Harry Potter and the Serpent Slayer

Chapter 9: A Gentle Reprieve

Harry's stunning victory in the First Task made things much better for the young champion. Just about everyone in Hogwarts (barring the Slytherins of course) had given him their congratulations and said they'd always believed in him. For the huge majority of people Harry knew that was baloney, but he didn't want to upset anyone and ruin his newfound peace when he'd only just won it. So he smiled and nodded his head every time someone came to talk to him, let people bother him with questions about his sword and how he'd come up with the plan to fight the Horntail, assuring concerned people (mostly girls) that he was fine even though he was still walking on crutches and his torso was completely bandaged underneath his robes and just tried to be as polite as possible. Madam Pomfrey had done all that she could to fix him up, but she said that some of the burns would never heal properly and leave scars for the rest of his life.

"Hey, Charlie reckons the girls will love you even more now. 'Chicks love guys with scars,' I think that was what he said," said Ron one day when Harry was complaining about the burn marks' itchiness.

It was a sudden change, but one that Harry welcomed after the rough start to the school year. He had Ron back, Hermione was the same and he himself could take it easy and recover. Best of all, Cho was popping up more and more, and their conversations were getting less awkward. Harry still had those strange butterflies in his stomach every time he saw her, but after fighting a dragon he was no longer as nervous and felt more comfortable speaking to her. Cho was kind, thoughtful and possessed an intelligence to rival Hermione's and a wit that could cause Ron to burst into laughing fits. And since the First Task, she'd been nothing but helpful to Harry and his friends while he recovered.

"Are you sure you're okay?" asked Cho on a particularly chilly early December day. She was holding Harry's bag and walking alongside him slowly through the Hogwarts main courtyard towards the tower where Transfiguration was while Ron walked on his other side, making sure he didn't slip over. Behind them, Hermione had her head buried in a book, muttering under her breath.

"I'm fine Cho, really. I'm getting checked up by Madame Pomfrey after class anyway," assured Harry, perhaps a little exasperatedly. He knew she and the others meant well, really. But having grown up having to practically take care of himself, Harry wasn't used to being coddled like this. It was nice, but there was a deep part of him that distrusted the care he was receiving, like he thought that they were all baiting him into a trap.

Shaking his head, Harry then grunted in annoyance when his shaggy hair got in his eyes again. "Argh, I really need a haircut," he groaned.

"You look homeless," agreed Ron. Cho didn't say anything, but judging by her expression she looked like she agreed with him. Harry resolved then and there to get someone to cut his hair tonight.

Cho handed Harry his bag when they got to Transfiguration and wished them luck before running off to her own class, leaving the other three to themselves. As per usual, Transfiguration was as difficult as ever, at least in theory but Harry found himself enjoying it a little bit more. He wasn't certain, but ever since the First Task he'd just been finding performing magic to just be easier in general. Professor McGonagall seemed to have noticed, and she gave Harry an approving hum after he successfully turned his guinea fowl into a guinea pig, being only the second one to do it after Hermione.

Harry spent the rest of the class trying and failing to help Ron out, who only managed to turn his guinea fowl's feathers a bright iridescent colour until Professor McGonagall called for the class's attention.

"The Yule Ball is approaching- a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament and an opportunity for us to socialise with our foreign guests. Now, the ball will be open to only to fourth years and above..."