Under the Sea

Chapter Thirteen

Harry woke the next day, unsure of where to begin. Normally when anything strange or out of the ordinary occurred, he would tell Ron and Hermione. But he and Ron weren't talking thanks to the stupid tournament and Hermione would probably tell him to focus on the stupid tournament. Not that Harry was saying that he shouldn't focus on the tournament, it was just predictable of Hermione to focus on that one element.

He could always write to Sirius, but there was the danger of the letter getting intercepted. Plus there was Sirius' reaction to think about. The man came back to the country after escaping a massive man hunt because Harry had written him during the summer regarding his scar hurting. Imagine what would happen if Sirius thought his godson's memories had been tampered with? He might burst through the front doors!

Ariel was a strong option as well, however she, like Harry, was only fourteen. There was only so much they could do on their own—and Harry had a hunch the adults wouldn't approve of the two of them just based on how much the two worked to keep their friendship a secret.

So Harry was at a loss as to where to begin. This wasn't a new feeling for the young boy but that didn't mean that he particularly liked it. Placing his head back onto his pillow, Harry was thankful that it was the weekend and so urgent things like classes wouldn't have priority over this.

He just couldn't believe that there was a memory he had forgotten about. It was strange that it was now coming back to him. Could something had happened to him and that's why he forgot about it? Pausing for a moment, Harry stilled as he remembered that there was something that could have happened to him. A memory charm; Lockhart had taught him about those back in second year. Granted, Lockhart didn't so much as teach as threaten to erase all of his memories at once. Did that count as teaching? Ah well, it was the closest Lockhart ever came to actually teaching that year.

Well, memory charm or not, it certainly explained why Charlie acted like he knew Harry. It wasn't because of Harry's fame but because they actually did meet before. But what could have caused it to come back?

Harry's eyes burst open and he flung off the covers. How could he just ignore the obvious?! He could just ask Charlie about it—if it was a memory, Charlie would know and be able to tell him right? Quickly getting dressed, Harry scurried out of the dorm and ignored the calls from the few people milling around the Common Room. He was in no mood to deal with the Gryffindors who still believed he had entered himself into this competition. Well, he was never in the mood to deal with them. Honestly, what would possess them to think that a fourteen year old would enter such a dangerous contest? Then again this was the world where the Headmaster of a school thought the smartest thing to do would be to hide an extremely powerful object in said school with kids still inside from the spirit of a Dark Lord and protect it with traps that three eleven year olds were able to beat.

The way to the grounds seemed to take twice as long as it usually did but Harry was able to do it without anyone delaying him or flashing one of those 'Support Cedric Diggory' badges at him. As he neared the Forbidden Forest where the dragons and their keepers were located, Harry stopped dead in his tracks as a thought suddenly hit him. He was a Tri-Wizard Champion about to go where the first task was and ask one of the keepers a question. Wouldn't that look like he was trying to get unfair information? Especially seeing as the keeper in question was his best friend's brother?

Just as Harry had made up his mind to turn back, the person in question walked out of the Forbidden Forest looking slightly scorched and ashen but nevertheless okay.

"Harry?" Charlie called, looking confused as he noticed the younger boy walking toward him. "Everything okay? You look concerned."

Harry nodded but then stopped himself almost mid-nod. What was he doing? Charlie was actually asking about him. It wouldn't seem weird to mention the memory at all.