Lucinda Evans - still in progress

Chapter 14 - Disturbed and Dangerous

"Stop saying it could have been my father," Mer says annoyed.

"I wasn't saying anything!" Ernie cries out in defense.

"You were thinking it. Stop doing that, It's annoying!" She hisses back.

"I was not!" he tries but we all know it's no point lying to a Legilimens, they just see right through you. Ernie got that point too, but still tries more calmly, "I wasn't really considering it as an option though it did cross my mind for a second."

"Now, something different. Do you think we should tell him? Harry I mean, about you being his sister?" Mer looks at me.

"I don't think that would be a good idea. He already has the Tournament to think about, he doesn't need more distractions."

"True, but how can we help him without getting suspicious?" 

"Wait, you do realize that I'm still sitting here and I totally support Cedric," when the two of us give him a look he gives up, "Fine... Hermione, she's the smart one of the trio, plant some information inside her head with you Legilimency. Potter would never suspect something that comes from her brains."

-----

"Look, Lucinda! It's really funny." 

I was just sitting in the Slytherin common room, nicely doing my (and Draco's) homework when suddenly someone needs to disturb me. Sadly it's always the same person who does so; Draco Malfoy.

I look up with an emotionless face, so he wouldn't see my irritation. "What is it this time, Draco?"

"I gave an interview and thought you want to read it. I can tell you, it's a really good one. And funny too. I'm sure you'll find it amusing." I take the paper from his hand and start reading.

HARRY POTTER "DISTURBED AND DANGEROUS"  

The boy who defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is unstable and possibly dangerous, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. Alarming evidence has recently come to light about Harry Potter's strange behavior, which casts doubts upon his suitability to compete in a demanding competition like the Triwizard Tournament, or even to attend Hogwarts School.

Seriously, the title only reveals it's gonna be bad and that first paragraph, if it's an article of Rita Skeeter it can't be any good. Skipping some parts is the solution.

Potter, the Daily Prophet can exclusively reveal, regularly collapses at school, and is often heard to complain of pain in the scar on his forehead (relic of the curse with which You-Know-Who attempted to kill him). On Monday last, midway through a Divination lesson, your Daily Prophet reporter witnessed Potter storming from the class, claiming that his scar was hurting too badly to continue studying. It is possible, say top experts at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, that Potter's brain was affected by the attack inflicted upon him by You-Know-Who, and that his insistence that the scar is still hurting is an expression of his deep-seated confusion. "He might even be pretending," said one specialist. "This could be a plea for attention."

"I presume the specialist they mention here is you?" I look up.

"Yes, but of course she couldn't put my name on that one. Imagine what Potter would do to me to bring me in discredit. But do continue reading, I'm mentioned at the end!"

The Daily Prophet, however, has unearthed worrying facts about Harry Potter that Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, has carefully concealed from the wizarding public. "Potter can speak Parseltongue," reveals Draco Malfoy, a Hogwarts fourth year. "There were a lot of attacks on students a couple of years ago, and most people thought Potter was behind them after they saw him lose his temper at a dueling club and set a snake on another boy. It was all hushed up, though. But he's made friends with werewolves and giants too. We think he'd do anything for a bit of power."

Did he do such a thing? I don't know. He's my brother but I don't think we spoke more than three words to each other. Would he really have been capable this? I know most of it must be wrong since it's written by Rita Skeeters, but she always uses some trueth to start from... Right? 

"Ok, I read it," I look up and see his arrogant face with a small hint of anticipation. He wants me to tell him what kind of genius he is.

"Brilliant right. I know. It's so funny," Draco is laughing, and so do his friends, but he stops when he sees my straight face and it turns into doubt.

"You're not laughing. Why are you not laughing? It's brilliant!"

"Don't you think you're getting a bit too old for this. I mean, this was obviously meant to torment him. Those things are for kids who bully each other. Don't you think it's time to grow up a little bit. Next year is your O.W.L. year, doesn't your father too want you to be more mature?"

I know mentioning his father was a bad thing when I see the new look on his face.

"I just wanted to cheer you up a bit. You've been looking rather gloomy the last couple of days. But I can clearly see my geniusness is wasted on you and you clearly do not appreciate my input in your wellbeing. So don't worry, I will no longer." 

"Geniusness is not a real word and here is your Herbology homework. I'm finished."

I walk up to the girl dormitory, not wanting to see his face anymore. His face was an emotionless one, the face of how an aristocratic should be but hidden under his words and his facade I could see I hurt him.

-----

"What are they doing?" Ernest asks while he's looking at something that is behind me and Mer. We turn around and look at the Slytherin table where Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle are laughing while tapping their heads with their fingers, pulling grotesquely mad faces, and waggling their tongues like snakes. I follow their glances and see a well-known trio at the Gryffindor table.

"Draco gave a new interview to Rita Skeeters about Harry. It's just something stupid," I sigh and poke my toast around with my fork.

" I hope he doesn't let hit get to him because the third task is this afternoon." Mer looks concerned in his direction. But we're met by Dumbledores voice before we can say another thing.

"Ladies and gentlemen, in five minutes' time, I will be asking you to make your way down to the Quidditch field for the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament. Will the champions please follow Mr. Bagman down to the stadium now." 

I look over to see my brother getting up while getting loud applause of the Gryffindors all along the table. We see him heading off out of the Great Hall with Cedric, Fleur, and Viktor.