Harry came down to breakfast the next day with a crick inhis neck, having slept a few hours in the armchair in mama's office before shetook pity on him and let them skive off to Grimmauld for the night. It wasearly for breakfast on the weekend, but there were plenty of people already upand every single one of them turned to look at him as he sat near the end ofthe Gryffindor table. Sirius, bless his heart, came strolling into the GreatHall a second after him alongside Alabasandria, who was extremely hungover.Sirius was whistling a disco song and gathered everyone's attention as heheaded up to the head table. He greeted the other professors warmly and heldout a seat for Alabasandria who began to chug coffee like her life depended onit. Giving a few quiet words to Dumbledore and Lupin, he proceeded toshamelessly and loudly flirt with Madame Maxime.
As the students watched this confusing scene unfold,Harry tucked into his breakfast with a grateful smile.
"There you are! I was so worried!" Hermionecrashed into him, hugging him from behind. His three friends took point in theseats surrounding him.
"Sorry," he said. "Mama, Sirius, and I hada lot to talk about. By the time they were done, I was mostly asleep so theylet me crash with them for the night."
"Why'd you put your name in and not tell me?"Ron said, the words spewing from his mouth like he'd been holding in thatthought for a while.
"Ron!" the girls said.
"I didn't put my name in!" Harry insisted, hurtby Ron's accusation. "I didn't, I swear. You know mama said it would bedangerous."
"Well then how did it get in?" Ron complained."If anyone had been able to get past the age line, it would have been you- with the, ya' know -" he whispered, "- necromancy."
"How would that have helped?" Harry demanded."I can't make myself older."
"The Invisibility Cloak then!"
"I didn't put my name in," Harry said fiercely."I promised mama and Sirius that I would have a quiet year. This is theexact opposite of that!" He took a moment to steady his breathing. Hisvoice, which had been rising in anger, dropped down again. "They reckon itmight be that Crouch guy, the Ministry officiant. He's dripping in Dark magic,they think maybe he was imperiused by Voldemort."
Ron's face went red at that thought and he dipped hishead in shame.
"Blimey."
"Oh Harry," Luna whispered. "I'm so sorry.What are you going to do? We've heard that they're having you compete?"
"There doesn't seem to be any way out of it,"he said. "We're going to rely on my special talents and they don't want meto be alone with any of the tournament people, in case they try to kill medirectly."
"Is that likely?" Hermione asked, her face palewith concern.
"I dunno. Mama thinks they wouldn't have gonethrough the trouble to put my name in if they were in a position to kill me. Orthis could all be related to Voldemort's plan to return to his full form whichrequires me to be alive. All I can do is be diligent and not rouse any furthersuspicion."
"This is about as far from laying low as it couldget," Luna said. Hermione nodded and stared off into space, her mindwhirling away as she tried to find a solution to all Harry's problems.
"Ron?" He asked with hesitance. Ron was beingawfully quiet.
"Sorry. I know you didn't put your name in. It'sjust - how come everything cool always happens to you?" He complained.
"Ronald! Harry could die, and you're jealous!"
"Hermione," Harry interrupted. "It'salright. Look, being in the Tournament itself is exciting, separated from allthe potential murder bits. But I didn't plan for any of this, Ron! I didn't askto be famous. I didn't ask for my parents to die and for Voldemort to becomeobsessed with me - and now I find out there's a prophecy about me and I have tokill him! I didn't even ask to be a necromancer.
I'd like to win this tournament because I haven't donemuch to make myself famous, it's all been thrust upon me. I haven't earnedanything, or gotten to pick anything - and that isn't fair! That part of itisn't nice, it's dreadful and frustrating and might end up with me gettingmurdered!
I want to be recognized for my own worth, and I want thatfor all of you, too. I know you're going to win the dueling tournament, Ron. Iknow you are. You've beaten a Death Eater in a duel! And I promise I'll use anyopportunity to brag about you. I know people joke that you are my minions, butyou're my best friends."
"Hey, I'm proud to be your minion," Ron said,shooting a brief smile Harry's way. He continued in a somber tone, "I'venever thought of it that way. It makes sense. Sorry, Harry."
Luna sniffled and pulled them all into a group hug. Harryknew, that despite all the shit he was dealing with, his wonderful friends andfamily would be right there beside him the whole time. And that would beenough.
....
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