Again this chapter is the idea of Dorkchic.
Harry dismounted from his broomstick only then hearing the masses of cheers from the audience and more than a few gobsmacked looks. Harry's first thought was that he wished Lucius was there to see his win but unfortunately he wasn't there. Harry's second thought was Ron and Hermione. Hermione didn't seem too concerned but she hated Quidditch. Ron, on the other hand, looked completely furious at Hay as though it was Harry's fault Ron couldn't had been kicked out in the first round.
Krum dismounted after Harry and approached him. After growing up with Dudley and being best friends with Ron and Hermione Harry expected the international seeker to be furious at being beaten by a fourth year school student. Instead Krum stuck out his hand which Harry took warily.
'You fly very well,' Krum said.
'Than you,' Harry said, 'so do you.'
'I vould like to play again,' Krum said, 'for fun.'
'I'd be happy to,' grinned Harry.
'You vould do vell playing professionally,' Krum said.
'Thanks,' Harry said.
'Vell England needs all ve hope vey can get,' grinned Krum.
Harry laughed, 'I'll give you that.'
By this time the other players had dismounted. Katie's boyfriend was glaring at Harry to introduce him to Krum. Harry could have rolled his eyes at the older Gryffindor had it not been very unsportsmanlike to do so with his hands clasped around Krum's.
'Oh, these are my team mates Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, Katie Bell, Cormac McLaggen, Fred and George Weasley,' Harry said.
'It iz nice to greet vu,' Krum replied.
The two teams made their way to the changing room to get changed and showered although not in that order. The team was on a high at beating Krum. Harry knew that Oliver Wood would be spitting with jealously at not only not meeting Viktor Krum but beating him at Quidditch.
As soon as they walked out of the changing room the Gryffindor team were greeted by a mass of journalists and their photographers all trying to take a snap of the now famous team that had beaten the international Quidditch player. The rest of the team seemed to have no idea what to do whilst Harry who had been thrust into the spotlight at the age of eleven. Harry still hated it and didn't really have any idea what to do in the spotlight but he was the only one to have any experience.
'We cannot answer your questions if you're shouting over each other,' Harry spoke loudly and clearly.
'How does it feel to have beaten the Durmstrang team with Viktor Krum in?' asked a reported a full head of dark hair.
'Surprising,' Harry replied. 'We never expected to win against Krum. We were just trying to get as many points as we can.'
'We heard that you flew in the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament. Are you expecting to go professional?' asked a pretty reported with blonde hair.
'I don't know,' Harry replied. 'I haven't thought about my future yet.'
Harry would normally have said more but he had to be careful here. If he said too much Dumbledore would know that he was no longer being fed the number of potions he was previously so he acted like he wasn't sure what he'd do yet. It was the best bet.
'I do have another three and half years of Hogwarts,' Harry added. 'I do know that our acting Captain Angelina Johnson would like to fly for the Holyhead Harpies.'
That led to the attention being turned onto Harry's team mates so that Harry could find his traitorous ex-best friends as he would have done a few months ago. Ron was still scowling at the floor but Hermione hugged him with a congratulatory hug which would have been brilliant if Harry hadn't known it was fake. Harry had to wipe any emotions of his face at this point.
'That was brilliant,' Hermione grinned.
'Thanks,' Harry grinned. 'Are you okay Ron.'
'Fine,' grumped Ron.
Ron was kicked by Hermione clearly saying act nicely we have to spy on the son of the Dark Lord. Harry really hated these two and wished that he could throw a party with his followers who if not care for him respected and feared him or his father. At least they weren't so fake and planning to murder him at any chance.
The next day was the day of the Gobstones championship. Harry didn't know anyone in it so wasn't planning to go as he had no interest in the game and neither Ron nor Hermione were going to be watching. Harry did wonder what they would do instead.
At Breakfast Harry received multiple letters from the various teams around Britain including England itself for him to play for them. Harry actually would have quite enjoyed that but knew that he couldn't before speaking to his father so wrote back to them saying that he was very interested in their offers explaining that as he was underaged he was unable to compete without his guardian's say so which they did not give. To Hermione and Ron Harry explained that the Dursleys would never give Harry permission to do something he enjoyed without an incentive which Harry had none.
To Harry's disgust that actually cheered Ron up. Harry clenched the quill in his hand at this point trying to disguise his fury at his false friends with anger that because of the Dursley's Harry wouldn't be able to play the game he loved at a professional level. Harry wished he could get away with punching Ron Weasley.
The afternoon was a laugh watching the talent show. There were some really good ones but there was others like Ginny Weasley who had decided to try and seduce Harry with a song that to Harry sounded like a banshee. Needless to say she did not win.
In fact it was Justin Flinch-Fletchley from Harry's year who did win. He had been classically trained to play the cello from an early year and kept it up even at Hogwarts. Harry had found him to be really good player although he wasn't exactly musically inclined.
Harry found out from Angelina after dinner on that day that she had been invited for try-outs for the Holyhead Harpies the coming season. Angelina who was of age was able to agree and she did straight away. She knew it would be a push doing both professional Quidditch and NEWTs but if worse came to worse she could do her NEWTs a year later instead.
The next day Harry got letters from the teams he had replied to saying that they understood his guardian's concerns on juggling his schoolwork with professional Quidditch at such an early age that they would be happy to have him as a substitute only playing in a number of matches or to apply in the summer he turned seventeen for the new season they would remember his defeat of Viktor Krum. Harry snorted at the idea of the Dursley's showing concern for him or at the idea of anyone forgetting him. Harry was the so called Boy Who Lived who had beaten a professional international Quidditch player at the age of fourteen.
The following Monday was the day of the chess tournament which would be held in the Great Hall which would be changed into three chess tables surrounded by a spectator viewing sound which was blanketed in silencing spells so they could talk to each other without interrupting the players. Ron was on the first sitting at eleven o'clock after lunch facing a smug Malfoy which brought Harry to the reason that he wasn't paying any attention to the matches. The other two matches were played by a young Ravenclaw versus Neville Longbottom and another between to Ravenclaw in Ginny's year.
Harry watched Ron being lead on a merry ride by Draco Malfoy. Ron would have been good if it had not been for Malfoy riling up the red head not even by saying anything just by raising his eyebrows every time Ron made a movement. It meant that Ron lost and stormed out of the Great Hall.
'Come on,' Hermione said, 'let's find him.'
The two of them arrived at the entrance of the Great Hall but couldn't see Ron anywhere. Harry didn't really want to look for the traitor nor spend a lot of time with Hermione. Harry hoped for an excuse to get rid of Granger.
'Why don't we split up,' suggested Harry.
Hermione nodded naturally seeming happy to have an excuse to get rid of Harry so that she could comfort Ron for his loss against Draco Malfoy on her own without having to act for Harry. Harry, however, didn't mind well not really mind. Not anymore at least.
'Got rid of the traitor,' a cultured voice said.
'Hello Lucius,' Harry said. 'I thought you'd be congratulating Draco.'
'And I thought you'd be comforting your friend,' Lucius said amused.
'Ah well he ran off,' Harry smirked. 'I'm supposed to be looking for him. Unless you think I have something better to do.'
'Oh I might have,' smirked Lucius.
'Room of Requirement,' Harry said.
'Room of Requirement,' agreed Lucius.
Naturally the two men couldn't be seen walking through the school together even with the portraits on Harry's side as the heir of not one but two of the Founders. It meant that he owned half of Hogwarts but since the Ravenclaw house had died out it meant that the Smiths could never go over his head.
Harry using the range of secret pathways he had found over the years arrived at the Room of Requirement before Lucius and was already lying on the silk covered bed in the middle of the room when Lucius came in. Harry smirked at his older lover who walked in looking like he had just done his hair which knowing the Malfoy Lord's vanity he probably had. Lucius just smirked back at him.
'You took your time,' Harry murmured. 'Did you do your make up?' snickered Harry.
'Only the best for you, my dear,' Lucius replied joining Harry on the bed.
Lucius tried to pin Harry to the bed but Harry rolled so that Lucius was now under him. Lucius didn't appear to mind too much but Lucius never had minded. Lucius didn't care about positions only about pleasure.
'My turn,' murmured Harry.
Lucius and Harry began to strip each other. Lucius keeping his wand long enough to cast protection spells on the both of them just in case at some point he got to top. Harry began to prepare his lover and what followed was perhaps the gentlest love making the two of them had partook in. Yet it lacked none of it's usual passion.
Harry didn't know what was going on with their relationship but he knew that things were changing. Harry didn't know if it was because Lucius had been the one he had turned to in his time of need or if it would have occurred anyway but he knew things were becoming more complicated. Harry couldn't say he regretted it at all though with Lucius was the happiest he had ever been. True enough there wasn't much of a competition.
Finally Harry made it up to the Common Room just before dinner to tell Granger he hadn't found Ronald. Only to find Ronald Weasley sitting there anyway looking very smug about something. However, Ronald's smugness worried him but he didn't know what the red head who for some reason wasn't talking to him had done.
'What's up with Ron?' asked Harry like he would have done before.
'He's just jealous,' Granger assured Harry falsely or semi-falsely at least considering how jealous the red head was of Harry. 'You're getting all these Quidditch offers and Ron didn't make it past the first round of what he's best at. It doesn't help that Malfoy got through to the next round.'
'Well I'll bet Malfoy will go out in the next round,' Harry said. 'He's not exactly the most level headed of the bunch,' snorted Harry. 'Malfoy probably only got through because he was able to rile Ron up,' that was true but he didn't think that would prevent Draco from winning. 'Just wait and see tomorrow Malfoy will be out.
'Still Ron seems to be dealing better than he was earlier,' Harry said. 'What did you say to cheer him up? I'd like to save that knowledge for the next time Ron gets upset.'
'Nothing,' Granger said looking gobsmacked but scowling at the "playful" insult to the boy she fancied. 'I found him in the kitchens and he seemed a lot happier than earlier. No idea why.'
Granger seemed to be genuine but with everything Harry no longer believed a word that came out of her mouth. Harry would just have to watch the troublesome trio over the next few days for anything they might be concocting. Harry doubted Dumbledore the Master of Manipulation would be in on it because he would never act so rashly and never out of petty revenge.
Harry laughed, 'food always cheers Ron up.'
Still Harry was worried. Ronald Weasley may not be the smartest of the bunch (understatement of the century) but he was known to act rashly when he was angry and jealous. Harry had far too many secrets (some of which the youngest Weasley male knew) that could cause Harry a lot of trouble should they come out!
The next day Harry found out exactly what the red head had done when Granger spat her morning Pumpkin juice out all over the morning edition of The Daily Prophet. When Granger tried to keep The Prophet from him Harry became suspicious grabbing The Prophet off the brunette. Unfortunately the front page was soaked through but luckily Abigail Nicola one of his followers chucked a paper at him.
Apparently after the contestants were knocked out they had been given an opportunity to say a few words to the audience like in a reality T.V. competition that Dudley watched. Harry had been busy with Lucius at the point that Skeeter tracked down Weasley but luckily she seemed in support of him which could only be good for him. Harry might even be able to have another falling out with them so he didn't have to act constantly like an idiot and be on his guard all the time in case they used compulsion spells and potions on him (again).
The Dark Side of the Golden Life
by Rita Skeeter
Harry Potter, our hero, our champion and world class Quidditch player has been previously quoted in this publication of being completely loyal to his best friends Ralph Weasley and Hannah Granger. Ralph Weasley is from a long line of outstanding wizards including a Curse Breaker and a Dragon Tamer and Hannah Granger a Muggleborn witch at the top of her year. Harry is quoted saying this about his friends:
"Ron's smart and the best friend I could hope for"
"Hermione's my bossy big sister I couldn't do without"
Sounds like a strong friendship but this journalist has discovered a rotten core at the centre of this golden friendship. Our dearest Harry may be under the belief that this is a true friendship but it is a sham. Mr Weasley has revealed to this publication that he is only in it for the fame.
After Ralph's dismal performance at chess yesterday I took him aside to ask him what had gone wrong. After all Harry potter had claimed Ronald to be his "tactics man" . I was expecting the young Weasley to be upset but at the end of the day to be a good sport but that's not what I got.
"It was all Malfoy's fault. How on earth was I supposed to concentrate on the game with him goading me every time I tried to move my piece"
So Weasley blamed his competitor. I was personally there to watch the game and I say that Mr Malfoy played admirably. Maybe Heir Malfoy could be the replacement "tactics man" that Harry so obvious needs.
I next asked what his friends were saying about his loss. After all one as loyal as our Harry would never let his friend suffer alone. And indeed when we managed to track down someone to tell us where to find out where our young hero was it was to tell us that Mr Potter was looking for his best friend who had stormed off after losing the game. Apparently this is a common thing for Mr Weasley to do says Abigail Nicola.
"Weasley lashed out last year as well at Granger when her cat ate his rat. I understand it was upsetting but to fall out with your friend for her cat following it's nature his stupid."
I then asked if this had ever happened to Mr Potter before or was this the first time Weasley's true colours had shown themselves. I was appalled to realise that no this was not the first time this had happened. Nicola says this:
"When Potter's name came out of the Goblet half the school shunned him including Weasley. I think the only friend he had at the time was Granger."
Well here I thought that he had at least one loyal friend but Nicola disabused of this notion as well which saddened me. A young man as loyal as Harry Potter should have as many friends as possible not the two traitorous friends he has. I plead my young readers to reach out to this lonely child just as we would hope he would reach out to you.
"Granger just seems to put him down a lot because he's not a bookworm like she is. Honestly I'm not sure what he sees in either of them. They both just seem to be in it for the fame rather for Potter himself. Weasley his jealous and greedy and Granger is terribly ambitious. It wouldn't surprise me if she was using him so that she would be able to get the job she wanted. I don't know Potter well but I would like to get to know him and not for his fame."
Now we finally get to the part that I am sure my readers have all being waiting for what Ron thinks about his famous best friend. I should warn my readers that these are not my thoughts. I have always admired our young celebrity.
"It was all a set up. I should have won that game. I'd bet you anything that Malfoy and Harry were in on it together. Harry was just trying to hog all the fame for himself.'
I was confused here as how could Harry set up his friend to lose. After all there were judges who prevented any cheating such as Gordon Pummell of Slytherin who was disqualified for attempting to cheat. I asked him how Harry had managed to pull it off but the young Mr Weasley just continued to rant about Harry.
"That the stupid Scarhead wouldn't be anywhere without me. It was me that figured out what was in the Chamber of Secrets and where it was. Harry did nothing. Harry never did. He always took the credit for me and Hermione. Harry was useless and no one could see it because they couldn't see beyond the boy-who-lived crap. That was the only reason his sister would have anything to do with him anyway. Even Hermione says that Harry's just an idiot we're tired of carrying him because of his bloody fame.'
Hermione Granger and Harry Potter were unavailable for questioning but what Weasley says fits in with what Miss Nicola has said. I wish Harry the best of luck and hope that he will find true friends that don't betray him or use him for his fame.
I have once again spoken to Miss Weasley who is still convinced that her hero will sweep her off her feet but is this crush as innocent as we once thought. Given who her brother is it is quite possible that Miss Weasley has ulterior reasons for wanting to marry Harry Potter. It is well known that the Weasleys are not well off. It is more than possible that Miss Weasley in fact wants Harry Potter for his money to save her from the poor life she has lived. Well this reporter has news for you and any other gold-diggers and fame-junkies who look the way of our impressionable young hero. If you want to improve your station improve it yourself don't look for a naïve young Heir to solve your problems for you!
Solve them yourself!
One has to wonder how far the rot goes in the Weasley family. Is it just the youngest two Weasleys? Or does it go further than that. A rich son in law would let Arnold Weasley continue to play with his Muggle toys without worrying about feeding his family!
Whatever the case. How dare this apparently upstanding family play with the feelings of a poor orphaned child who so desperately wanted to belong to a family of his own kind.
Harry gaped, 'is this true!?' Harry demanded. 'Is this really how you feel?'
Of course, Harry knew that every word of it was true but he had to act as heartbroken as he'd been when Weasley fell out with him a few months prior. He'd have to thank Abigail later for supporting him in the paper. It allowed him to ditch the traitors.
'No, of course not,' Hermione said quickly glaring at Weasley.
'Every word of it,' Weasley said glaring at Harry. 'You just can't stand me being better at something than you are!'
'I don't care,' Harry shouted. 'I hate chess! And I fucking know you can wipe the floor with me at chess!
'Then you insinuate that I'd do anything with Malfoy!' Harry sneered.
'Never mind it's a game of strategy,' Abigail added. 'How in the name of Merlin could anyone fix chess!? You're just sore you lost!'
Weasley scowled, 'you don't know Harry like I do he's a waste of space.'
Harry's chest constricted at that. Okay they hadn't been friends for months or at least Harry knew they hadn't been friends for months but to refer to the Dursleys treatment of him. To refer what he had told them in confidence when he believed them to be the people he trusted the most in the world hurt a lot.
'Fine,' Harry shouted. 'If I'm such a dead weight then fuck off. I'll find my own friends!'
'Who would want you as a friend if it weren't for your fame?' demanded Weasley.
'Who would want you as a friend at all!?' Harry shouted. 'You have me and Hermione! You fucked up last year with Hermione and you'll do it again! I hate you!'
Harry then stormed off it felt good to get some of that off of his chest. He had been carrying around that weight for what felt like years even though it had been only months. Now he would never have to worry about pretending to be their friends again after their exceptionally public row.
If anything their becoming friends again would be deemed as suspicious behaviour. Harry was sure that plenty of people like Abigail would be the first to have him checked out if that happened. It certainly took a weight off of his shoulders.
Dumbledore would have to try another method of getting him under his control with other people. Harry was going to be careful when making new friends that they weren't also in the employ of Dumbledore. Harry had survived one betrayal Harry didn't think he could survive another one!
Dumbledore wouldn't even be surprised that he fell out with them. Harry had fallen out with them twice before both times for far less reasons. Nobody would ask any questions which would help Harry to no end.
Harry would even have the excuse to study more on his own. Thus get better grades. Now that he wasn't having getting Granger's help anymore and Weasley wasn't distracting him. Never mind it would mean Harry could go to the library and not have anyone making sure he was reading what the old fool wanted him to read.
Now he could choose another partner for potions with one of his new friends. Of course, he would have to stick to non-Slytherins. If Harry suddenly started making new friends with Slytherins then Dumbledore would find it a cause for concern and look into his recent activities but making friends with some of his classmates from other Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff would be fine.
Already Weasley and Granger were becoming hated by the rest of the school. Hopefully the Weasley chit would soon to be reviled by the rest of the school and once Harry and she had a public argument it would be far too suspicious to dose him with love potions as his attitude changing overnight would clearly be the cause of potions or spells. Harry wished he had thought of this earlier and he would have already been rid of the traitorous two.
.
.
.
.
.