It was Monday morning and all the Gryffindors groaned as they entered Potions classroom for a three-hour lesson with Snape, while all the Slytherins were excited for their easiest class and teacher. As everyone sat down to wait for Snape to enter the classroom, they became shocked when they saw Harry Potter enter with a stoic mask on his face as he walked over to sit next to Neville in the back who gave him a small nod. The silence was eerie as no one dared be the first one to speak less they start a fight, except of course, for a certain ferret who decided to open his mouth. "Why so serious Potter? I've been meaning to tell you my father and I have bet you see, as I don't think you're going to last ten minutes in this tournament. He disagrees, as he thinks you won't last five."
Harry slowly pulled his head up to meet Malfoy's gaze in a cold and emotionless look, that made Draco and a few others squirm, and he said, "I'm not surprised your mother didn't also bet as she has been well acquainted with my stamina and magic rather intimately and knows better."
There was not a single jaw that wasn't on the floor after what Harry just implied about Draco's mum and Malfoy himself was so angry he began fumbling for his wand before the fire underneath his cauldron ignited rather spectacularly and set him on fire. Draco was lit a flame for about ten seconds until all of a sudden the fire was gone and everyone looked at Harry who had not moved a muscle and saw his emerald eyes flashing as a warning as he said in a cold tone, "Does anyone else have anything else they would like to say or try?"
All of the students all either shook their head or looked down avoiding his gaze as Malfoy sat back down still glaring at Harry; however, he noticed Daphne, Tracey, and Pansy all still looking at him as Daphne narrowed her eyes slightly in a likely attempt to figure out what just happened, Tracey was smiling and waved at him which he reciprocated, and finally Pansy honest to God smiled and winked at him before turning stoic again. Snape decided to walk in finally and was confused at why everyone was so quiet until he noticed an expressionless Potter had returned to class as the two stared each other down before the bat decided to get on with the lesson. Snape did try to get a rise out of Harry while he and Neville were working, but to everyone's surprise, Harry never took the bait as if he didn't even notice which caused Snape to grit his teeth and his frustration out on the other Gryffindors. Harry and Neville finished early and after Snape was forced to pass them, he and Neville made out their way out of class as Harry exhaled loudly.
"It's great you came back Harry as Snape was getting on my case again, but why did you?", asked Neville.
Harry gave him a small smile and said, "It was time I stopped hiding from assholes like Malfoy and Snape, also I felt bad about leaving you hanging."
Neville smiled back and said, "Thanks Harry, and I'm sorry for not speaking up for you earlier when everyone else attacked you. I believe you when you said you didn't cheat." Harry smiled bigger and said thanks.
"Harry!", they two Gryffindors turned to see Tracey run up to them with Daphne close to her. He told Neville he'd see him later and his shy friend gave him an understanding nod and departed.
"Where have been? I was worried when no one could find you and you totally left me to do all the work in Astronomy!", Tracey said but without any real heat in her voice.
"I missed you too Tracey and I'm sorry for leaving you alone, but I promise I'll be in class from now on.", Harry said while looking her in the eyes. Inadvertently, that caused Tracey to blush slightly and Daphne to roll her eyes amusingly.
"I'm curious Potter about how you managed to hide from everyone like that and how did you do that trick with Malfoy?", Daphne asked.
Harry smirked and said, "A good wizard never reveals his tricks Greengrass, even to two very beautiful witches like you." Now it was Daphne's turn to slightly blush and Tracey's whole face went red.
"Fine, don't tell us; but, we want you to know you can come to us if you need help as that is what friends are for.", Tracey said in a serious tone with Daphne nodding.
Harry thanked them and went on his way. A half hour later, he was sitting in Ancient Runes class where the only people happy to see him were Professor Babbling, Daphne, and Su who looked relieved he was okay. Class went by without any problems as he retook his position at the top of the class, much to the chagrin of Hermione who looked like she wanted to say something but Harry didn't pay her any attention. It was finally lunchtime as Harry quickly made his way out the room and began to move quickly the growing sea of students who were so graciously wearing badges that shifted from Support Cedric Diggory: The Real Hogwarts Champion to Potter Stinks. Harry just ignored it and was walking across the courtyard to where he found the object of his search, Cedric ho was surrounded his girlfriend Cho Chang and other Hufflepuffs. He approached and was quickly met with glares from everyone but Cedric and Cho and asked the older seeker for a word in private. The two walked over to a secluded area and Harry spoke.
"Dragons. That's the First Task. They've got one for each of us. A Welsh Green, Swedish Short Snout, Chinese Fireball, and Hungarian Horntail." Cedric looked like he was going to shit a brick as he asked Harry:
"You're serious?" Harry nodded.
"You were going to be the only one who wasn't going to know beforehand and I couldn't let that stand after all you've done for me."
Cedric smiled in acceptance and nodded returning to his friends and saying thank you to Harry while apologizing for their badges. Harry just brushed it off and departed for the Great Hall for lunch. Upon entering, he noted the reactions of different people across the Hall and just sighed in acceptance of being a target of their jealousy. He was going to sit at the far end of the Gryffindor table when he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see quite the beautiful sight.
"Ello' 'Arry, I was wondering if you would join me and my friend Marie here for lunch.", said Fleur Delacour who was standing next who he presumed as Marie looking at her friend with a confused and questioning glance. Harry was hesitant to accept as he still couldn't figure the French champion out and that made her dangerous in Harry's mind. However, despite everything that has happened recently, he had a good read on people but he didn't always listen to his instincts as with Ron and Hermione, and they were telling him that this girl wasn't malicious.
Taking a leap of faith, Harry nods and says, "That sounds lovely, mademoiselle."
Fleur smiles and nods and the trio walked over to the Beauxbatons table and sat down, causing many eyes to widen but no one said anything. Harry and Fleur began eating when she spoke.
"You're a very interesting young man Harry, my papa is Head of the French DMLE and he told me and my leetle sister about your adventures in Hogwarts according to the rumors he heard. Now , your name comes out of the Goblet of Fire and you get to compete in the Triwizard Tournament and yet you seem like you hate the attention. May I ask why?"
Harry stared at her for a moment before answering, "I hate my fame, not only because of what it reminds me of what I've lost and been forced to do, but also because it ruins my relationships. I can assume you understand what its like to be judged for something you had no control over."
Fleur gave a sad nod, "Oui. As a Veela, I'm usually subjected to jealousy and anger from those around me as they assume I have everything and they think I desire to be above them but nothing could be further from the truth. I suppose what I want most is…"
"Freedom", Harry finished. Fleur slowly nodded.
"Why did you try to help me out with that advice about occlumency?", he asked.
"Well, you see…Merde, this is embarrassing. I was hoping to ask for a favor from you after the First Task, nothing dangerous, I will just require your help because you're resistant to my allure.", she said.
Harry was curious what this favor could be considering only he could apparently do it, but he felt like he could trust Fleur and maybe make a friend out of her; after all, that is the whole point of this stupid tournament even though nobody else remembers that.
"Okay, I'll help if I can, as long as you don't mind allowing me to join you for lunch and dinner because as you can see I'm not on the best terms with my House right now and I could use the company.", he said in a hopeful tone. Fleur smiled and agreed and he heard Marie whisper something to her friend in French, he didn't know what she said but it made Fleur flustered and cause her to send a stinging hex at Marie.
After dinner, Harry made his way to Charms class, where he was met with a blue blur in the form of Su Li as she ran up and hugged him, which surprised everyone present including Su herself as the girl registered what she just did with wide eyes and pulled away.
"Sorry Harry, I just was really glad to see you were alright as I was worried that something happened to you.", she said shyly without making eye contact. Neither of them noticed a silently fuming Hermione glaring at them.
"That's okay Su, sorry about worrying you like that. Don't worry, it'll take a lot more than this to stop me and really needed that hug.", he said. Su blushed but nodded.
"By the way, Penelope wanted me to tell you if I saw you before she did to meet her at your usual spot for a talk.", Su said. Harry paled slightly as he knew that talk was going to be more like a lecture but nodded and said thanks anyway.
Charms class went by pretty quickly with Harry enjoying the work and getting reacquainted with Su, afterwards he did some work in the library on his break and spent time with Tonks while she was patrolling. Eventually, he steeled himself in heading into where he knew he would face the most problems with Herbology, which he shared with not only his treacherous Gryffindors but also the puffs who hated him before the Goblet of Fire and their Head of House, Professor Sprout. Harry walked into the class and immediately felt the hatred from everyone in the room, except for Neville and Susan, who looked excited to see him as she ignored her glaring friends and walked up to him.
"Harry, I'm glad you're okay. Cedric told us what happened that night and how you were set up by Death Eaters and I know you probably won't believe me when I say it due to the stupid badges they're all wearing but I believe you.", she whispered in a low but fierce tone. Harry smiled and thanked her, it was nice to know that Su, Tracey, and Susan all still believed him and wanted to be friends still as he was sure this morning that his only friends by the end of the day would be Cedric, Penny, and Tonks. Harry went to stand next to Neville and spent class ignoring the glares he got from both sides of the table and his passive-aggressive teacher until finally it was over; he was wondering why MacMillan, Abbott, and the rest didn't say anything and it wasn't until Neville told him that his spat with Malfoy made rounds around the school that he began to put it together. After a nice dinner with Fleur where they got to know each other's interests a little better, he resigned himself to head to his and Penny's meeting place that they spent the last three years talking in private, a large empty room on the sixth floor that is never used unless one of the houses has to gather there in its entirety for an assembly away from the other houses. Harry walked in and saw Penny standing in the middle of the room where the moonlight was shining on her, making her even more beautiful to him.
She was glaring at him with her arms crossed until she finally had enough and crushed him in a bear hug and said, "I was so fucking nervous that something bad happened to you and you didn't even let me know once if you were alright. Do you not understand how that makes me feel?"
Harry's heart ached when he saw her like this and said, "I know Penny, and I'm sorry but I just needed to be alone after everything that went down in Gryffindor Tower with Ron and Hermione, but that's still no excuse to make you worried like that. I would never hurt you Penny, I'll die before I do that."
Penny went wide-eyed and blue-grey eyes met emerald ones and in that moment it felt like their souls had connected and time seemed to stop as all the stress, hardship, memories, and secret love they had for each other but wouldn't admit seemed to come together in an instant as Harry Potter and Penelope Clearwater kissed.
The two of them felt fantastic as it was like their magic became connected for a second before Penny pulled back with a regretful look on her face and said something that broke Harry's heart, "Percy asked me to marry him, I'm sorry Harry but we can't. I am so sorry."
Penny just broke out into tears and bolted out of the room, leaving a heartbroken Harry stunned and confused, so much so he didn't see the flicker of blue light from his Ravenclaw ring go out just as quickly as it appeared when they kissed.