A Second Chance

Chapter 9: A Change This Time Round

There was total, complete silence in the hall. None of the students were moving, yet all their heads snapped towards the Gryffindor Table where the couple was seated. The expressions on the faces of their companions varied greatly from anger, confusion, jealousy to awe. Their house members were staring at him, half of them with their mouth agape and the rest half seething with jealousy and anger which of course, obviously included the redheaded menace and their 'former' friend. The expressions of teachers sitting at the head table also varied from person to person. Dumbledore had an odd twinkle in his eyes, like he knew his name was going to come out from the goblet. McGonagall, Flitwick, and almost all the others excluding the greasy haired git had confusion and worry for their pupil etched on their faces. Snape had his usual, trademark sneer on his face and was staring at him, almost as if to launch a legilimency probe on him. While Moody the 'imposter' sowed no expression and remained neutral, yet his eye gave him out, the natural eye of his was twinkling with mirth and excitement. He wondered briefly how he had failed to notice the subtle hints of left by the impostor.

Jast as quickly as the silence was caused, it broke thanks to the jealousy of the redheaded menace getting better of him. As a cry of 'CHEATER' resonated in the great hall, all hell broke loose and the students from all three schools were shouting, screeching, screaming obsanities on the top of their lungs. After a few moments Harry had had enough, he quickly pecked Hermione once and stood up, his face totally neutral and a determination to prove himself on his face. He walked upto the staff table and turned facing the entire hall still screaming bloody murder. Retrieving his wand, pointing it to his neck he silently cast a sonorus charm. The wordless casting was unnoticed by almost everyone. Almost, the one noticing being Dumbledore whose eyebrows shot up significantly by witnessing the display.

"SILENCE" His sharp voice echoed throughout the hall and the chaos died down instantly. The people in the hall were glancing at him like he had grown another head and were murmuring to each other.

"I swear on my life and magic that I have not willingly entered my name in the goblet nor have I asked any adult to enter my name. So mote it be. " A blinding white light erupted from his chest and covered the entire school and completed the magical oath. When the light faded away people were now torn from looking jealous to awe. Some of them were muttering God knows what.

"Expecto Patronum" He muttered and a giant golden stag burst out from his wand, nuzzled him, strutted down the Gryffindor table towards his girlfriend and nuzzled her hair and faded away. There was total silence regained and now all of them were looking or more like leering towards him. He quickly took the parchment from Dumbledore's hand, who was also a bit dumbstruck by witnessing the phenomenal display of power and practically ran towards the champion chambers but not before flashing Hermione his traditional lopsided-grin. She just huffed in return and muttered 'show off' under her breath. A few of her classmates broke into fits of laughter hearing her and soon the tension was dissipated.

The champions were given the the instructions and warnings for the tournament and the tournament had started. He had noticed that time round all three of the champions had accepted him and were feeling a bit of pity for him being thrusted into a death trap. 'How wrong were they.'

Dumbledore asked Harry for a word before he had retired for the day and he was definitely surprised as he didn't remember having any conversation with the headmaster after the briefing. He plucked some Gryffindor courage and made his way towards the man with twinkling eyes full with life.

"Harry my boy, how are you coping up with this new added burden? " The headmaster asked far too jovially for the situation they were in. Harry inwardly scoffed at his piss poor attempt to strick up a conversation.

"I'm alright sir, har better than I had expected I would be, I think it's because of Hermione and that the other people trust me that I'm not panicking. "