Meeting Of Swords and Wands

Chapter 17: A Tale of Two Fights

When Harry woke up the next morning, it took him a while to remember why he felt so bad. But, the events of last night washed over him like a tsunami: the goblet of fire, being selected as a champion, Cedric not believing him, Gryffindor House not believing that he had willingly entered, and Ron not believing him. Harry snapped up and ripped open his bed's curtains, wanting to talk to his best friend. But, he found that Ron was gone, probably at breakfast.

Harry got ready for the day and went down the spiral staircase to the common room. Almost the moment he appeared, he was greeted like a hero with clapping and cheering. Harry knew that he was going to get an even bigger reception both good and bad when he got to the Great Hall,  but the Great Hall and breakfast was preferable to being cornered by the Creevey Brothers. Harry resolutely walked to the portrait hole and pushed it open. Almost immediately, he ran into Hermione face first.

“Hello,” she said, holding up a stack of toast, which she was carrying in a napkin. “I brought you this. Want to go for a walk?”

“Good idea,” said Harry gratefully.
They went downstairs, crossed the entrance hall quickly without looking in at the Great Hall, and were soon striding across the lawn toward the lake, where the Durmstrang ship was moored, reflected blackly in the water. It was a chilly morning, and they kept moving, munching their toast, as Harry told Hermione exactly what had happened after he had left the Gryffindor table the night before. To his immense relief, Hermione accepted his story without question.

“Well, of course I knew you hadn’t entered yourself.” she said when he’d finished telling her about the scene in the chamber off the Hall. “The look on your face when Dumbledore read out your name! But the question is, who did put it in? Because Moody’s right Harry, I don’t think any student could have done it. They’d never be able
to fool the Goblet, or get over Dumbledore’s —”

“Have you seen Ron?” Harry interrupted. Hermione hesitated.
“Erm . . . yes . . . he was at breakfast,” she said.

“Does he still think I entered myself?”

“Well . . . no, I don’t think so . . . not really,” said Hermione awkwardly.

“What’s that supposed to mean, ‘not really’?”

“Oh Harry, isn’t it obvious?” Hermione said despairingly. “He’s
jealous!”

“Jealous!?!” Harry said incredulously. “Jealous of what? He wants to make a prat of himself in front of the whole school, does he?”

“Look,” said Hermione patiently, “it’s always you 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 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 mentions 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 everywhere I go! Having the most powerful Dark Wizard in the last 200 years have a go at my life every year! He doesn't want a family? Great! He can have my non-existent one!"

“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 several owls in a nearby tree took flight in alarm. “Maybe he’ll believe I’m not enjoying myself once I’ve got my neck broken or —”