievous glint in his eye. "We must say, we're rather surprised to find you in one piece. We heard that Madame Pomfrey was not yet ready to start handing out the potion to remove ... shall we say, recent and allegedly impressive facial hair growth." His words were punctuated by a chuckle.

"We had heard that she hadn't yet released the first of the students who somehow ended up in the Hospital Wing sporting a beard they couldn't rid themselves of. Apparently, those poor souls thought they could outsmart Dumbledore's age line," Fred added, joining in the laughter.

George nodded, acknowledging his brother's statement, before turning his attention to Ron. "It's a shame we missed out on seeing you with that beard. We would've enjoyed the opportunity to capture a photograph of you. Naturally, there's absolutely no chance we'd ever use such a photograph for blackmail purposes or Merlin forbid … bring it out at your future wedding," he quipped with a playful grin.

Fred chimed in, offering a conciliatory gesture towards Ron, "But I suppose ... there's a slim chance we owe you an apology for the product not living up to its promise. In fact, we were considering a trip up to the Hospital Wing to take pictures of everyone sporting their beards. We were planning to let them know that we're committed to honoring our word since the potion didn't work, by offering credit on any of our current or future our products."

Ron glanced at his brothers, looking a touch sheepish as he mumbled his response, "I didn't actually end up using it."

Fred regarded Ron with surprise. "What do you mean? You were quite excited when you bought it. Your excitement was practically the reason we gave you the friends and family discount."

George chuckled in agreement. "Yeah … well, at least it saved you from the usual upcharge for being our brother," he teased, nudging Ron with a playful grin before looking back to his twin and shrugging his shoulder. Then he turned his attention back to Ron with a quizzical expression. "But I thought your mind was all set on entering? And didn't we overhear a rather upset Ms. Granger ranting about you this morning in the common room, Ronald?"

Ron shifted his gaze briefly toward Harry before returning it to his brothers. "Well, I was ... but ... when I reached there, I changed my mind," he admitted, his tone tinged with uncertainty.

Both Fred and George raised their eyebrows in surprise at Ron's revelation, exchanging a puzzled glance between themselves before turning their attention back to Ron.

Observing their muted reactions, Ron decided to elaborate on his sudden change of heart. "I just ... I realized there might be a better way to escape the shadow and stop being just the youngest Weasley boy. Taking that kind of risk to step out from under all of your shadows didn't seem worth it. Especially when hearing Hermione describe the daunting tasks from previous tournaments," he explained, his tone a mix of uncertainty and a tinge of resignation.

Expecting a response, Ron anxiously glanced between his brothers, though his expression betrayed a lack of optimism about their reaction. However, what followed took both him and Harry by surprise. Fred glanced at George and chuckled.

"Looks like someone will need to pay up," Fred teased, a grin spreading across his face, prompting a grumbling yet good-natured response from George, who fished out a galleon out of a pocket hidden within his robes and flipped it to his twin.

Ron's shock was palpable as he stared at his brother, a hint of hurt lacing his words. "You bet against me entering?" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with surprise and a touch of disappointment.

With a smile on his face, Fred looked back to Ron, not showing any embarrassment. "Technically … both of us doubted you'd enter. George thought something might intervene on your way down, preventing you from entering. As for me … I bet that you'd come to the conclusion that you didn't need to enter, that entering wasn't necessary, and you'd realize that all by yourself," he explained casually, dramatically inspecting the galleon before slipping it into his pocket with a theatrical flair.

After giving his twin a playful pat on the back, Fred refocused on Ron with a reassuring smile. "There's nothing wrong with your choice, Ron. Just a bit disappointed it took you this long to realize it. Haven't you learned anything from us? Just be your own person. Even Percy understands that."

George chimed in with a chuckle, adding a lighthearted jab, "It's only a shame that the person Percy decided to be is such a prat."

Fred burst into laughter, exchanging a knowing glance with his twin. "The biggest of prats … the prattiest of prats. But you know, underneath all that prattiness and his incredible boring demeanor, I have a sneaking suspicion that our influence might've rubbed off on him. There might just be a bit of a hidden prankster in there," he suggested with a grin, eyeing George before turning to face Ron and Harry.

His expression suddenly shifted back to George, eyebrows raised in surprise, a look of mock horror on his face. "What if Percy's actually been pulling a fast one on us this whole time? What if, underneath that pratty façade of his, he's less of a … well less of a Percy and more of a fun loving little rascal? And he has been fooling everyone this entire time?" With that he paused and waggled his eyebrows for effect..

Their laughter filled the air as they entertained the thought, enjoying the shared moment of amusement at Percy's expense. After the laughter subsided, the twins rose from their seats, patting Ron on the back before bidding their goodbyes to head out of the Great Hall, letting Harry and Ron know they were heading to the Hospital Wing.

Kind Regards,

FavoriteAuthor


JalPeregrine - Thanks for the feedback, I really enjoyed the whole cause and effect aspect of the story.

pasorider67 - I so enjoy the feedback so we are even, I am really glad you can see the story and are enjoying what is coming out

Vukk - I guess we will see what version of the cloak is in the story but I try to avoid OP characters or items. Haha but I would have enjoyed the Ron/Harry competing together but just not sure I could have found a way to have Ron as more deserving that cedric

zega606 - Really appreciate feedback like this! I guess we will find out what is coming up. Harry will definitely have different relationships this time around than his previous year.

BlindFaunusGirl - Thanks! That is a great question, it hasn't been touched on yet but he had been getting between 5-10 hours in the ROR a week so far of practice and then a couple hours of reading. Will touch base on what he is doing in the Room in an upcoming chapter

Guest - I would have really enjoyed writing that but was not able to find a way.

littleemberlou - another lovely review! I hope have shown that Ron has been growing. But thanks for the feedback

hunzbookwyrm - Thanks for the feedback!

alix33 - Really appreciate the help

Ariadne Venegas - Thanks so much! It was definitely a work in progress. Definitely some development happening. Also love the twins!

AQUA FIRE PHOENIX - Haha I guess Dumbledore really was not able to be outsmarted by the twins

Evergone the Great - Another winning review!

Lord Halcyon - Another great bit of feedback. Thanks!

jkarr - Haha I was hoping it wouldn't either. While maybe not always his head, I think in general Ron's heart was usually in the right place. But don't think the tournament would have gone well for Ron.

DJ Scales - No concerns over the Age line! All was well!


Disclaimer – It has come to my attention recently that I unfortunately do not own Harry Potter. Who knew.


Thanks to those of you out to those of you who enjoy my stories, I promise to keep updating the stories as long as you enjoy them, and a special thanks to those of you who have taken the time to leave feedback or reach out to me directly.


Author Note 2 – All feedback is welcome (hopefully constructive!) Looking forward to what you think!


Twitter: FavoriteAuthor_
Instagram: FavoriteAuthor_Fanfic