It really did look like the three of them were giving Ron the cold shoulder—which seemed pretty harsh. But thankfully, Hermione served as a good go-between to smooth things over.
So when they arrived in Hogsmeade together, Ron immediately pulled Hermione aside. For the next half hour, she was practically sprinting back and forth like an owl delivering messages.
"Ron says—hang on, let me catch my breath—" Hermione panted, clutching her side. "He wants you guys to meet him at the Three Broomsticks later…"
"What, so he can yell at me again in public about putting my name in for the Triwizard Tournament?" Harry snapped. "Tell him if he's got something to say, he should just say it to my face instead of hiding like a coward—"
"I am not an owl!" Hermione said furiously. "Can't you two just—oh, I don't know—act like men and talk to each other face-to-face?!"
"Sigh, there goes the Earl's last bit of leverage," Cohen said regretfully. "Still, I wouldn't mind grabbing a drink. Maybe I can ask Madam Rosmerta if she wants to invest in something."
"If Cohen's going, I guess I have no choice but to go too…" Harry tried to sound indifferent.
"Yeah, yeah, we get it—you're totally not going because of Ron," Cohen said, giving Harry a playful shove toward the Three Broomsticks.
On the way there, people kept whispering and pointing at Harry and Cohen. It was clear they all believed what Rita Skeeter had been writing in The Daily Prophet.
"This is so annoying," Harry muttered. He looked like he wanted to throw on his Invisibility Cloak right then and there. "I'm sick of all these people looking at me like I'm already dead. If they really think I'm going to die in the first task, why do they also think I'd be stupid enough to throw my name in myself?!"
"It's the drama," Cohen said. "People love stories about foolish kids walking straight into danger. It's like watching a clown trip over himself—they live for that stuff. That's why so many subscribe to The Daily Prophet."
Cohen didn't seem particularly bothered. At least these people just thought he and Harry were going to die in the tournament—they weren't saying anything offensive out loud.
Either way, the name Cohen Norton was being remembered. And by the time the tournament was over, it was bound to be even more well-known.
"It'll be better inside the pub," Hermione said reassuringly.
Sure enough, once they entered the Three Broomsticks, they spotted Hagrid at a table.
"Harry! There you are!" Hagrid called out, motioning them over.
"Where's Ron?" Hermione looked around but didn't see him anywhere.
"Said his stomach was hurting," Hagrid scratched his head. "Probably off to the loo. You lot had a falling out or something? He's been looking pretty miserable lately."
"He just refuses to believe the truth," Harry muttered.
"Ah, well," Hagrid said, waving a dismissive hand. "Kids your age—stubborn as mules. But you're still friends, right? Shake hands, make up, and—oh! That reminds me—"
He smacked his forehead like he'd just remembered why he called Harry and Cohen in the first place.
He leaned in close, glancing around suspiciously, then whispered so only Harry and Cohen could hear:
"Come to my cabin tonight at ten. I've got something very important to show you—don't forget Harry's Invisibility Cloak."
"What's with all the secrecy?" Harry asked, confused.
"Shhh—just be there. And make sure no one sees you," Hagrid hissed.
Even after Hagrid had finished his drink, Ron never came back from the so-called "loo."
As they left the pub and headed back to Hogwarts, Hermione sighed.
"He still can't bring himself to do it," she said, clearly frustrated.
"What do you reckon Hagrid wants to show us?" Harry asked, still caught up in the mystery.
"Hopefully not that his Blast-Ended Skrewts have started breeding," Hermione said with a shudder.
"Maybe he wants to officially announce his relationship with Madame Maxime," Cohen joked. "Though I wouldn't rule out the possibility that Hagrid's trying to help us cheat."
Cheating had always been a bit of a tradition in the Triwizard Tournament. Cohen figured Hagrid wanted to show them the first task's opponent—a group of dragons.
"That's unethical!" Hermione said, scandalized.
"You can't expect the other schools to play fair," Cohen replied, raising an eyebrow. "They all desperately want to beat Hogwarts."
—
At ten that night, thick clouds blocked out the stars. After the common room had quieted down, Harry and Cohen sneaked out of the castle under the Invisibility Cloak.
The grounds were pitch dark. From the path, they could see two lit spots: one from Hagrid's hut, and the other from the Beauxbatons carriage.
The two were very close together—perfect for Hagrid to go "flirt" with Madame Maxime.
"I'm starting to think he really is going to announce he's dating her…" Harry said worriedly.
"It's not Hagrid or the carriage you should be looking at," Cohen said. He was watching the edge of the Forbidden Forest. "Look over there."
He pointed toward something that looked like fireworks briefly shooting into the air, then vanishing.
"Is someone setting off fireworks?" Harry squinted to see what Cohen meant. If it hadn't been so dark, he might've missed it.
"No way. Looks more like Norbert's fire breath," Cohen said.
Harry went quiet. Cohen could hear his heart pounding faster.
"We're not going to fight a dragon, are we…?" Harry said, inhaling sharply.
"I think that's exactly why Hagrid wants us there. If it is dragons, great—I've got experience training Norbert."
"Well I don't," Harry said nervously. "I've only got experience being bitten by Norbert—"
"They're just regular dragons. Even goats can deal with them," Cohen said reassuringly. "Just stay calm. That'll help you earn more points from the judges."
"That only makes me more nervous…" Harry groaned.
Knock, knock, knock.
They reached Hagrid's hut and knocked on the door.
As soon as it opened, Harry pinched his nose. A thick cloud of perfume wafted out.
Hagrid was wearing his best suit, complete with a flower in the buttonhole and several broken comb teeth stuck in his hair.
He'd clearly spent a lot of time getting ready… though the results weren't exactly spectacular.
"What did you want to show us?" Harry asked cautiously.
"Follow me. Quiet now," Hagrid said in a hushed voice. "Stay under the Cloak. Don't let anyone see you…"
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