𝒫𝓇𝑜𝓅𝒽𝑒𝒸𝓎 ~𝙷𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝙿𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕱𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖞-𝕺𝖓𝖊

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚍 𝚃𝚊𝚜𝚔

"ɪᴛ'ꜱ ɴᴏ ᴜꜱᴇ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ʏᴇꜱᴛᴇʀᴅᴀʏ, ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ɪ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀ ᴅɪꜰꜰᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ᴘᴇʀꜱᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇɴ." ― ʟᴇᴡɪꜱ ᴄᴀʀʀᴏʟʟ

*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ*

Harry Potter

"Potter, the champions are congregating in the chamber off the Hall after breakfast," Professor McGonagall said as she walked alongside the Gryffindor table towards me.

"But the task's not till tonight!" I said, accidentally spilling scrambled eggs, afraid I had lost track of time.

"I'm aware of that, Potter," she shot back tight-lipped. "The champions' families are invited to watch the final task, you know. This is simply a chance for you to greet them."

She moved away and I gaped after her.

My family?

"She doesn't expect the Dursleys to turn up, does she?" I asked Ron blankly.

"Dunno," said Ron. "I'd better hurry, I'm going to be late for class. See you soon mate."

I sat for a moment in a mix of confusion and nervousness.

Fleur and Cedric slipped out the side doors to the meetings chamber, Krum followed shortly after, and I sat still in the emptying great hall. Would it really be worth the embarrassment of going in there and being the only champion without a celebratory crowd?

But just as I was getting up, thinking that I might as well go up to the library and do a spot more hex research, the door of the side chamber opened, and Cedric stuck his head out.

"Harry, come on, they're waiting for you!"

Utterly perplexed, I got up. The Dursleys couldn't possibly be here, could they?

They've made it clear from day one I wasn't worth their time or effort.

Out of pure curiosity, I walked across the Hall and opened the door into the chamber.

Cedric and his parents were just inside the door. Viktor Krum was over in a corner, conversing with his dark-haired mother and father in rapid Bulgarian. He had inherited his father's hooked nose. On the other side of the room, Fleur was jabbering away in French to her mother. Fleur's little sister, Gabrielle, was holding her mother's hand. She waved at me, to which I waved back with a grin.

Then I saw Mrs. Weasley and Bill standing in front of the fireplace, beaming at me.

"Surprise!" Mrs. Weasley said excitedly as she smiled broadly and walked over to me. "Thought we'd come and watch you, Harry!" She bent down and kissed me on the cheek.

"You all right?" said Bill, grinning at me and shaking my hand. "Charlie wanted to come, but he couldn't get time off. He said you were incredible against the Horntail."

Fleur Delacour, I noticed, was eyeing Bill with great interest over her mother's shoulder. And I could tell she had no objection whatsoever to long hair or earrings with fangs on them.

I'd have to ask him where he got them from. Ron and I's hair was not quite as long, but close, and Fleur paid no mind to the two of us.

"This is really nice of you," I muttered to Mrs. Weasley. "I thought for a moment the Dursleys-"

"Hmm," said Mrs. Weasley, pursing her lips. She had always refrained from criticizing the Dursleys in front of me, but her eyes flashed every time they were mentioned.