It had been about two weeks since Harry Potter had seemingly disappeared from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry as no one had seen him in at all, whether it be Gryffindor Tower, The Great Hall, classes, or on the grounds. Some said he couldn't handle the pressure of the tournament and fled like a coward, others believed he was off somewhere learning magic that Hogwarts wouldn't teach him to prepare better himself, and some believed he just died. Dumbledore and a few of the professors were worried and considered launching an investigation but the old man was hesitant to announce to the world that Harry Potter had gone missing as many interested parties would also launch an exhaustive search. Little did they know Harry was right under their noses both literally and figuratively as he has spent the last fourteen days in the Chamber of Secrets, sleeping there and eating whatever Dobby brought him, still learning everything his classmates were learning and much more.
The Founders made it there mission to teach Harry much more advanced magic than he was used to in order to survive this tournament as they also made him keep up with his studies because while he was exempt from classes as a champion according to McGonagall, they demanded he maintain his grade average as was expected of their heir. Harry didn't really have a problem with that as he found the four of them better teachers than most of his actual professors, but he was beginning to feel that familiar sense of isolation he felt throughout his entire childhood and it felt like he would never escape it after what just happened. He knew if he went back up there, he would be faced with nothing but anger, disgust, and cold indifference from all four houses this time and even the few friends he's made over the last two months (Su, Susan, Tracey, Neville, & The Chasers) would likely not provide any comfort as they were likely unwilling to face the wrath of their houses for him and he couldn't blame them.
However, he knew Penny and Tonks were likely worried sick about him and truth be told, he missed them more than anyone else including his former friends Ron and Hermione. Their support of him and the close bond he felt with both of them have been some of the happiest moments of his life. Wait a minute, am I falling for both? No that's crazy and I know they don't feel the same way, he thought.
Harry was brought out of his depression by Salazar telling him it was time to go face the world once more and the others gave him some encouraging words before he went off. Today was the Wand Weighing Ceremony and Harry honestly couldn't care less but if he wanted to keep his magic, he had no choice but to go. He looked at the Marauders Map and saw no one was around that bother him on his path toward the classroom Bagman told them about, as he did not want to deal with anyone's shite today. Harry eventually made it to the classroom by the assigned time with a few seconds to spare and he threw the door open to find the three headmasters, Bagman, Mr. Ollivander, and a blonde woman with her cameraman whose smile made Harry recoil at the sight of her all look at him in shock. He noted the three other champions were also looking at him with different expressions: Cedric's concerned face, Krum's stoic and uncaring face, and Fleur's indecipherable look that Harry just couldn't figure out.
Bagman decided to break the silence, "Mr. Potter is here now, so we may begin! Mr. Ollivander."
Harry went over to stand next to Cedric as the old wand maker said, "Ms. Delacour, we shall start with you. Your wand please?" Fleur nodded and got up to give the old man her wand and Harry noticed that he was looking anywhere but her as he took it.
"Rosewood, 9 ½ Inches, and what appears to be a core with Veela hair?", he said.
Fleur nodded, "My Grandmother's." Ollivander nodded and cast a spell that summoned flowers.
"Your wand is indeed acceptable, Mr. Diggory you're next.", he said. Cedric moved forward and handed him his wand.
"Ash, 12 ¼ Inches, and Unicorn Hair.", he noted. Ollivander casted Lumos and handed it back to Cedric telling everyone it passed as he motioned for Krum to come forward.
"Ah, a Gregorovitch wand, he was a very good friend of mine before he passed. Hornbeam, 10 ½ Inches, and a Dragon Heartstring core.", he said. He performed a spell that sent small birds out and the old man passed him as well as it was finally Harry's turn.
"I don't think I could ever forget your wand Mr. Potter…or it's brother. Holly, 11 Inches, and a Phoenix feather core.", he said. Ollivander casted a spell that sent a small spark of electricity and the old man gave it back to Harry.
"Your wand is acceptable Mr. Potter but you should know that for some reason the bond you share with it is no longer strong and you need to seek a replacement in two years.", he finished. That made Harry's eyebrows shoot up as he suspected two reasons for this development, it was either because of wandless magic ability or because of his emotional distress changing who he was as a person if Rowena was telling the truth about wand lore.
"Okay everyone, now we're going to take pictures of you and then Ms. Rita Skeeter will be conducting an interview with each of you.", Bagman said. Harry looked over at the blonde reporter and based on the predatory look she had in her eyes, he knew no good would come of that. Therefore, after they did the group photo, Harry began walking toward the door.
"Mr. Potter where are you going?", asked Bagman.
"I completed the ceremony, so I'm leaving as I have no desire to do more than what is required of me, especially with talking to her.", he said. He didn't even wait for a response as Harry walked out of the door without a care in the world. He also did not want to stick around for what he knew would be an interrogation by Dumbledore as to where he's been these last two weeks.
Harry was about to make his way down the corridor and towards the Owlery to visit Hedwig before heading back to the chamber. That was until his path was blocked by a very familiar figure, a very angry Nymphadora Tonks.
Tonks was called many things in life, the worst and most common one being her given name, but she was also called other things like brave, mischievous, wild, etc.; however, the one thing she was called most was a loyal, being the true Hufflepuff she was, and good friend.
When she first got this assignment of watching over a bunch of brats, she groaned as she hated the idea of watching kids even though they were only a few years younger than her; however, her annoyance was quickly replaced with intrigue when she met Harry Potter. He was really the main reason why Madame Bones sent the Aurors here in the first place as the boss was becoming more and more convinced that something was going on at Hogwarts and Harry was always at the center of it based on what her niece Susan told them. When she first saw him, she didn't think he was some kind of reincarnated Merlin as he was unassuming and very skinny, but that changed when she saw how unafraid he was to get in her annoying cousin Draco's face as many people dared not mess with the Malfoys.
When they began to hang out more when they both had free time, she was surprised by how much they had in common and enjoyed each other's company. Their shared interests and love of pranks made them get along real quick and they were now often in each other's company. It was nice having a friend who understood what it was like to be judged on their abilities, as a metamorphmagus she is often subjected to 'requests' to change into certain people or things especially by men in an intimate setting. Harry though didn't care about all that as he knew, due to the Parselmouth incident two years ago, that people were quick to mock or use you; it also helped that he thought she was beautiful without needing to change. She often reprimanded herself for having naughty thoughts about him due to their age difference and how people would react if they found out. Witches everywhere would be after me for seducing him, Bones would lecture me to death, and all my co-workers would laugh at me, she thought. Though, the more time she spent with him and they got to know each other's deeper secrets and insecurities, the more she thought her crush of him beyond the physical.
Then, his name came out of the Goblet of Fire two weeks and all Hell broke loose as all of the Hogwarts students turned against him and Harry disappeared as a result. For an entire fort night, she searched the castle up and down looking for her emerald eyed friend to offer him some form of comfort and friendship after hearing how all the students, including the Gryffindors, were treating him like he was scum. The only exceptions to that were his rival champion Cedric Diggory and Penelope, an old friend of hers she hasn't spoken to in a while since she and Charlie Weasley broke up. She and Chuck kept in touch as friends though and the news she just received from him sent into her into an immediate frenzy and she decided to wait outside the classroom where the Wand Weighing Ceremony was taking place to confront Harry as she knew this was likely her only chance. Harry needed a friend now more than ever and who better than the sexy Auror babe known as Tonks.
She noticed the classroom door opened and she took in Harry's appearance, he was shoddily dressed and looked like he hadn't been sleeping or eating that much. He noticed her and he immediately froze as he saw what was likely a very angry look on her face. Nice and scared, good, she thought menacingly.
"Wotcher, Harry. How has my dear friend been while I've been looking for him.", she hissed.
Harry gulped and said, "Hey Tonks, I know you probably have questions and you have every right to be angry but before you hex me, I just wanted to say that I missed you and I'm sorry for worrying you like that."
Tonks exhaled loudly, "Harry, I won't pretend I don't know what it's like to want to run away when bad things happen to you, especially when people turn their backs on you, but you should have known I wouldn't have done that. I am your friend and you are mine, that means we stick by each other no matter what and I promise you I'm nothing like your former friends."
Harry said, "I'm so tired Tonks, tired of being so alone and untrusting towards others."
Tonks just hugged him and said, "Hey, now that I've found you, I'm not going anywhere and I'll do whatever I have to prove I'm with you, starting tonight. Meet me near Hagrid's Hut at 10 o'clock, it has something to do with the tournament."
Harry nodded at her and she watched him walk off thinking about how tonight was going to go and his reaction and sighed to herself. This was definitely not her idea of a first date but it wouldn't exactly be her worst. Wait a minute…date!?Sweet Morgana, do I need to get laid.
Harry made his way towards Hagrid's Hut on time and saw Tonks smiling at him and told him to hide under his invisibility cloak and to follow her. Harry walked slowly behind her as they made their way into the forbidden forest when he noticed Hagrid and the Beauxbatons Headmistress walking together being very lovey dovey and Harry wanted to gag until he heard a roar behind the bushes in front of him.
Tonks led him further and motioned for him to look and what he saw shook him to his core as he saw Charlie Weasley and others trying to wrangle four large adult dragons in an attempt to calm them down. The first was a smaller green one that appeared to be the most subdued as it was annoyed by the handlers, but it didn't attack them. The second one was silvery-blue and the blue flames it produced were melting the bars as it tried to escape had it not been for what Harry assumed were extra wards around the cage. The third one was scarlet red with gold spikes and was clearly much more aggressive than the other two as it kept clawing at the cage and at its handlers. However, it was the much larger fourth one that drew Harry's attention as it was midnight black with armored scales and clearly the most dangerous as it almost successfully escaped from its cage, causing Charlie and the others to frantically use all of their magic to subdue it and they did after a few minutes.
Since Tonks brought him here to talk about the tournament and there were four dragons, that could only mean one thing. Fuck. My. Life., he thought. He and Tonks walked away before they could be spotted and Harry felt like fainting.
"It's official, the universe hates me.", he said bitterly. Tonks offered him a weak smile.
"I know, which is why when Charlie told me about dragons being the First Task, I knew I had to do something consequences be damned as I couldn't sit back and watch you die.", she said while hiding her face and her hair turning blue.
Harry was touched by how much she cared about him, in a way likely only Penny would care, and he decided to be brave and so he hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, and said thank you in his most genuine tone. Her hair quickly went from blue to red when he did that, but she smiled none the less. As they were walking back to the castle, they noticed Karkaroff slinking his way toward the dragons and Harry knew that meant he would tell Krum later on as Maxime would undoubtedly tell Fleur; therefore, he knew that tomorrow he would have to come out of hiding and tell Cedric about the dragons because he would be damned if he let one of his only three remaining friends be hurt over something so stupid. When I go outside tomorrow, I'm going to be bombarded with jealous scumbags but you know what, Fuck them. I'm going back to classes starting tomorrow as I can't let Su, Tracey, Neville, and Susan down anymore as their partner. It's time to show Hogwarts why Harry Potter doesn't take shit from no one anymore.