He did well in this test. He couldn't do otherwise — he was Harry Potter, after all... Someday he would get tired of it. The boys greeted the winner with cheers, even though they had hated him just a short time ago. How quickly they changed...
Now there was a real celebration in the Gryffindor common room — "Harry" was being carried on the shoulders of the Weasley twins, who were tossing him up in the air, while he held high above his head the golden egg — the prize for the first task and a clue to the second. The kids below were bursting with applause and cheers.
"Well, Harry, what's the clue?" asked Seamus Finnigan.
"I don't know," he replied. "Do you want me to open it?"
"Yes!" a chorus of voices burst out.
But as soon as Harry opened the egg, the living room was filled with a shrill, unpleasant scream, and the children covered their ears. He quickly closed the source of the noise and, noticing Ron entering, hurried downstairs and headed towards him.
"You'd have to be a complete idiot to give up your name," Ron said with a sad smile.
To which Harry just shrugged: "It took you long enough to figure that out.
"Everyone thought you left it yourself..." Ron exhaled. "They were whispering behind your back... Will you forgive me for my behaviour? I know I'm an idiot and all that..."
"It's okay, Ron," Harry interrupted him immediately, and the boys hugged each other in a friendly manner.
***
The next test was to take place after the Christmas holidays. In the meantime, Hogwarts was preparing for another event — the traditional Yule Ball. Rehearsals were held in the Great Hall under the guidance of Professor McGonagall...
...There was very little time left before the ball, so it was time to find a partner. Harry didn't know who to ask... No, actually, he did.
Hermione was talking to her friends when Harry approached her.
"Hi," said the boy.
"Hi," Hermione smiled. "Did you want something?"
Harry smiled uncertainly. All his confidence had vanished, even though the script in his head was much simpler.
"Hermione, I want to ask you to the ball. Will you go?" he said in one breath.
"Huh?" Granger's eyes widened, and after standing there for a few seconds, she replied, "Okay, I'll go."
"Yes?" Harry asked, surprised. "Just like that?"
"Well, yes, why make things complicated?" Hermione replied, then glanced behind "Harry" and stared at a spot on the floor.
"Harry" turned around and saw Victor Krum looking at them disapprovingly. When Krum saw that "Harry" was looking at him, he quickly turned away.
"Looks like someone was late with the invitation," Hermione shrugged.
"Well, see you at the ball, then?" Harry smiled.
"See you there!
Happy, Harry went to his room.
***
"Harry!" The boy saw his brother running towards him. It had been a long time, and he no longer intended to call him his doppelganger. "Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Harry didn't understand.
The boys were in the large hall having lunch.
"Victor Krum asked Felicity to the ball," Barry said. "What, you didn't hear?"
"Well, I didn't hear until you said it," Harry shrugged.
"The whole school is talking about it...
"Have you asked anyone yet?"
"Yes. Caitlin agreed right away. Harry, you have no idea how happy I am!
"Are you in love, by any chance?" Harry noticed his brother's dreamy look, who immediately dismissed his question with a quick shake of his head.
"What? No-o-o!" the boy replied. "Well, okay. Who did you ask?"
"Hermione.
"Oh, great!
"Harry!" The friends' conversation was interrupted by Ron Weasley's shrill cry.
The boy was walking towards them, his fists clenched, his face full of indignation.
"Is it true that you invited Hermione?" Ron asked, pursing his lips.
"Well, yes, why?" replied Harry, not understanding the reason for his friend's anger.
"I just... I wanted to be the first to ask her!
"Well, sorry, Ron, you're too late.
"Well...
Ron turned and walked away, and "Harry" just quietly snorted into his palm. He immediately remembered the canonical events in which Ron and Hermione were supposed to be together, and judging by everything, Weasley was already taking the first steps. But "Harry" had interrupted these events, unconsciously, of course, but what could he do now? He couldn't cancel the invitation, especially since it would clearly be detrimental to his relationship with Hermione.
***
There were only a couple of hours left before the ball when Harry decided to go to his room to pick up his jacket and saw Ron fidgeting unhappily in front of the mirror. Seeing Harry, he turned to him and was surprised.
"What? What's that?" Ron pointed at Harry's clothes.
"It's... my suit," he replied, picking up his jacket from his bed.
"What a wonderful suit! No laces, no silly collar!
"Well, at least you have a more traditional suit.
"Traditional? It's a rag. I look like Grandma Tracy," Ron sniffed at his suit. "And I smell like her... Kill me, Harry..."
...The boys went out together. "Harry" saw Barry chatting happily with Caitlin, who seemed to be laughing at his jokes. She was wearing a classic blue dress that suited her perfectly. The boys immediately joined them, and a little later Padma Patil, Ron's partner for the evening, came over.
"Where's Hermione?" Caitlin asked.
As they say, when you think of the sun, a ray of sunshine appears. Granger was coming down the stairs, and "Harry" froze. She was really beautiful, in a delicate purple dress with her hair neatly tied back... The girl approached "Harry," and he smiled. Hermione was incredible.
"Ah, there you are!" Professor McGonagall began, appearing right behind them. "I've been looking everywhere for you. Why aren't you in the hall yet, Mr Potter?"
"Huh? What?" Harry didn't understand.
"The champions of the Tournament are supposed to open the ball first. Didn't anyone tell you?"
"Um, no..."
"Oh," Minerva said, cutting herself off. "Well, now you know. Come on, hurry up! You guys can go join the others. It's about to start!"
His friends said goodbye, and Harry went with Hermione to the designated place. No, he couldn't take his eyes off her...
...It was a wonderful evening, and Harry felt free. He danced with his friends, not worrying about the troubles ahead.
The only one who didn't fit in was Ron, who sat alone at the end of the hall, completely lost in his thoughts. His partner had long since left to dance with the others, and Weasley just sat there, glaring at him and Hermione. "Harry" felt very guilty, because he understood perfectly well the reason for his dissatisfaction. He decided that the best course of action was to stay out of it and try to avoid his red-haired friend. After all, they had only recently made up, and he didn't want to ruin their newly rebuilt friendship.
***
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