Stronger Together

4- The Quidditch World Cup

Disclaimer - Most of this chapter is from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I do not own anything except the parts that have been changed.

He tossed and turned in his sheets, clutching onto his sweaty forehead. The pain was almost all over now, aching and throbbing in all places possible. Maybe the pain would never end, searing a hole right through his crania. "Harry!" He continued to twitch in the bed. "Harry!" She called again.

Harry shot up in his bed and gasped. "Hermione! Bad dream." She stood over him looking worried. Harry noticed that she was fully dressed and seemed to be ready for the day. It was an odd sight so early in the morning.

She grasped his hand and sat down on the bed suddenly. "Are you alright?"

Harry gulped. "Fine. Yeah I'm fine, really."

Hermione got up and turned toward his best friend. "Wake up Ronald!"

Ron awoke, pulling his covers up over his chest, like how they did in the movies. "Bloody hell!"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Honestly, get dressed," she turned back around as she was headed for the door. "And don't go back to sleep!"

The sun wasn't even up but Harry was wide awake now. He didn't know if it was his nightmare or Hermione that made him wake up so early. He decided it was probably the nightmare but Hermione was a close second.

He let his eyes adjust to the light in the room and saw Ron roll back over on his mattress across the room. Harry started to slowly get up when Hermione's voice made him jump. "Come on Ronald! Your mother says breakfast is ready." Ron didn't even budge. Must've been some party last night if he wouldn't even get up for food, Harry thought.

Harry continued to get his things together while his two best friends argued, quite loudly for this time in the morning, he might add. "Ronald, don't make me pour this water on you!"

"Blimey, would five more minutes kill you?"

Their voices faded as Harry went over to the wardrobe.
— —
The four boys silently stumbled down the stairs into the kitchen together, still too tired to speak. Mrs. Weasley was stirring the contents of a large pot on the stove, while Mr. Weasley was sitting at the table, along with Hermione and Ginny. Harry entered the kitchen to see Mr. Weasley holding out his arms, so the boys could see his attire better. From what Harry could tell, he was wearing a golfing sweater and an ancient looking pair of jeans, held up with a thick leather belt.

"What d'you think?" he asked anxiously. "We're supposed to go incognito - do I look like a Muggle, Harry?" Harry heard Hermione snicker to herself.

"Yeah," said Harry, smiling, "very good."

"Where're Bill and Charlie and Per-Per-Percy?" said George, failing to stifle a huge yawn.

"Well, they're Apparating, aren't they?" said Mrs. Weasley, coming over to the table and starting to ladle porridge into bowls. "So they can have a bit of a lie-in."

"So they're still in bed?" said Fred grumpily. "Why can't we Apparate too?"

"Because you're not of age and you haven't passed your test," snapped Mrs. Weasley.

"You have to pass a test to Apparate?" Harry asked.

"Of course," said Hermione, looking up from her bowl. "It's said to be very difficult, and very few people master it on their first try..." Hermione continued to ramble on about apparition and explain the dangers of apparition if done incorrectly. The other boys chimed in too, telling him of how Charlie had to take the test twice, and his embarrassing first try at it. Harry wasn't really listening to them but more so to Hermione.