An Unexpected Ally

A Stack of Toast

"An extra lesson. That works." Hermione beamed at the idea of additional learning material.

"I thought you'd be fond of that idea." He chuckled.

"I'm fond of any idea that involves helping you with this bloody tournament." Hermione glowered.

"Hermione Granger! Watch your language!" Harry admonished her teasingly.

"Well, I'm sorry, but it's true! The nerve of those officials, forcing you to take part in something you didn't enter yourself! If I was the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, or the Department of Magical Games and Sports, I wouldn't let something like this happen. This isn't fair, Harry, you get into enough trouble as it is." Hermione took his hand and squeezed it, not breaking her rant whatsoever as she continued, gazing directly into his emerald eyes. "But don't you worry, I will stay by you every step of the way. We'll either find a way to exempt you from this pathetic excuse of an attempt at international cooperation or we'll bloody well make sure you win it." She said fiercely.

Harry felt an intense surge of appreciation for Hermione, accompanied by gratefulness and a few other things he couldn't work out. He simply stared at her for a few moments, taking in what she had said.

"You really think I have a chance at winning this thing?" Harry questioned with a smile.

"Oh, please, you've killed a Basilisk and fought off over a hundred Dementors with a charm I doubt any of those other morons could cast." Hermione scoffed. "You've definitely got more than a fair chance, Harry, as I said in our first year, you're an incredible wizard. I'd even say you're on par with Professor Dumbledore when he was your age, from what I've read." She beamed at him and he felt his face flush.

"I wouldn't say that-" He began modestly, but Hermione wouldn't let him speak further on that matter.

"I would." She smiled, looking at him for a moment longer as she could see him deliberating.

"Fine. Let's win the Triwizard Tournament." Harry returned the grin and Hermione broke out into yet another radiant beam.

"Excellent. But there's something you should do first." Hermione reminded him.

"But all my homework is done." Harry stated, blind to what she meant.

"Write to Sirius." She said meaningfully. "He'll want to know about this."

"I don't want to bother him." Harry admitted and Hermione couldn't help but smile. Even though he had changed recently, he was still the same Harry.

"Wouldn't you want to know if Sirius was entered into a tournament like this?" Hermione asked him and he grudgingly confirmed this to be the truth. "Then get off of your arse and go to the owlery!" She ushered him out of his chair and he laughed.

"Alright, alright! See you in the common room?" Harry asked with a grin.

"I'll be researching some more spells to add to our curriculum. Um, if you wouldn't mind, of course." Hermione added.

"Hermione, you have my full permission to go as spell-crazy as you'd like." Harry's grin hadn't left his face. "I'll be sure to tell Sirius about how helpful you've been."

"O-Oh, you don't have to-" Hermione began, but he was already leaving.

"Too late!" He sang cheekily as he exited the library, narrowly avoiding Madam Pince's angry hissing.

"You bloody idiot." Hermione rolled her eyes with a smile on her face.

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Surprisingly, the journey from the library to the owlery was tamer than Harry expected. Less people opted to stick their legs out in an attempt to trip him and even the general mood of the student body towards him was slightly more positive. It seemed that word had spread of his nonchalant attitude towards his opposition and as a result, people were less keen to antagonise him if they thought he wouldn't satisfy them a response. Of course, there were still those that glared at him as he passed, mainly those from Hufflepuff and Slytherin, but Ravenclaw seemed to be giving him more than enough space and Gryffindor, of course, was on his side.