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Turning to Harry who looked at them questioningly he shook his head, "Nothing to concern yourself with O Champion of all Champions. Just a couple students dragging their feet to pay us for the bets they had made. But no worries, Harry, we can get that all sorted. See you later Harry."

With that they turned and headed towards the exit to the common room, humming a very off tune version of "The Trolls Be Coming."

Harry laughed, watching them go, before settling back down and picking up one of the magical magazines that one of the Gryffindors had left laying around the common room and proceeded to read the articles until he was joined by Hermione and Ron who came down at the same time and the three of them headed down to the Great Hall to enjoy their breakfast.


Harry was quite pleased that in fact the rest of the day seemed to go quite well for the most part, with the exception of the fact that about one out of every four students seemed to be unable to stop staring at Harry as he walked through the hallways between classes. That being said he was relieved that everyone in had classes seemed content to just ignore what had happened and they were trying to treat him the same way they always did.

That was of course until the Gryffindors were leaving History of Magic, a class which Harry had used to try and finish the assigned chapter from his Arithmancy class.

As the Gryffindors headed out of class they bumped into the Slytherins, who were waiting outside of the classroom, having that class next. In the case of Nott, he quite literally purposefully bumped into Harry causing him to drop his bag, a couple of ink bottles and a few sheets of parchment falling out in the process.

"Oh … clumsy little Potter …," Nott said while laughing as Crabbe and Goyle stood right behind him attempting to look intimidating. "I really have no idea how someone so pathetic managed to weasel their way into the tournament … How long did you have to spend crying in front of Dumbledore about how you felt left out and how you needed the attention before he caved and let you join the tournament." Nott sneered at Harry.

Before Harry could react, to his surprise, he saw Hermione taking a step forward her face crimson with anger, but before she could even say anything, Ron was quicker, stepping out from where he had been standing behind Harry as they exited the room.

"Oh … I'm sorry Nott, I thought it was only the two gargoyles behind you that couldn't process what was going on around them and needed someone to sit down explaining everything while speaking slowly and using small words. But if your head really is as dense as theirs, I guess it isn't really your fault that you can't understand the basic principles of magic. Just in case your family didn't speak slow enough for you when they tried to teach you stuff as a child, let me explain … an Unbreakable Oath is literally unbreakable … it is one of the forms of magic almost as powerful as Veritaserum. However, it is almost never used by anyone because unlike Veritaserum which makes you tell the truth, the Oath doesn't prevent you from lying but it carries out the penalties if you do lie … so as even you can see, Harry here is still alive and hasn't been kicked out because he lost his magic … or were you not able to realize that?"

Nott, whose face had been getting progressively redder as Ron had been talking, spat on the ground in front of him, "Shut your mouth Weasley! Your family …"

Seeing Ron's hand slip into his robe, Harry stepped between the two of them before Ron could cast a spell. Looking at the Slytherin boy right in the face he said, "How about you shove off Nott, Ron is twice the person you could ever hope to be. While I've never met your family …" Harry paused remembering his trip to the graveyard in Little Hangleton the first time he had been in his fourth year and corrected himself, "…well at least I've never met your mum, but I can only feel sorry that you've never had anyone like the Weasleys there to look after you … you might have even turned out to be a tolerable person."

Harry almost laughed seeing the look on shock on Nott's face before watching it turn a shade of purple that reminded him of his Uncle Vernon.

Apparently having decided he had lost the war with words Nott threw down his bag and started fumbling around in his robe for his wand as he was glaring at Harry and Ron. Harry had just started to reach into his robes for his own wand to make sure no one in the hallway ended up getting hurt by Nott when he saw Professor McGonagall turn the nearest corner and start approaching them. A sight which caused Harry to smile as he withdrew his wand hand from his robe, wandless.

Professor McGonagall reached their side just as Nott finished fumbling around with his robe and drew out his wand.

"Hello boys …" she said, eyeing the drawn wand and the angry face of Nott, which immediately lost its color seeing Professor McGonagall, as he hastily shoved his wand back into his robe. "… what exactly seems to be the problem?"

Harry paused for a second before smiling to Professor McGonagall as he looked between Nott and the transfiguration professor. "No problem at all ma'am. Nott here was just passing along his sympathies over me being entered into the tournament against my wishes. And then the conversation moved onto his regret over never having a family like the Weasleys. In fact I think he was just saying that he was so inspired by my bravery, uttering the Unbreakable Oath, in the Great Hall, that he was willing to try and be as brave and say the same thing about the Weasleys after uttering an Unbreakable Oath himself."

Professor McGonagall shock her head slightly as she looked from Harry towards Nott, "Is that a fact?" She asked in a tone that clearly indicated she didn't believe Harry.

Harry turned to look at Nott who was glaring at him, before looking back to Professor McGonagall and shaking his head. "I … believe … Potter misunderstood me."

Harry let out a small chuckle as he shrugged his shoulders, "Sorry about that Professor McGonagall, my mistake. I guess Nott isn't brave enough to admit it out loud." Harry turned to Nott and attempted to smile his most sincere smile. "Sorry about that, Nott."

Smiling to himself, Harry heard most of the corridor start laughing softly, surprised for a second when he realized that while the entirety of his Gryffindor classmates were laughing, they were joined by more than half of the assembled Slytherins still in the hallway.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Nott reaching into his robes again, only stopping when he saw Professor McGonagall staring at him with an intensity that Harry was only to used to her staring at him with, causing him to slowly remove his hand from his robe.

Seeing this, Professor McGonagall nodded, "Well … be that as it may, I suggest you all be on your way. Gryffindors, you have a free block, no need for you all to be standing around here … I know for a fact that several of you would benefit from time spent in the library. Slytherins, Mr. Nott included, I believe you had History of Magic next …"

Harry had turned to his friends, who he saw had already grabbed the stuff that had flown out of his bag and were putting everything back into it, as he heard Professor McGonagall's sentence die in her throat, along with the rest of the sound in the hallway, causing Harry to look up, freezing when he saw that Nott's hair had turned a vibrant shade of pink.

Professor McGonagall was staring at the Slytherin boy aghast, "Just what are you doing with your hair, Mr. Nott?"

Nott looked confused for a second before his eyes shot open and his hands flew to the top of his hair.

This time, Harry was joined by the entire hallway as they all broke into laughter, all of the Gryffindors along with all of the Slytherins.

Professor McGonagall looked between Nott who still hadn't managed to say anything and Harry who managed to stop laughing and shrugged his shoulder, "It wasn't me Professor, honestly. It looks like Nott made a bet on who the champions would be with the twins and he hasn't paid up yet … I think I heard that this would happen to anyone who didn't pay up and if they continued to not pay it would become permanent."

Professor McGonagall stared at Harry sternly for a second … although Harry saw what he thought might be the smallest evidence of a smile playing at the corner of her mouth, before she shook her head and looked back to the students in the hallway who were still staring at Nott, most of them still laughing.

"Slytherins, you may enter your class now. Mr. Nott, I suggest you head down to the hospital wing or settle your debt with the Weasley Twins. I'll provide you a note to excuse your class from this class, but I expect you to attend your afternoon Transfiguration Class … and when you do I'll expect you shall look a tad bit more professional."

Understanding he'd been dismissed Nott took off down the hallway, hands on his head trying to hide his new hair color which if anything seemed more vibrant.

Harry turned to take a step towards where Ron and Hermione were standing, noticing the tears of laughter on Ron's face but stopped when he felt Professor McGonagall gently place her hand on his shoulder, "Mr. Potter, I'd … appreciate a second of your time if you don't mind."

He looked up in surprise as he saw her look towards Ron and Hermione, who at that point were the only ones left in the immediate area, most of the students dispersing when Nott had run off.

"Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger, it'll only take a second, why don't you run ahead to the library and Mr. Potter can join you there."

Seeing the brief look of concern on their faces, Harry shook his head and shrugged his shoulders, motioning that he'd catch up to them in the library.

When they were out of earshot Professor McGonagall looked down at him, "Mr. Potter, I come with a message from Professor Dumbledore. He wants to talk to you after your lunch on Wednesday. He called an emergency meeting of the International Confederation of Wizards, as is his right. From what he mentioned … he is hoping to find a way to keep you from having to participate in the tournament."

Harry looked up in surprise, not having expected this, "Oh … wow, thanks Professor … you didn't have to come all the way yourself to tell me this."

He watched in surprise as Professor McGonagall looked at the ground nervously, almost embarrassed, shocked by the expression on her face having never seen anything but absolute confidence in her expression. "It wasn't just that, Mr. Potter, … I came here to apologize as well."

Harry looked at her stunned, "Apologize?"

She nodded, Yes, Mr. Potter, even your professors should be able to apologize when they make a mistake … I wanted to apologize for my initial reaction when hearing your name drawn from the Goblet of Fire … I felt shocked and disappointed that you would have done something so foolish despite the warnings and everything you have already gone through over the past couple years … but then you stood up and made the Oath … I felt horror and absolutely ashamed at my assumptions."

She paused and shook her head slowly, "I try to pride myself on not showing favoritism to any students but I can't believe I assumed that one of my students would have done something like that. And when I realized that you felt you needed to make the Oath just to get others to believe you … I'm sorry that you felt you had to resort to such drastic measures in order to be believed."

Harry opened his mouth to respond but Professor McGonagall firmly shook her head, "It was wrong, Mr. Potter, I just want you to know that should you ever need anything or want to hear you out with respect to anything, I want you to know that my door will always be open."

Looking up to Professor McGonagall Harry nodded to show his appreciation, "Oh … thanks Professor … it's okay though …"

Professor McGonagall shook her head firmly before looking Harry back in the eye, "It really wasn't, you should feel safe among your fellow students and especially among your professors, we have no right for you to feel anything less from us."

She slowly shook her head to herself as she looked down the hallway before looking back at Harry, the smile on her face surprising him.

"For what it's worth, and I want you to know that as staff I am strictly unable to help you in the tournament … but as your transfiguration professor and Head of House … you could always come to me with a specific question relating toy your course material or any bonus projects you want to undertake this year."

She tilted her head her smile disappearing as she became serious again, "But I want you to know that while I am … unable … to help you, and while I certainly would have feared for the safety for the Harry Potter who strode into my class for the last three years and not have been convinced as to the possibility of his success with any of the obstacles through anything except … well … sheer dumb luck … I wouldn't count out the Harry Potter who has showed up this year. One who is not only better prepared for apparently all his classes, but is also more willing to put in the work and apply himself."

Looking up and down the hallway before looking back to Harry, the littlest of a smile forming on her expression she shrugged her shoulders, "In fact if it not for the fact that it would be frowned upon, I'd even be willing to visit the twins and make a wager on your success … well that and the fact that I fear what they might do."

With that she smiled one last time before letting it melt away as she adopted her usual stern expression.

Turning away she started down the hallway, before turning back and looking over her shoulder, "By the way Mr. Potter, I hear Professor Dumbledore has taken quite the interest in Spicy Bubotubers."

- HP - HP - HP - HP - HP -

That evening as Harry was getting ray for bed, he heard a scratching on the windowpane, causing him to look up.

"Hedwig!" he exclaimed, jumping out of the bed and hurrying to the window to let her in, a little surprised she had returned already.

Dear Harry,

You truly have a remarkable animal, she found me just as I crossed back into the country. Well more specifically she found Padfoot.

There are a couple things I will try to do on my way up, but as long as all things go as they are, I should be in the area within a week … a week and a half at most and I will find somewhere to settle.

I imagine that the students will be doing their first trip to Hogsmeade in the middle of November, why don't we plan to meet up that weekend.

I'll find you there. And of course I'll write you again as soon as I find a place to stay … I seem to recall some places that will work from when Prongs, Moony, and I, had been exploring the area.

Affections,

Padfoot

Harry looked at the letter in his hand unable to contain his happiness and unwilling to stop the smile that formed at the thought of seeing Sirius alive and well in about two weeks.

Looking back up from the letter to Hedwig, who was currently cleaning herself, he reached over and scratched her under her wings, his smile growing even more at her soft hooting sounds of pleasure. Reaching over to his night table, he grabbed the small container of owl treats he kept for Hedwig, for just such an event, giving her a couple which she happily ate.

"Thanks girl. You've really outdone yourself … as always. Thanks for bringing this reply right to me. You might want to head off to the owlery for some sleep. I'll have a letter for you in the next couple days, I think. I'm going to have a chat with Professor Dumbledore about … some things, but I think I will have a letter to send to the goblins." Harry paused briefly smiling at the almost offended look Hedwig gave him, as if she was offended that she thought he didn't believe she could do it now. "It's not you Hedwig, it's me. I haven't written it yet and I need to get some information from Dumbledore first. And even though I bet you could make it to London and back without issue … you deserve the rest."

Hedwig seemed to cock her head in acknowledgement, before giving a small hoot and hoping out the window, gliding in the direction of the owlery.

Looking at the note still in his hand, Harry placed it on the ground before casting Incendio, watching until the letter completely burnt up. While he doubted that Rita Skeeter was here just yet, he had no desire to leave something like this lying around where she might just happen to … accidentally stumble across it.

The thought of Rita Skeeter brought a slightly sour taste to his mouth at the memory of everything she had written and the difficulties it had resulted in for him and his friends, Laying in bed Harry decided that dealing with Rita was something he'd have to think about and while he was hesitant to use any lesson he learned from Lockhart, that man had been very good at using media for his own good.

The door to the dormitory opened with a creak distracting Harry from his thoughts and he watched Ron 'try' to quietly walk to his bed.

Harry smiled, sitting up in his bed and coughing to alert his friend that he was awake.

"Oh hey, Harry. Wasn't sure if you were still awake."

"Well if I wasn't before, I sure was when what sounded like a herd of hippogriffs tried to stealthily enter the room and try to make its way over to your bed." Harry replied with a laugh.

"Oy, sod off. I tried." Ron said chuckling, before pausing and looking back towards Harry, "Everything okay though? You didn't really talk much about what Professor McGonagall wanted after you joined us in the library, or during supper, or while we were studying … you aren't in trouble or anything … are you?"

Harry chuckled as he shook his head, "Everything is alright, she just wanted to let me know Professor Dumbledore scheduled our chat for Wednesday, I guess he called an emergency session of the ICW, to see if there is anything they can do with respect to my situation."

Ron looked up in surprise as Harry shook his head, "I'm not going to hold my breath … afterall with my luck, I am almost positive I'm going to have to compete. But I'm not worried. With you and Hermione … and even the twins on my side, I feel good."

Harry watched as Ron smiled before he continued. "But that's not really important, don't have anything to do before the chat and there's not really anything I can do to prepare but I could probably use some help tomorrow after class to keep my mind off of it. And I know Hermione would probably suggest we throw ourselves into reading ahead for classes or starting a stimulating autobiography about the witch who discovered that vampires hate garlic."

Smiling at Ron's slight scoff and head shake, Harry continued. "But I was actually wondering if you'd rather head out flying?"

Even in the dim light of the room Harry saw Ron's face light up with excitement as his friend eagerly nodded.

"I mean we have all winter to study and read boring hisotries but we need to get our reps in on the broom before it gets too cold … especially if we want to get some flying in with Krum."

Harry laughed as Ron's voice squeaked a little when he replied, "That'd be wicked … Sorry, I mean of course Harry, whatever you think is best to keep your mind occupied."

Smiling to himself as he watched Ron jump out of bed and hurry out of the room to wash up, as if he was concerned that hanging around would allow Harry to change his mind and withdraw the offer he had made.

With a smile on his face, Harry laid back down and was asleep within a minute.

Kind Regards,

FavoriteAuthor


. fan forever - I am glad you agree with the reasoning. In general it seems it was well received and I like your username.

Robtar - Thats a totally fair point. I'll keep it in mind going forward!

cameron1812 - Thanks so much! It took a couple chapters but I think I found a good place for them.

Evergone the Great - Hmmm ... I know right ... wish I could be a bug on the wall for that convo ... haha

Ariadne Venegas - Hmmm I love hearing the guesses I guess we will know once HP and Draco have a chat! Hermione will definitely be helping Harry.

jkarr - Thanks so much!

hunzbookwyrm - Thanks for the review!


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


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