Hi! Before we get started I would like to give a sincere thank you to everyone who has read, reviewed and favourite this story. Thank you so much.
To answer a couple of questions those have been posed my way:
ShinigamiSaisei I am quite certain that you must have been reading my mind, you seem to have worked out what I was planning.
Mcvities22 yes, yes, yes! I know that I am totally unfair for keeping everyone hanging for so long, I apologise. Forgive me?
Harper79 haha! Thank you for your messages, I appreciate your concern. I'm fine, just slow at updating!
And can I just say, wow! Over 3000 words - I might have gotten a bit carried away. Never mind.
Chapter Eleven:
By Rosa241
Harry's POV:
"I'm telling you, I would so enter!" Seamus yells as he and Ron continue to argue.
"No you wouldn't mate. You say you would but at the end of the day you'd be too scared." Ron smirks back.
"I would not!" Seamus protests. Ron makes to continue to argue but Dean's intervention seems timely.
"Let's face it guys, we all say that we'd enter but would we? I mean as much as I'd love to think I'm brave and all that, would you really want to go up against some of those Durmstrag guys. I mean seriously have you seen the size of them!" I've always liked Dean. He always manages to keep a cool head with things.
"Well I'd enter." Ron mutters as his gaze wanders back to his potions assignment.
"I wouldn't." I'd half forgotten that Neville was here, he's so quiet sometimes. "My Gran would probably kill me for even thinking it." Neville shudders at the thought before continuing. "Besides that, it's really dangerous. Percy's right, being part of the competition wouldn't mean anything if you got killed."
"I agree with Neville." Hermione voices from over towards our left, she says nothing more before burying her nose back into her book.
"What about you Harry?" Dean questions. In all honesty I haven't really thought about it much. Would I want to enter? Sure it'd be an honour to be chosen and the thought of actually winning well...that would be mental but...is it worth it?
"I don't know. Maybe, maybe not." I answer honestly. Ron snorts at this before launching himself into another tirade over how amazing it would be.
Percy's POV:
Unsurprisingly the library is one of the most peaceful places in the school. Honestly I come here, not to study although I usually do, but for a bit of peace. It used to be an escape from Flint, although there was that one day...no, no Percy don't go there. Shuddering at the memory my mind conjures I can't help but find myself lost in it.
Flashback:
That voice grates through my mind as I hear it. Usually I'm safe here; usually I can relax...usually. Flint never, repeat never, comes here. I was starting to think he was allergic. Judging from the smirking face that now greats me as I stand. Although I've become more confident since becoming friends with Oliver I must admit I'm still terrified of Flint and his friends.
"Well, well, well what do we have here." Flint and his friends all laugh as I stand, gathering my things slowly. The last thing I want is to give them reason to think that I'm scared. "Going somewhere are we?"
"Yes actually." He seems surprised that I'm actually addressing him. "Got to meet my brothers, as a matter of fact they should be here in a minute."
A flash of fear crosses Flints face before being replaced by that smug smirk. As stupid as Flint is even he knows that both Bill and Charlie are, number one – much bigger than he is, and number two – powerful wizards. I'm not entirely convinced he believes my words; I've never been good at lying. Bill and Charlie actually don't know anything about what's going on. Oliver has tried to get me to tell them but I won't, I don't want anyone to know.
"Really?" He questions. At my nod he moves forward slightly. "Well then I'll have to make this quick won't I!?"
Before I can even breathe Flint has an iron grip on my left arm, his grip is so tight and strong. For a moment he just stares me in the eyes with that smirk still on his face. I try hard not to let the incredible pain I'm feeling be shown on my face.
"You honestly think that I'm scared of those pathetic brothers of yours! They'd probably be grateful for me doing this, for me showing everyone exactly what you are. Pathetic! Weak!" He yanks hard on my arm, pulling me closer towards him, squeezing harder than ever. He may not be that much bigger than me but merlin is he strong! I barely restrain myself from groaning in agony as his grip seems to tighten once again. "I'm never going to leave you alone." He shoves me backwards, my back colliding painfully with a chair as I stumble.
His gang chuckle again as I regain my footing. He rejoins them before wandering off, he turns back as he leaves.
"Oh and if you think that Wood can help you, you've got another thing coming." He chuckles once again before finally going. As he finally leaves I can feel tears prickling my eyes but I refuse to let them fall, letting them fall would be letting him win, ignoring them comes easily from the practice. The pain in my arm however is far too immense to ignore.
Stripping off my jumper and rolling up my shirt sleeve I can't help but gasp as I see the sight. The top of my arm is bright red and already starting to bruise. I quickly get dressed, ignoring the pain, and head back to the dorm rooms. I know that he definitely can't get to me there.
As I walk away I can't help but sigh. Looks like my safe haven isn't so safe after all.
End Flashback:
As I shake my head, ridding myself of that awful memory, my mind wanders once again. That wasn't the worst thing that Flint and his gang did to me, no, things got much worse than that. Once again cue the shuddering but that...that was the very first time things got physical, the first time it went beyond teasing and name calling. That was the start of what became the worst few months of my life. Up until this summer Oliver was the only one who knew about the physical side of Flints bullying. Of course Oliver had finally convinced me to tell mum and dad the truth.
Flashback:
Everyone has gone to bed; Oliver and I are the only ones awake. As he laughs at my story he gets this serious look on his face for a moment.
"I really am sorry about this afternoon; I keep forgetting that they don't know." I've had a feeling that this was coming.
"Its fine really, just don't say anything else please. I'd rather not worry them just yet." His sigh tells me just about everything he thinks of my request. Its a few moments before either of us speak again.
"You need to tell them." I know he's right, of course he's right. It's just so hard to think about it.
"I will, I will just...not yet...I'll speak to them after the world cup, no sense causing trouble before hand." He shifts now, moving to sit next to me as opposed to opposite me.
"Oh Perce..." He sighs, going silent for a moment before speaking again. "I would have thought, now that your mum and dad know about the bullying that this would be easier to say. Everything that Flint did to you, how much he hurt you...he shouldn't be getting away with it."
"He didn't get away with it." I mumble even though I know he's right. "I AM going to tell them I swear it's just...I know how hurt dad was to find out about this, to find out that I'd kept it from him. When he finds out that...that things got violent...it'll kill him. And mum, she'll be so upset. Not to mention I'm pretty sure Bill and Charlie will kill him."
"So you're worried about Flint?" He questions, earning a glare from me.
"No of course not. I just know that as soon as everyone finds out about this, it's going cause a lot of trouble." He nods at me, knowing I speak the truth.
"Your real problems going to be Fred and George, when those pair find out Marcus Flint is going to have a double whirlwind of trouble flying his way." I actually smirk at this, trust Oliver to find a way to cheer me up.
End Flashback:
Naturally I'd been right. Mum had cried when I finally told the truth she was worried about me coming back in case Flint tried it again. It had taken almost three days to convince her that I was okay and that it was over. Dad and Bill had gotten angry; honestly it's a bloody good job that neither of them knew where he lived. As for Charlie, well Charlie has felt guilty. He'd been ever so upset and angry at himself for not realising how bad things had gotten.
"Perce?" Oliver's sheepish voice brings me out of my thoughts, thankfully!
"Hi." Things have been a little awkward these last few days since our argument, we've barely spoken which has been very difficult.
"I'm sorry." He sits down opposite me before continuing. "I don't like Cedric okay! I just don't."
"But why?" I really don't understand it; he's never been a problem before.
"I just...okay look. He's never bothered with you before, right?" I nod my head, wondering where he's going with this. "And now, all of a sudden he's acting like the two of you are best mates. It just winds me up you know?"
"It winds you up that he wants to be my friend?" He sighs, shaking his head.
"No, it winds me up that he's acting like the fact that he's ignored you for the entire time he's been here, the fact that he's never once spoken to you, he's acting like that doesn't matter. Well I'm sorry but it does. There are so many people in this school who had no idea just how amazing you are. I've known it all along, I've tried hard and worked at it, at us being friends. We both have. And now that you've taken on a death eater, two death eaters, people are suddenly saying how brilliant you are, people who before never even bothered about you. Cedric never once looked twice at you but now, as soon as the world cup happened, he wants to be your best mate. I'm sorry but I don't agree with it." He's furious, his voice is probably little more than what it normally would be but don't be fooled, he's fuming. "Some of these people probably saw Flint bullying you and never did anything to help you. Yet now they want to be your best mate!"
As Oliver falls into silence, his breathing settling back into a normal rhythm I think. He's got a point. Since what happened at the tournament became public knowledge people have been treating me differently, like all of a sudden they actually care about me. I know that people have seen a different side to me, some of them genuinely feel bad for not getting to know me before but most of them, well most of them just want to align themselves with the wizard who took down a death eater. As much as I've played it down, I know that taking on a death eater is no mean feat.
"Oliver. I don't care about Cedric, or any of the others." He looks at me now, curiosity in his voice. "You've always been there for me, since the day right here in the library you've been there. You didn't need a death eater or anything else to be my friend; you became my friend because you wanted to be. I know that. I also know that Cedric Diggory is the single most annoying person I've come across of late. Honestly he's more obsessed with Quidditch than you are and that's saying something!"
He smiles as I speak and I know that we're back on track. I know that his anger at Cedric is fuelled by his concern and friendship for me. And I have to admit that it's touching. As we settle down I know that we're back on track, as much as Oliver annoys me I wouldn't swap him for the world.
Mad Eye's POV:
"Minerva." I call out to her as she wanders past me. She slows her pace to match my own but says nothing. "Percy Weasley."
"What about him?" She says as we walk.
"I've noticed him and what with his actions at the world cup, I'm curious. What's he like?" The kid's been staring at me from the second I got here. I know he can't possibly suspect something but my mind has been wondering about him. It can't hurt to know a bit more about the enemy.
She stops walking at this and just stands dead for a moment, a fond smile crossing her face. Evidentially he's a favourite of hers, useful to know.
"Percy Weasley is one of the most brilliant and brightest students I've ever had the pleasure of teaching." I raise my –moody's eyebrow –at this, but she continues. "You might not know it now but you soon will. He's very intelligent; he's got a knack for magic in general. Now most students pick up one or two subjects rather well, some pick up everything at an even level. But Percy Weasley, and Miss Granger at that thought, well they've both picked up everything at an alarming pace. Very early on I noticed that Percy had a talent for just about anything he put his hand to when it came to magic."
"Might make a decent Auror then?" Crap! I was afraid that she'd say something like this. She seems to think for a second before carrying on.
"A year ago I would have said no, but now I think that he would make a perfect Auror." Damn. "Earlier on his attitude was somewhat...proud. He had an ego to be quite frank. But now...well now he seems to have had a change of heart. Whatever caused it I don't know, but what I do know is that he is fast becoming the wizard I had always thought he could be."
With that she carries on her way. Damn it all to hell and back! I had known that he was smart, maybe smarter than the rest of the rabble in this school, but hell! If what she says is true then I may well have a problem on my hands. Unless...
Oh now that really is a good idea...two birds with one stone...
Oliver's POV:
"Well, the goblet is almost ready to make its decision," said Dumbledore. "I estimate that it requires one more minute. Now, when the champions' names are called, I would ask them please to come up to the top of the Hall, walk along the staff table, and go through into the next chamber" - he indicated the door behind the staff table - "where they will be receiving their first instructions."
As Dumbledore stands at the very front of the great hall everyone finally falls silent. Thankfully the feast had finally ended and the champions were ready to be drawn, well almost ready.
The flames in the Goblet turned a bright red and sparks flew high into the air. The great hall was filled with gasps as a barrel of flames shot high into the sky, sending a charred piece of paper fluttering down. Dumbledore caught it in his hand, holding it at arm's length.
"The champion for Durmstag will be..." Oh get on with it! "Viktor Krum!"
The room cheered raucously as Krum stood, looking smug as he wandered over towards the door Dumbledore pointed out before. The cheering and clapping stilled quickly as a second barrel of flame, and another charred piece of paper, flew from the Goblet.
"The champion from Beauxbatons will be..." Once again get on with it! "Fleur Delacour!"
"Like that's a shock!" Angelina muttered to me as the room erupted into a barrage of cheers and claps. The girl, whose face seems familiar, skips happily to the front of the room before hurrying to the room Krum previously entered.
This was the moment everyone had been waiting for, the champion from Hogwarts. Everyone stilled in suspense as the realisation became clear, the Hogwarts champion was next. As a third piece of charred paper flew from the Goblet the entirety of the room held their breath.
"The champion from Hogwarts will be..." I couldn't help but hold my breath along with everyone else. Just who from the school would the Goblet deem worthy? "Percy Weasley!"
The entire Gryffindor table burst into cheers at this but not me. Percy's eyes shot over to where Dumbledore stood before meeting my own. Somewhere my mind registered Ron and Ginny's confused queires to their older brother but right now it was Percy's voice that I heard.
"Thats not possible, I didn't enter."
What the hell just happened here?
And I think I'm going to leave it there. Quite a lot of revelations here, I thought I'd get on with it and stop dilly dallying around. Don't worry though an update will be here this time next week at the latest, hopefully sooner but that depends on work.