On Saturday, March 5, 1995, Harry, Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur all went into Hogsmeade together.
Harry was carrying the Marauder's Map and said, "Let's go to The Three Broomsticks first. In that way we can share some drinks first while having some time to sit down and chat. "
"Good idea, Harry," cooed Cedric.
"A nice chat between the four of us would be a nice way to begin the Hogsmeade trip," agreed Viktor.
"That's the perfect way to begin," finished Fleur.
Harry led them to The Three Broomsticks.
As they approached the door, Fleur said politely, "I'll get the door."
Next nanosecond, Fleur walked up to the door and pulled it open, holding it open for Harry, Cedric, and Viktor before entering last herself.
"I'll take care of any doors today," promised Fleur as she shut the door behind her.
"Thank you, Fleur," chorused Harry, Cedric, and Viktor.
Harry, Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur found a table that had room for four people and Harry piped up, "I'll take care of paying for our drinks here."
The words were barely out of Harry's mouth when a waitress came up to serve them.
"Four butterbeers please," said Harry clearly, "And I'm paying for everyone in this contingent."
"That is very kind of you," replied the waitress, "I'll go fill your order. It shouldn't take too long. We haven't hit our busy period quite yet."
The waitress shuffled away and returned a few minutes and a few nanoseconds later with four butterbeers, placing one each beside Harry, Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur. Harry paid the waitress for all four of their butterbeers and she shuffled off to serve her next customer(s).
"Thank you for paying for us Harry," said Cedric gratefully as Viktor and Fleur nodded, "We really do appreciate your generosity."
"It isn't just paying for us here either," added Fleur, "Harry, and you too Cedric as well, you two both need to be acknowledged for forgoing an opportunity to come into Hogsmeade with your friends to provide me and Viktor with company and companionship today. I came into Hogsmeade alone in November and it was honestly kind of depressing. Having company will make this visit far more enjoyable than the last."
"I echo everything that was just said about Harry's generosity in paying for us all and both Harry's and Cedric's compassion for us in making sure we had company on this visit, which is my first trip into Hogsmeade," said Viktor clearly.
Harry, Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur each took a sip of their butterbeers and then Fleur asked Viktor, "Why didn't you come into Hogsmeade in November?"
"Because," replied Viktor bitterly, "Karkaroff refused to let me go, even though I made it clear to him that I wanted to go."
"Let me guess," clued in Cedric at once, "Karkaroff insisted that you use that time to practice magic for the First Task."
"Right in one," rued Viktor, "I mean, it's not as though taking one day to have some fun would have hurt my performance."
Harry, Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur all went for a few more sips of butterbeer as unpleasant thoughts about Karkaroff filled their minds.
"Oh," realized Harry suddenly, "Viktor, am I right in thinking that Karkaroff did not include any of your friends amongst the students he brought here?"
"You are," confirmed Viktor coldly, "And there's no doubt in my mind that he made that decision on purpose. He wanted me to be alone and isolated so that I would focus all my attention on the Triwizard Tournament and bring glory back to Durmstrang by winning the Triwizard Cup. He never gave a shit about me as a person. He only ever saw me as a tool. I readily admit that I feel a lot of savage pleasure at Karkaroff's downfall in losing his post as headmaster of Durmstrang when his blackmailing of the other students to put me name in the Goblet of Fire rather than their own under the threat of the Cruciatus Curse came to light."
"None of my friends were amongst the Beauxbatons delegation that came to Hogwarts for the Triwizard Tournament," admitted Fleur matter of factly, "But that was more a luck of the draw thing. Madam Maxime is an excellent headmistress for Beauxbatons and a lovely lady who knows how to treat people with respect and compassion."
"Cedric?" asked Harry cautiously, "May I ask you a person and potentially sensitive question?"
"I don't promise that I'll answer it, but you won't offend me by asking," said Cedric calmly.
"I know that your mom and dad are at odds about the Champions Closer Ties-" began Harry.
"Truer words have never been spoken," sighed Cedric wearily. He really did wish that his dad could learn to differentiate between opponents and enemies.
"Do you fear the possibility of your parents divorcing?" Harry asked Cedric.
"I think that is extremely unlikely," said Cedric optimistically, "While dad was NOT happy about the presence of you three in our home over Christmas Vacation, he puts the blame on me and says that mom was put in a difficult position by me. To be honest, dad's issues are more with me than with mom. I'm not worried about being disowned though. Dad has too much pride in his line for that no matter how much he disapproves of my "Fraternizing with the enemy."
Harry, Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur now went for a bit more of their butterbeers.
"Amanda informed me," piped up Harry, "That Amos is helping to select the creatures that we will be facing in the Third Task."
"Dad is the head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures after all," Cedric reminded them, "I know mom is also keeping in touch with him about these selections to ensure the creatures we face won't be too dangerous. Mom still hopes to convince dad to attend the Third Task but is very pessimistic about convincing him to do so."
"I think," interjected Fleur wisely, "That there is one way to convince Amos to attend the Third Task. It's a bit on the vain side as it requires appealing to the same pride that is causing his negativity towards the Champions Closer Ties in the first place."
"How would that work? " wondered Viktor.
"Someone who is NOT any of myself, you, or Harry needs to convince Amos that if he declines to attend the Third Task, he will miss out on a once in a lifetime opportunity to see his son lift the Triwizard Cup," responded Fleur.
"In other words," understood Viktor, "Convince him that Cedric is definitely going to win and that he doesn't want to miss out on that."
"That actually shouldn't be too difficult," said Harry bluntly, "The Third Task is all about dealing with magical creatures and Cedric would be expected to be the most knowledgeable amongst us about magical creatures and thus best able to cope with them because he is the son of the head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures."
"Even with your head start in the Third Task, I like my chances to win because I believe I will be the best at dealing with magical creatures," said Cedric honestly, "We'll all have a fair chance though. Anything can happen on any given day."
"With his pride," realized Harry, "We don't need to do any rigging for Amos to believe you will win. He will take for granted that his own son will win because of his own pride. AND there's a logical explanation for people to expect you to win."
"While mom may not be optimistic about convincing dad to attend the Third Task, I am," admitted Cedric, "You see, dad is VERY bummed out that he missed out seeing me perform that super cool transfiguration for the Second Task where I turned water into land. Mom has informed me that dad has asked her to show him her memory of that transfiguration feat. She is refusing to do so. She tells him it was his own choice not to attend the Second Task and therefore his own fault that he missed out."
"My sympathy for Amos there is zero," snarled Fleur, "If he doesn't have an attitude adjustment, he's going to miss out on the Third Task too."
"He may well want to see Cedric win the Triwizard Cup in person just badly enough to have an attitude adjustment," said Viktor thoughtfully, "Amanda would be the best person to convince him."
"And she's going to try," confirmed Cedric, "I'm just more optimistic about her chances to succeed than she is herself."
"Speaking of the Third Task," said Harry seriously, "There are some significant things we need to discuss with regard to the Third Task in a more private setting. We can do that tomorrow."
Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur all nodded.
"I am very excited about the Third Task," smiled Fleur, "Because mom, dad, and sis will all be coming to watch me that day. I'm really looking forward to introducing you three to them. Harry, my sister asked me in her last letter to thank you for the important conversation you had with me on Christmas when you gave me the lesson about being a more respectful guest and person. She says she can tell from my letters that I've become a nicer and more respectful person after that conversation. She also says that I have come across as more open minded since then."
"That's good to hear," said Harry proudly, "I told you at the time that I wouldn't go so far as bitch, but that I thought you were being a brat. It's to your credit that you had enough humility to listen to my criticisms and work to adjust your behavior. Your sister's observations even though they're via letters are a testament to you changing as a person for the better. It will be a pleasure to meet Gabrielle when she comes."
Fleur smiled at Harry at that.
"Karkaroff had been planning not to allow me to have any family come to the Third Task," revealed Viktor, "However, since his dismissal, Madam Maxime has assured me that my mom and dad will be allowed to attend the First Task."
"Karkaroff just gets worse and worse as we learn more about him," said Cedric wryly.
"Madam Maxime has hinted to me that I might have visitors on the day of the Third Task," added Harry, "She told me I would learn more as the time drew nearer. Wither way, I'm looking forward to seeing Amanda again. To me, Amanda Diggory isn't just a mom of a friend, she is a friend herself."
"Mom thinks mostly highly of you," nodded Cedric.
At that, Harry, Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur took the final sips of their butterbeers, their insides completely warmed up.
So, I wasn't on much in late December or early January. I had planned to take some time away from here around Christmas and then I got sick late at night on December 26th from a stomach virus going around my area and spent most of the 27th in the hospital. I didn't feel too great until New Year's and decided to take it easy for a few more days after that. I also had a batch routine yearly labwork/bloodwork done on the 13th and went over the results with my PCP on the 20th. Most of it looked really good. The one thing my PCP was a little concerned about was that I have an elevated TSH level of 4.25. My T4 value was in the normal range and I'm not experiencing any symptoms of underactive thyroid. However, my PCP said she was less concerned about underactive thyroid and more concerned about the possibility of thyroid cancer. She gave my thyroid area a good look and feel and did not see or feel any large spots or growths that don't belong. She's having me redo that lab test in July and if it is still elevated, she's going to have me do an ultrasound to determine if thyroid cancer is present. I started the year here by updating my one shots threads. This is the fourth of my six "true" fics to get an update in 2025. Harry Potter and the Champions Closer Ties is steadily gaining new favorers and followers. Thank you to everyone who is currently supporting this thread.
A shout out to the following members who have added Harry Potter and the Champions Closer Ties to their favorites and/or follows lists since the last update:
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Much love from Arizona for all the support. Love you all-Michael. :) ❤️