Death's Chosen Child

Chapter 2: Part two

Getting back to the Great Hall was a world of difference after disappearing for the whole day with Hermione. They both agreed to keep being friends, and even when Hermione wasn't sure how well that would go in Slytherin, Harry was adamant that he didn't want to hide his friendship with her. Hermione was practically his sister, so the Slytherin's would be in for a treat if they would say a bad thing about her.

Hermione just shook her head fondly and didn't say anything, but Harry could tell that she was secretly pleased.

The Slytherin seventh years didn't mind when Harry sat with them again, even if some of them were uncomfortable. Izzy clearly didn't care because she immediately started asking him what he had done today.

''My, it feels a little like the Spanish inquisition. I had some loose ends that needed to be tied up. Is that okay?'' He replies sarcastically. Izzy merely beams at him. ''Atta boy, never answer a question directly as a Slytherin. You're already learning.'' She pats him on the arm, and he rolls his eyes.

''I did have an excellent teacher.'' He drawled with a smirk, thinking back at Lady Magic that surely had been a Slytherin if she ever would've been sorted at Hogwarts.

At that moment, Snape descends on him. He smirks at the man, and Snape sneers back. ''Potter, with me.'' He then turns around, and Harry lets out a put-out sigh, making the seventh years snigger around him.

He quickly follows Snape to the room next to the Great Hall, where the champions should've been gathered the day before. He sees Cedric making his way, too, with Sprout by his side.

When he steps into the room, he sees the other champions already there with their respective Headmasters.

Harry also sees Mr. Bagman and Crouch standing in a corner, Bagman seems excited, and Crouch looks more like he wants to flee the room and be sick. Harry dismissed them and waited until Cedric took place next to him to talk.

''Hello Cedric, I'm sorry for everything that happened. I really didn't want to steal your thunder or anything. If it were up to me, I wouldn't have competed at all. And like I said yesterday, I will be contesting under a 'fourth school' so you're still the Hogwarts champion, you deserve that.'' Harry tells the blonde wizard seriously.

Cedric looks at him incredulously before he grins at Harry. ''Thank you, Harry, that means a lot. I - well, I wanted to ask if you're okay, because yesterday-''

Harry waves his question away. ''I'm fine. I got adopted and had three calm years with a lot of training and studying. Instead of being constantly on the edge of dying, it was a nice change of pace.'' Harry replies with a smirk when Cedric's eyes widen, and the laugh he lets out seems a little strained.

''Adopted?'' Fleur suddenly interrupts, clearly having overheard the conversation. ''My clazzmates told me that you were taken by Death.'' She looks at Harry curiously, and Harry smiles at her.

''Death did tell everyone that I'm his chosen child, sounds like adoption to me,'' Harry replies with a wink, making Fleur blush and look away.

''The Prophet will have a field day tomorrow! The Triwizard Tournament will be known all over the world, especially with the boy who lived adopted by Death himself!'' Bagman exclaims excitedly.

Harry barely represses a sneer aimed at the man, but then Dumbledore walks in, and Harry straightens a little. It won't surprise him if Dumbledore wants to speak with him after this.

Bagman then claps Crouch harshly on the shoulder, making the older wizard wince. ''Barty! Please have the honors, tell them about the first task!''

''Yes- yes, the first task.'' Harry again can't help but think that the man looks sick.