Triwizard Champion
July 31st, 1994.
’ Dear Harry,
I am missing you more than you could ever think of, I wish I could be with you.
Things have been… complicated, but nothing to worry about. I am safe, mother has forbidden father to harm me… permanently.
Before you say anything; yes, I have been punished. No, nothing I couldn’t handle. Stop worrying about me, think about you. I bet there’s a lot going through your head as well.
By the way, how’s Sirius? Have you been able to communicate with him? I suppose you already know he’s my cousin. Right?
Anyway, I find myself rather curious about his well being. My mother as well, she’s been very concerned since she heard about his escape from Azkaban. I would be really thankful if you could provide some information about him. Any update is more than enough.
However, I’m mostly curious about you. How have you been? And do not lie to me, Harry. You are really stubborn, don’t deny it; you always say you’re fine, but it seems like you’re a terrible liar too.
If something is going on, please don’t doubt about it and tell me. I know I cannot help you that much, but I think talking about your problems could help a bit. Remember you can trust me, and I’ll always be there to hear you.
I hope you’re doing well, hope you’re safe and happy. Enjoy as much as you can before we return to Hogwarts, you’ll see me again, and since you always say I’m a pain in the arse… well, you have to deal with it. I’m going to stick by your side the whole year. Never leaving you, remember?
Love,
Draco Malfoy.
PS. Happy Birthday! Your birthday present is in the little box my owl is carrying. Be gentle while you take it, he tends to bite. I’m sorry I couldn’t give it to you directly, I really wish I could celebrate with you… but I hope you like it. Enjoy your day!’
Harry smiled to himself as he finished reading the letter. Draco always found a way to cheer him up. Since he woke up he had been in a mood because he couldn’t celebrate his birthday with Draco, but at least he could write to him.
Curious, to find out what Draco had bought him, he slowly took the little box from the owl. It was a black box with a white ribbon. He opened the box carefully, revealing a silver bracelet.
Harry felt his own eyes watering. The silver bracelet had the letter L. Harry frowned at first, thinking what could that mean.
Love?
Then, he remembered Draco’s name was also Lucius. Now that made more sense. Behind the bracelet, there was another note. It read,
’I know you might be wondering, why L? It’s a bit silly, please don’t make fun of me, but I thought in this way you could always have a part of me with you, to remember me. I chose L instead of D because… you know, to stop people from suspecting anything. And… I have a golden bracelet with the letter J, so we could both match! I know it’s simple, forgive me about that, but I hope you like it.
Love,
Draco Malfoy.’
Harry chuckled to himself as a tear fell from his eye. He wiped it away with the sleeve of his jumper and stared at the bracelet.
This was one of the cutest things Draco had ever done for him. He had said it was simple, but he loved it anyways. Now he could always carry Draco with him. It was a little reminder of their relationship.
He put on the bracelet on his right wrist. It fit perfectly. He grabbed his quill and began writing a letter to Draco. This was definitely the best birthday present ever.
‘Dear Draco,
Shut up! This was the cutest gift ever!…
*
“Harry could you please help me carrying these books?” Hermione asked. “I can’t do it myself with all this luggage.”
Harry grinned. “Sure.”
He walked towards Hermione and picked up the books, but before he could walk to the train Hermione grabbed his wrist. He turned to look at her.
“Hermione?” He asked.
“What is this, Harry?” She raised her brow, grabbing the bracelet with the letter L.
Harry flushed and tried to pull his hand away, but Hermione kept it still. “Oh. Umm- it’s… Draco gave it to me. For… for my birthday.” He smiled nervously.
Hermione chuckled. “For goodness sake, Harry!” She shook her head. “You don’t have to hide it from me. I think it’s kinda cute.”
Harry chuckled. “Sorry. I dunno why I got so tensed up.”
Hermione’s smile faded a bit. “But I do have to warn you, Harry. People might start wondering about this,” She pointed his bracelet. “since it’s clearly not your initial.”
“I know… but that’s why Draco chose L. Not many people know his middle name… I think.” He added lamely.
“Alright. Hope you’re right.” She smiled. “Now let’s go, there’s a long ride ahead waiting for us.” She sighed and picked up her luggage.
“Yeah…” He followed her around.
The ride was normal. Except for the fact Ron abandoned them in the middle of the ride. William and other Gryffindors came and said they needed him for a while, so he just left.
Seems like he found a new best friend.
Harry had no reason to be jealous. Ron had every right to have other friends and hang out with them, but… why was it William? Of all people? Him? It was fine with other people, but him… that was something else.
He’s an absolute idiot. Harry concluded for himself.
When they arrived to the entrance of the Great Hall Harry started to worry. Draco was nowhere to be seen, but he had to be fine. They had written to each other the whole time, no way something happened to him. He even said he looked forward to returning to Hogwarts… unless his father decided to sent him to another school, but… no that’s impossible.
Shut up, Harry. He’s fine… he has to be.
Dumbledore gave his announcement about the Triwizard tournament. Such a shame they couldn’t participate. Not that Harry actually wanted to put his life in danger, but it did seem pretty cool.
Everyone finished complaining and went to their rooms. Harry’s nerves were growing with each second that passed, Draco was still out of sight. Was he even at Hogwarts?
Disappointed and concerned, Harry pushed the door of his room. Only to find a sleeping Draco in the bed. He was wearing his pyjamas and hugging his pillow.
Harry felt a huge wave of relief. He chuckled to himself, all this time, Draco had been here. Sleeping.
Then, he frowned a little. Why wasn’t he downstairs? Was he sick? Did something happen? A thousand questions went through his head when he heard a soft whimper.
He looked up immediately, ready to apologise for waking Draco, but he was still sleeping. Just that he was shaking and covered in sweat.
He kept whimpering and some little sound of discomfort kept coming out of his mouth. He moved his head and kicked in the bed. Harry recognised this instantly.
He was very familiar to this. Draco was having a nightmare. He rushed to his bed and held Draco, wrapping one arm around his soft hair and the other arm resting on his chest.
“Shh, it’s okay.” He said soothingly. “It’s okay, Draco. It’s just a nightmare.”
The boy kept panting, whatever Harry was trying to do was definitely not working. Time to wake up. He shook Draco a bit, trying to wake him slowly.
“Draco.” He said softly. “Wake up.”
Draco started murmuring things. “F-Father… please… don’t.” Another whimper. “No… don’t.” He kicked and moved around the bed.
“Draco.” Harry said a bit stronger this time.
“Please… d-don’t.”
“Draco.” He hissed.
“It… hurts…” A tear left Draco’s closed eyes.
“Draco, wake up!” Harry yelled.
The other boy practically jumped out of bed. He ran a hand through his sweaty hair and kept panting.
“Harry?” He said with a shaky breath.
Harry stood up and pulled him into a loving embrace. “It’s me. I’m here… sorry for waking you, but you were having a nightmare.”
“Oh.” He sighed shakily.
“Are you alright?”
Draco nodded.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Harry asked.
Draco shook his head softly.
“Okay. That’s fine… wanna go back to sleep?”
“Please…”
Harry nodded. They finally found a comfortable position to sleep in. Harry wrapping his arm around Draco’s waist, resting his chin on his shoulder.
After a while Draco relaxed, his breaths less shaky. Harry picked over his shoulder and saw his eyes were closed.
Finally.
He hugged Draco tightly and kissed his neck. Then, he relaxed and let himself fall into a lovely sleep.
*
“Harry Potter.” Dumbledore said, staring at the parchment that had fallen from the Goblet of Fire.
Harry’s eyes widened. Hermione and Ron gave him shocked looks. Everyone started whispering and looking at him speechless.
“Harry Potter!” Dumbledore said again.
Harry froze, panic started to fill his body. He looked over the Slytherin table, Draco was staring at him with his mouth open in shock. He raised his eyebrows. He mouthed a ‘Did you put your name?’
Harry shook his head nervously.
“HARRY POTTER!” Dumbledore yelled.
“Harry, for goodness sake!” Hermione pushed him. “Go!”
He stood up and walked awkwardly towards Dumbledore. Everyone was staring at him as if he was some sort of freak. Dumbledore gave him a shocked and confused look as he walked next to the other champions.
They all left to Dumbledore’s office. He remained silent as much as possible. Cedric gave him a soft nod, as if it was going to bring him any type of comfort.
Dumbledore, Moody, McGonagall, Mr. Crouch and Snape rushed into the room. “Shh!” Hissed Dumbledore to the professors arguing. He placed his hands on Harry’s shoulders and shook him.
“Harry!” He said harshly. “Harry, did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire?” He pushed him a bit. Some metallic objects falling from the table. Making everyone jump because of the sound.
“No, sir!” Harry shook his head.
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. He turned to look at the other people in the room. “Leave this to you, Barty.” He said.
Mr. Crouch was looking far beyond scared. He was speechless and paler. His lips quivered before he spoke. “The rules are absolute. The Goblet of Fire constitutes a binding magical contract.” He turned to look at Harry. “Mr. Potter has no choice. He is, as of tonight … a Triwizard champion.”
*
Harry went to his room. Exhausted. This was mad. All of it. What kind of rubbish was this? He didn’t put his name in the Goblet of Fire. He didn’t even want to participate in the first place. And now…
Now he was officially a Triwizard champion.
Why is it always me?
He cursed as he opened the door. Draco was walking all over the place, biting his nails with a panic look in his face.
He nearly made Harry trip as he launched himself against him. Hugging him.
“Are you mad?! Why did you put your name— how did you do it in the first place?!” Draco said alarmed.
“Draco, I can’t breathe.” The hug was a bit to tight.
Draco stepped back. “Sorry…”
“It’s fine.”
Silence.
Draco scoffed. “Are you going to tell me or not?”
Harry sighed. “I don’t know what to say. I didn’t do it.”
“Yeah… right.” Draco scoffed. But his face fell when Harry stared at him with a serious look. “Wait— are you serious?”
“Yes!” He said anxiously. “Why does everyone think I’m lying?! I didn’t put my name in the bloody Goblet of Fire!”
Draco eyed him curiously. And after a while he took Harry’s hand in his own. “I believe you.” He shook his head and let out a laugh. “You’re Harry Potter… of course something mad was about to happen to you.”
Harry smiled weakly. “Why is it always me?” He asked tiredly. “I’m sick of it… all of it. It’s too much.”
“I know… and I’m sorry. This must be so overwhelming to you.” He drew circles in Harry’s hand with his thumb. “And everyone is being a dick to you, not trusting you and talking behind your back. Bet that’s not helping either.”
“No… not at all.”
“I’m really sorry, Harry. I can’t even think of what you’re dealing with… must be terrible.”
Harry just nodded. He just wanted to sleep and wake up in the morning, realising that all of it was just a dream.
Or a nightmare…
“Do you want to sleep? A little rest might help you… we could talk about this tomorrow.”
“Please. That’s exactly what I need.”
Draco chuckled and pulled him into bed.
*
Moody entered the classroom and everyone stopped talking instantly. His presence frightened many students.
He introduced himself and started teaching about the Unforgivable Curses. Ronald said the first one; the Imperius curse.
“Longbottom.” He said. “Could you give us another curse?”
Neville stood up nervously. “T-The c-cruciatus.” He said with a shaky voice.
“Yes… yes… known as the torture curse. Perhaps this could show you why.” He took out his wand and pointed the insect in front of him. He casted the spell. “Crucio!”
The insect screeched and withered in pain on the desk. Making awful noises. Neville’s breath became shaky, as if he was struggling to breathe. He closed his eyes, clearly uncomfortable.
“Stop it! Can’t you see it’s bothering him?!” Hermione yelled furiously.
Moody looked at her and stopped the spell. Everyone was staring at the poor insect who was suffering. Harry looked at Draco, the boy was staring with so much discomfort. Harry couldn’t understand why.
Moody cleared his throat. “I’ve been under the cruciatus curse before. I wouldn’t even wish it on my worst enemy.” He said shacking his head. “I wouldn’t know which are the perfect words to describe this feeling, but it feels like—” He didn’t finish his sentence. His gaze focused on a spot not so far from Harry.
Harry turned to look at Draco, who was raising his hand. A fearful look in his eyes.
“Yes, Mr. Malfoy?”
“I think I can find the words to describe the feeling.” He said anxiously.
Moody raised one eyebrow. “Go on, Mr. Malfoy. Delight us…”
Harry eyed at Draco curiously. How would he know that? Draco cleared his throat, clearly nervous to say whatever he had to say.
“It feels like you’re burning,” he started. “Or someone has stabbed you too many times and you’re going to bleed ‘til death; think of every type of pain, if you mix all of that you’ll get an idea. It hurts so bad you can only think of the pain, you can’t speak, you can’t blink, you can’t breathe… only two seconds of it feels like two hours of unimaginable pain and sadness.”
“Very well, Mr. Malfoy,” Moody said. “Thank you, for participating… I guess that’s a very good describing of the feeling.” He nodded. “Five points to Slytherin.”
Harry frowned. Why would he know that? How? Then a thought popped in Harry’s head.
Oh no.
Oh no.
Oh no no no no.
No!
That couldn’t be!
He had to be wrong. Maybe Draco’s father crucio’ed him, but then… why didn’t Draco say anything to him? That was just so… scary. To even think your own father could do that to you…
Harry really hoped he was wrong, but something about him was trying to prepare him for the fact it seemed pretty possible.
They were definitely going to talk after class.
*
Harry found Draco walking over the lake. He watched how Draco kneeled on the ground, brushing his fingers through the water. Harry could’ve smiled for admiring him, all the beauty… but no today. Not with what he was thinking.
You’re a bloody Gryffindor, Harry. Now it is time to show that courage.
He walked towards Draco. Gathering all the strength he had to not walk away, this was probably going to be an awful conversation, but it felt right doing so. Talking about it could help… if Draco was ready to share anything with him.
“Draco?” He said softly.
Draco turned around and grinned at him. “Hi.”
“Hey…” He said awkwardly and kneeled beside him. “Can we talk?”
Draco frowned and nodded. “Sure?”
He sighed. “About class… with Moody. What… what was that all about?”
Draco clenched his jaw. “I…” He remained silent. Looking at his fingers brushing the water.
Harry’s heart broke. Of course he had been right… it’s just, something inside him really wanted to be wrong. He patted his shoulder softly. “When?”
“Christmas Holidays.” Draco said.
Harry stared carefully, looking for any reaction from the boy. Trying to understand what was he feeling. “Why didn’t you tell me? Sooner… that is.”
Draco shrugged. “I dunno… I guess I didn’t want to worry you.”
Harry shook his head. “I wish you would’ve told me sooner… but it’s okay. At least now I know what happened.” He rested his head against Draco’s shoulder.
They both stared at the lake, it was quite a nice view. Harry knew he probably should stop asking about it, so Draco wouldn’t think about it anymore… but he had the urge to ask anyway.
“What you said in class was true?” He asked sadly. “Was it really that bad?”
Draco nodded. “It was. Worst feeling in the world if you ask me.”
Harry’s stomach twisted at the thought of Draco being hurt. Crying and screaming in pain. If an insect had reacted like that… imagine a person. Ten times worse, Harry thought.
“I’m so sorry, Draco.” He said at last.
“Not your fault.” The boy smiled.
“How can you be so calm about it? Something like that would probably haunt me everyday.”
Draco shrugged. “I mean… I still think about it… and it definitely hurts to remember it — I sort of wish I could forget it — but I dunno… guess I just accepted it.”
“Just like that?” Harry frowned.
“Just like that… I mean, there’s nothing I can do now, is there?”
Harry remained silent. Not knowing what to say.
“Probably not,” Draco continued. “So I just decided to move on… try not think so much about it.”
“It’s just… I don’t understand. How could your own father do that to you?” Anger in his voice. “It’s nonsense. A father should protect you, not the other way around!”
Draco shrugged. “Sometimes things don’t work… they don’t go in the way they’re supposed to.”
“I hate your father.” He blurted. He flushed when he realised what he just said. He wasn’t supposed to say it out loud.
Draco chuckled. “Yeah? Me too.”
Harry grinned at him. They stayed for a bit more, admiring the wonderful view. The conversation turned out better than expected.
Days went by and Harry had no idea how to survive this tournament. He had no idea what to do, or what was he going to deal with. The first task was only two weeks ahead, and he was completely lost.
“Well, what a surprise!” An annoying voice said… William. “Harry, my boy! Fancy seeing you here!”
“What do you want?” He said through gritted teeth.
William scoffed. “Aren’t you tired of being rude to me? Not that I care,—”
Yeah, sure you don’t.
“but it is getting kind of old. Me greeting you… you always answering the same thing. A bit of effort in your insults wouldn’t hurt anyone, you know?” He said.
Harry rolled his eyes, ready to stand up and walk away.
“Wait!” William grabbed his wrist.
Harry pushed him away immediately.
William shook his head. “Not a fan of physical touch?” he smirked. “Anyway, I came here with a purpose.”
“And what would that be?” He said dryly.
Harry wanted to shove that smile out of William’s stupid face.
“I want my answers.”
“What?” Harry frowned.
“My information.”
Harry raised an eyebrow, still not understanding anything of whatever this was.
William rolled his eyes at the sight of a confused Harry. “We had a deal, Harry. Don’t you remember? The Malfoy deal?”
Oh. He had forgotten.
“Oh… yeah, sure. I-I remember.” He said nervously. “What about it?”
“I think I’ve given you enough time to know Malfoy. Now that you do, I expect you will tell me all his bloody secrets.”
“Why would you want to know?”
“Quite simple. If we know his weaknesses and secrets we could piss him off. Make fun of him or whatever. Don’t worry, I’ll find a way to work that out, you just have to give me the information and that’s it. After that we’ll leave you out of this.”
Harry didn’t know if being in or out was worse. In, he could see what they were planning. Maybe give a warning to Draco. Out, at least he wasn’t plotting against his boyfriend, but he would be totally clueless about the Gryffindors plans.
“Er- what would you even want to know in the first place?”
William shrugged. “Anything could help. Better if it’s something embarrassing.” William winked.
Ugh.
“I don’t know.”
“You have to know something! You’ve been his bloody friend since last year!”
“But I don’t know what you want me to say.”
“Harry.” He said. “I’m warning you… if you don’t tell me something this instant I swear I’ll write to the bloody Daily Prophet about you and your Malfoy affair.”
Harry’s stomach sank. “Y-You wouldn’t do that.”
“Try me.”
“Er- he’s afraid of heights… if that helps.” He said without thinking.
William gave him a disappointing look. “Really? Is that all you have?” He turned, ready to walk away.
“Wait!” Harry begged. “Umm- he- he loves muggle music, even though his father forbids him to listen to it.”
William looked him up and down with disgust and turned to leave again.
“I- err- he… did I say he’s afraid of his father?” He blurted.
William stopped.
Harry felt a wave of relief. However, William stood there, as if waiting for him to say something else.
“Er- his father punishes him!”
Oh no.
“He’s his father’s puppet. When he disobeys his father makes sure he feels unworthy, he yells at him and slaps him or hexes him.”
Oh no. What had he just said? Why did he say it? What was he doing? He was betraying Draco. This was bad.
“Go on.” William said. Smirking.
“After all of it he cries. To his mother or alone in his room. He even comes to me and asks me to comfort him.”
Harry, stop taking, you bloody idiot! What are you doing?! He said to himself.
“Thank you, Harry. You’ve done an excellent job. I underestimated you… you’ve been more useful than I thought you would be.”
And with that… William walked away. Leaving Harry alone, taking about what he had just done.
He betrayed Draco. He had revealed Draco’s deepest secret. Draco had trusted him, he had shown Harry his most vulnerable side, he gave him his heart… and Harry stepped on it. Betrayed his trust.
Oh no.