Silver Hourglass

Rita's Special Scoop Chapter 33

By the next day, rumors had filled the school about Harry "snaking" his way into the Tournament. The first thing Harry did was write a quick letter to Sirius and Remus, asking them for help about what happened. He went to the Owlery and heard whispers from the students around him, the Beauxbatons whispering in French as he passed by and the Hufflepuffs openly glaring at him. Hedwig bit his finger as he gave her the letter, causing Harry to curse softly. He took that as an ill omen as he walked into the Great Hall.

Everyone was staring at him, the Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs glaring at him while the Slytherins simply smirked at the rest of them. "Harry!" Hermione's voice said from the Gryffindor table. Harry turned his head to his friends' table and saw that she was standing, and started to make her way to him. Fred and George were staring at him, confused, as if they didn't know if they should be happy that Harry somehow beaten the Age Line, or pissed off that he stole the glory from their boyfriend. Though, it was Ron's expression that broke Harry's heart. It was total anger. The look Ron was giving Harry made his skin crawl, it made the Slytherin to crawl into his bed and never come out. He knew at that moment that Ron hated Harry.

"Harry," Hermione whispered when she got close enough. She looked at Draco and Blaise, who were sitting down at the table. Harry turned towards Draco, who nodded, and he heard Hermione whispered "Harry, I need to talk with you."

Harry nodded and went with his friend out of the Great Hall and outside, going for a walk. Harry told his story of what happened after he left the Slytherin Table, and to his immense relief Hermione accepted it without question. "Well, of course I knew you hadn't entered yourself," she said when he finished telling her about the scene in the chamber off the Hall. "The look on your face when Dumbledore read out your name! I saw it from across the Hall, anyone could see it. But the question is, who did put it in? Because Moody's right, Harry...to fool the goblet, or get over Dumbledore—"

"Why was Ron glaring at me?" Harry interrupted. "Does he think that I entered myself?"

"No he doesn't," Hermione said quickly. "It's just... it's just..."

"He's jealous and believes I put my name in." Harry said.

"Yes, but you have to understand from his point of view Harry." Hermione said.

"What?"

"Well...just think about it." Hermione said carefully. "Look, it's always you and Malfoy who gets all the attention, you know it is. I know it's not your fault, she added quickly, seeing Harry open his mouth furiously. "I know you and Malfoy don't ask for it ...but—well—you know, Ron's got all those brothers to compete against at home, and you're his best friend, and you're really famous—he's always shunted to one side whenever people see you, and he puts up with it, and he never mention it, but I suppose this is just one time too many..."

"Great," said Harry bitterly. "Really great. Tell him from me I'll swap any time he wants. Tell him from me he's welcome to it... people gawping at my forehead, forced into situations that could kill me or Draco easily. Just tell him—"

"I'm not telling him anything." Hermione said shortly. "Tell him yourself, it's the only way to sort this out."

"I'm not running around after him trying to make him grow up!" Harry said, so loudly that a couple of students look at them from the courtyard. Harry ignored them and said "Maybe he'll believe I'm not enjoying myself once I get my neck broken or—"

"That's not funny," Hermione said quietly. "That's not funny at all." She looked extremely anxious and said "Harry, I've been thinking—you know what we've got to do, don't you?" Straight way, the moment we get back to the castle?"