Look, Harry's life was sort of in shambles at the moment, okay? He was not taking questions or judgment at this time. The whispers of his classmates, the flashing cameras of the press, the casual conversations with Death. It was all a bit overwhelming. So that's why his friends found him deep within the Forbidden Forest, chilling with a horde of Thestrals, escaping it all. The Thestrals liked to munch on his hair. It was cute and calming.
"Blimey those are creepy," Ron complained as the horse-like creatures bounded over to the new humans in intrigue. Luna, who kept hunks of raw meat on her person in case such a scenario arose, happily gave all of them a treat.
"Are you alright, Harry?" Hermione asked with concern when Harry did not get up from his spot on the ground, his head rested on the back of one Thestral and another one draped over his feet.
"Yeah, I just needed a moment."
"Do you want to be alone?" Luna asked.
"Nah, you're fine. It's just been loud at the castle, and there's been so much stuff happening this month that I can't keep track of it all. The bloody tournament is stressing me out, and then I got a note from Dumbledore today asking for another meeting this weekend - and oh shit I forgot to tell mama and Sirius about the last one. I have so much to deal with that it feels like they're aren't enough hours in the day."
"Is there anything we can do to help?" Ron plopped on a soft bit of grass, shamelessly rolling his head to rest on Harry's stomach. Harry found himself in a cuddle pile of not just Thestrals, but friends as well.
"I dunno, any tips for fighting a dragon?"
"The first task is dragons!?" Luna said in horror. "But they're protected creatures, oh I hope you don't have to hurt one!"
"I hope it doesn't hurt you," Ron said, aghast. "Charlie's got loads of scars from his job. I could send him an owl, see what he says?"
"It's supposed to be a secret actually, so you'd better not."
"How'd you figure it out then?"
"Ugh. Long story. Necromancy stuff. Can I tell you about it later? I haven't even been able to catch Sirius and mama up with everything and I might as well do it all at once."
"Of course, Harry. Why don't we just do something fun and relaxing today?" Hermione suggested.
"We could practice dueling!" Ron said excitedly. "Eh, but we'd have to get up though. Maybe later." He stretched out his arms in a yawn, smacking Harry in the face. Harry smacked Ron back but before it could devolve into a good old-fashioned tussle, the Thestrals snorted and prodded them to settle down.
"Are you still going to play in the Quidditch tournament?" Luna asked.
"If they let me. I might have to beg off some of the extra practices though. Mama has made it clear that I still have to pass all my classes."
"Well don't overwork yourself," Hermione said in a wise tone. Everyone failed to hold back their laughs. "Yes, okay. I'm one to talk. Hush all of you. But seriously, Harry!"
"Oh, speaking of classes, have you guys noticed Hagrid and the French lady? He keeps showing up to meals in that ugly beaver three-piece and sitting next to her." Ron gossiped.
"Madame Maxime? That sounds adorable. Hagrid deserves someone special." Luna said with a smile.
"And someone his size," Ron laughed.
"Don't be rude, Ronald!"
"Oh, that reminds me, Ron!" Harry hurried to interrupt Ron and Hermione before they could start to bicker again. He giggled with excitement as he remembered what he'd been meaning to tell his friends. "Guess who I had a conversation with? Viktor Krum."
"What! Tell me all about him!" Ron squealed.
"Yeah, him, Fleur, and I had a brief talk after the press stuff the other day. They were nice. Viktor thinks they set up the tournament as a political stunt since both of us are famous or in Fleur's case, the daughter of a French representative."
"That's an interesting theory," Luna said. "The government would never let someone undesirable represent our country. If the whole thing was rigged from the start… oh what a story!"
"Okay, but like what did he say? Is his voice as gravelly as it sounds over the wireless?" Ron inquired. Harry gave his friend a confused look.
"Er… I didn't really pay attention to the sound of his voice, Ron. I noticed his accent. He's not the best at English. Also, he and everyone else in the room was convinced that Sirius is my dad."
"I mean he might as well be?"
"I guess," Harry frowned. "Do you think he'd mind if I thought of him like that?"
"It was very obvious to me over the summer that he cares a lot about you, Harry," Luna assured him with a hand on his knee from where she was cuddled with the Thestral by their feet. "I think he would be honored."
"He's your godfather. That's supposed to be like a third parent, innit?" Ron insisted.
"Do you think mama would mind? I can't tell if she likes him or not."
"Rumor has it, from Lavender and Parvati mind you, that they meet up at the Three Broomsticks along with Professor McGonagall on Hogsmeade weekends," Hermione said.
"Really? They don't invite me!"
"Then you're probably fine, mate," Ron said. "Anyway, Krum. How tall d'ya reckon he is?"
Eventually, with their worries soothed and settled, they made their way back to the castle in search of food. There was at least thirty percent more staring than usual, and Harry found out why when Malfoy came over while Harry was trying to enjoy his sandwich. Malfoy scooted up onto the table, nearly upending Ron's lunch. Facing Harry, he pulled out a paper and flashed them the front page.
SAD, DELUSIONAL ORPHAN HARRY POTTER NAMED HOGWARTS' TRIWIZARD CHAMPION?
The large photo printed was the moment when Harry, looking nervous amongst the out-of-focus crowd, leaned into Sirius. He certainly looked sad, although the delusional orphan part was questionable.
"I didn't know you cried every night about your parents, Potter." Malfoy grinned.
"I didn't know you believed everything the media tells you," Harry sighed. Malfoy was so annoying, and the positivity he'd gained from a peaceful morning with his friends dropped from his mind as he looked at the obnoxious teenager and newspaper. "All of that is obviously untrue. Kindly fuck off and leave me alone, Malfoy. I was having such a wonderful day until I had to look at your ugly face."
"Where have you been this morning? I couldn't help but notice you've been absent a lot. Running around the Forbidden Forest again?"
"Have you been following me?" Harry asked mildly. "A bit obsessed, aren't you Malfoy? Oh, wait! I get it. Can I borrow a pen, Hermione?"
Hermione drew one from her bag as Harry held out his hand, gesturing to the paper in Malfoy's grasp. Setting it in front of him, he spoke as he wrote across the paper.
"To Draco, so glad you're excited to watch me compete in the tournament. XOXO, the Hogwarts Champion, Harry Potter - there you go. Keep a hold of that until I win, think of the resale value! I don't hand out autographs to just anyone!"
Malfoy ripped the paper from his hands.
"Shut up, Potter! You're not fooling anyone. I know you're up to something! I know you put your name in through some Dark Arts ritual! I bet you were out in the forest doing - doing -"
"Your dad's a Death Eater and you can't even think of a single evil thing I'm doing?" Harry questioned.
"I know what you are! If you think you can scare me -"
"Oh shove it, Malfoy. I'm hardly scared of you." His beloved sandwich fell from his hands as he turned his entire attention towards the blonde boy. "But if you were smart, you would be scared of me. Do you remember what happened to the last Slytherin who crossed me? Hm? Where is your beloved Professor Snape now? Or maybe you remember the last time you insulted me publicly. Mama has promised that she'd make you an orphan if you ever messed with me again, and I think between me and her, that would take care of your whole family! If I were you, I'd drop it." Harry's voice dropped into a low whisper as he leaned into the boy's face while he talked.
Malfoy must have seen the seriousness on Harry's face because the boy gave a valiant sneer and retreated without another word, hightailing back to the Slytherin table.
"Should we be worried about him? Were you joking about killing him? He's an ass. As a member of your personal ethics committee, I vote we gut him." Ron said.
"Boys! No! Look, he's just angry Harry's been picked, he doesn't know anything," Hermione insisted. "Not that you threatening him helped any, Harry. What was that about? Just leave it alone!"
Harry grumbled under his breath as he watched Malfoy flee. His "nemesis" as Malfoy often insisted that they were, did not usually bother him. Harry had a lot of things that required his attention and he knew he shouldn't waste the energy on someone as insignificant as a school rival. But his blood pounded in his ears as stared at the abandoned newspaper.
The strong urge to wring Malfoy's neck was truly tempting. There were a lot of things he had to worry about. This was one thing that would be easy to fix. No one would miss the annoying little shit. He wouldn't curse him. Maybe he'd throw Malfoy in the lake. Or toss him over the edge of the Astronomy tower… Maybe he was starting to lose it again, hurtling into another bout of stress-induced desire to murder.
Harry ran through one of the occlumency exercises Sirius had shown him. Breathe, count to five. Breathe, name three things in the room. Clear his mind. Hermione was probably right. It was like Malfoy to be jealous of Harry getting the spotlight. He had enough to worry about.
Like the stupid article.
Skeeter's article painted him in a baffling light - a quiet boy, deeply traumatized by his parent's loss. He was so very, very lucky to be taken under the wing of the Prophet's favorite person, Sirius Black. Oh, and rumor had it that he cries himself to sleep every night.
How anyone who knew Harry even a little believed an ounce of this nonsense was beyond him. Nonetheless, it sent another round of students sticking their noses in his business, this time out of pity rather than anger. It was not an improvement.
....
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