The following two weeks were absolutely chaotic for everyone.
Hermione had settled Winky in her own home. She'd written a letter for Dobby to deliver to her Muggle parents, though Dobby's sudden appearance in their sitting room had given them quite a shock. After a few days together, however, her parents were thoroughly delighted with Winky.
Following Orli's example, she'd officially employed Winky as their family housekeeper, with the same holidays and wages as Dobby. Winky was deeply resistant to this arrangement, so much so that Hermione had to give her wages to Dobby for safekeeping.
According to Dobby's reports, Winky's spirits had improved considerably now that she had housework to do again. From Winky's perspective, though, she wasn't being employed as an equal—she simply had new masters. Even if they were two Muggles, it was still better than the masterless days she'd endured.
Harry had to spend three evenings each week with Moody for special training, returning with aching muscles and bruises covering his body.
"Professor Moody says there's far too much I need to learn. He keeps making me do combat training with him..."
He rolled up his sleeve to show them the bruises on his elbow.
"He's taught me loads of advanced spells, but I can't see how any of them will help against a dragon."
He waved his wand and muttered an incantation, but only white mist puffed from the tip.
"It's the Patronus Charm. But... I've never managed it successfully."
Harry sighed. It wasn't surprising he couldn't succeed—he'd been feeling thoroughly miserable lately. The pressure of the first task weighed constantly on his mind, and just days ago, Rita Skeeter's article had been published.
The piece was less a report on the Triwizard Tournament than a sensationalised portrait of Harry's personal life. A massive photograph of Harry dominated the front page, and the entire article (continued on pages two, six, and seven) focused entirely on him. The Beauxbatons and Durmstrang champions' names were squeezed into the final line—misspelled, no less—whilst Cedric wasn't mentioned at all.
Moreover, Rita Skeeter had filled the article with reams of false, saccharine drivel, such as:
"Harry Potter has finally found his first love at Hogwarts, but his handsome appearance and enormous fame have entangled him in an inescapable love triangle. According to fellow students, Harry has been inseparable from Miss Hermione Granger and Miss Orli Waters—one a brilliant top student, the other remarkably gifted in Potions. More importantly, both young ladies are said to be extraordinarily beautiful. One can only wonder what choice Harry will ultimately make, though it seems he cannot bear to hurt either of them."
"Regarding his parents, Harry had this to say: 'I think it's my parents who give me strength. I know that if they could see me now, they'd be incredibly proud of me... Yes, sometimes at night I still cry for them, and I don't think there's any shame in admitting that... I know nothing in this competition can harm me, because they're watching over me from beyond...'"
Ever since the article appeared, Harry had to endure people—mainly Slytherin students—quoting passages to mock him mercilessly. Hermione and Orli naturally received their share of unpleasantness too, though both agreed the best approach to such gossip was to pretend they hadn't heard it.
But some people they simply couldn't ignore:
After reading the article, Ron became even more convinced that Harry was someone who loved showing off and basking in attention. He'd started giving Orli and Hermione the cold shoulder as well.
Fred and George had suddenly become insufferably gossipy. Despite countless explanations from Harry, Hermione, and Orli, they still wanted to know which of the two girls Harry actually fancied more.
Malfoy, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle, mocked Harry, Orli, and Hermione relentlessly, targeting Orli especially—even more than his usual hostility toward Harry. Every time Orli passed near him, she'd be called "Blind Waters" or "Love Triangle Waters."
Sirius sent Harry letter after letter, feeling terribly guilty for not knowing Harry still wept for his parents at night, then interrogating him thoroughly about his romantic situation.
Potions class had become absolute hell: not only did Harry face Snape's vicious attacks during lessons, but he was also kept behind for detention—spending two full hours pickling half-rotten rat brains.
The only thing Orli felt remotely grateful for was that Snape hadn't started targeting her with indiscriminate attacks as well. But other matters had been occupying most of her attention lately.
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