Year 4 (pt. 4)
“I can’t believe you fought off all of those selkies,” Viktor said in disbelief. Michael nodded with a grin. “You should have seen all of them coming at me at one point. I have to admit I was a bit nervous towards the end because I couldn’t keep swimming and fight them at the same time for much longer. Not to mention the potion I drank for breathing underwater was completely an experiment from Luna.”
“It was from a book!” Luna shot back, “You also agreed to make it so it wasn’t completely on me.”
Michael was happy with the people he was around. Viktor and Hermione were leaning against a tree and Michael and Luna sat on a blanket leaning back but still propped up by their elbows. Ginny was tinkering with her broom that wasn’t quite behaving properly, using tips Viktor gave her.
“I still can’t believe you drank the potion knowing full well it could have ended up horribly.” Hermione said. Michael thought back to when she turned herself partially into a cat. He almost brought it up before deciding to spare her the embarrassment. “I actually did imagine you yelling at me for drinking the potion… but you weren’t there to say anything so I did anyway.” Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed, while the rest laughed.
“ And you didn’t just think of using the bubble-head charm?” Viktor questioned. Michael, Luna, and Ginny all looked at each other in realization. “YOU ARE RIGHT! I COULD HAVE JUST USED THAT!” Michael exclaimed. Hermione face palmed at this.
~
As weeks went past, the five of them hung out more and more.
Ginny, Viktor, and Michael talked for hours about quidditch:
“Ugh, during the championship game a bludger came out of nowhere and hit me directly in the face. I broke my nose and had two black eyes.” Viktor complained.
“I remember that!” Ginny exclaimed, laughing. This earned a groan from Viktor. “I can’t believe you got to see that. It was so embarrassing.”
Ginny continued, “At least it wasn’t Michael who hit the bludger towards you. Michael, you have to tell him what you did to that bludger.” Michael laughed,
“Well it was my first quidditch game ever…” Michael started as he told of the time he cracked a bludger in half.
Luna, Michael, and Hermione finally got around to telling Luna about mermaids:
“So muggles can’t even decide if mermaids are friendly or not?” Luna questioned.
“Nope. There are televised shows about how mermaids are these dangerous creatures and they don’t even have proof that they exist. However, I'd probably imagine they are actually selkies who keep managing to get away.” Hermione said.
“Oh! But the fairy tale versions are probably the better kind. There is a muggle movie called The Little Mermaid that I think you might like to watch. Maybe over the summer we can meet up and I will show it to you.” Michael said, trying to explain that there are good mermaids too. They talked about mermaids for hours.
Hermione and Viktor would go off by themselves, probably to snog, but usually they would be found with Michael hanging out with them in a quiet corner of the library:
“So, despite having two magical parents, you barely used magic at home?” Viktor asked Michael.
“Yea, my parents never really used magic around me. I mean, I knew about it and sometimes they would tell stories about school but because I grew up so mentally away from magic I hadn’t considered being accepted into Hogwarts.” Michael said, “Don’t get me wrong I knew about quidditch and all that stuff but my parents made it so I wouldn’t have to step foot into that world. I grew up training and learning all kinds of things to defend myself if need be.”
Viktor looked at Hermione who nodded to say ‘yeah, that's Mike for you’. “Huh. I didn’t even realize some people did that with their children.” Viktor said in thought.
After that, Hermione and Michael went on to tell Viktor all about muggle things that they don’t teach in muggle studies. Hermione was always a little angry about how poorly that class's curriculum was presented.
After some time, it was time for the third and final task.
~
Michael and the others walked into the stadium where the third and last task would be held. “SILENCE” Dumbledore yelled to the audience “Earlier today, Professor Moody placed the cup deep within the maze, only he knows its exact position. The first to enter the maze will be Mr. Butcher, followed by Mr. Krum, then Miss Delacour, and lastly Mr. Potter. The first to reach the cup wins.”
Dumbledore went on about the rules they would have to follow during the maze, “In the maze, you'll find no dragons or creatures from the deep; instead you’ll face something even more challenging, you see people change in the maze. Oh, find the cup if you can but be very wary you could just lose yourself along the way.” Dumbledore said. Something about that scared Michael. The cannon fired and Michael was off, he ran as hard and as fast as he could. He had to win this tournament. He ran harder than he has ever run in his life but everything just looked the same. Every corner, every stretch, he could feel himself losing himself. Michael stopped at a cross in the path because he finally ran out of breath. All the sudden he heard something behind him and looked to see the path behind him closing in on itself. He had to start running again; he had to outrun the path, otherwise who knows what would happen to him. Michael kept running he could hear the path closing behind him so he ran faster now in an all out sprint. He rounded the suddenly coming face to face with the Triwizard Cup. He took a moment before touching it to catch his breath but he also felt something was off. This task was too easy. The other tasks had him fighting for his life and this one had him run in a maze. His train of thought was all of a sudden broken by Viktor running up to the cup as well.
“Michael, you beat me here yet you haven't collected the cup and won, why is that?” Viktor asked and Michael responded with “I don't know Viktor. I really wanted to grab the cup but there's something about it that feels wrong. In a way, something feels too easy.” Viktor smiled and laughed “Then we grab it together and face whatever is on the other side together. As brothers in arms.” Viktor held out his hand for Michael to grab, which he did. As they were about to grab the cup together, Harry tackled Michael and grabbed the cup. Michael slammed into the ground and looked around to see the empty spot where the cup was. Harry and Viktor were gone. Michael didn't know what to do so he walked out of the maze to a confused crowd.
“Michael, my dear boy, where is the Triwizard Cup?” Dumbledore asked “I don't know sir. I was going to grab it with Viktor but Harry pushed me and…” Michael trailed off after hearing everyone start cheering. Michael turned around and saw Harry standing with the cup and Viktor laying on the ground motionless. Everyone was cheering until Michael yelled “SHUT UP!” Harry was crying as Michael grabbed him “is he?…” Michael said quietly to Harry. Harry nodded. Michael didn't know how to react. He wanted to cry, but he also wanted to kill Harry. It had to be his fault. If Harry hadn't gotten in the way, Viktor would still be alive. Michael walked away from the growing crowd, he couldn't be around them right now. He heard Hermione shouting for him within the crowd but ignored her entirely. He needed to go smash something and that's what he did he went to the edge of the forest and started smashing trees,
“I liked that tree.” Michael heard from behind him as he looked to see Dumbledore sitting on one of the trees he had just broken down. “Sorry sir, I just needed to get away from all of…that” Michael said trailing off as his fists bled from all the trees he had punched down. “It's perfectly understandable Michael. I know you two were good friends and I'm always here if you need to talk” Dumbledore cleared his throat, “but that's not why I'm here right now. Me and the other headmasters looked into your story and it turned out to be true and because of your suspicions that something was wrong you chose to not collect the Triwizard cup means you would have technically been the winner so we've declared you this year's official winner. If you're willing to accept it, that is." Michael sat on the forest floor and laughed “You know the Butcher family has won the triwizard tournament every year we participated but I don't feel I deserve to win the tournament” Dumbledore put his hand on Michaels shoulder, “You deserve to win just as much as everyone else Michael, you are as much a Butcher as Blodwic or his father Eldwin” Dumbledore said smiling. Michael stood up and smiled back “Thank you Dumbledore, you coming over to fish with my dad at all this summer? He's been dying to show you his new spot," Michael said looking back at Dumbledore. Dumbledore smiled at Michael and nodded and with that Michael won the tournament.
~
Michael, Hermione, Ginny, and Luna were all in a car on the Hogwarts Express going home. There was a sad silence between all of them and it was becoming increasingly more difficult to bring up what happened the longer they didn’t talk about it. After they found out about Viktor, Hermione had a complete breakdown. Ginny and Luna were there for her but they were also devastated about what happened too. They were all aware of the way Michael was there with them but mentally absent since the maze.
As they sat on the train, Michael decided he didn’t want the money he won from the Triwizard Tournament, 1000 galleons.
“So, I was thinking… I have 1000 galleons in prize money from the tournament and I really don’t want or need it…” Michael said, trying to sound casual, “I would like to split it between the three of you if that would be ok.”
The three girls looked between each other and weren't quite sure what to say.
“I have already put 333 galleons in three baggies for each of you… so you might as well take it.” Michael said, handing each of them a bag containing the galleons. “There is one left over. I think I’ll keep this one safe. Like a lucky coin?”
There were still no words said yet. Michael was beginning to feel more uncomfortable. Hermione just stared at him, Ginny was poking around in the bag in awe, and Luna put the bag on her lap before picking up the newest copy of the Quibbler. After a while, Hermione gave Michael a quiet thank you. Michael could tell something was bothering her. Sure, her boyfriend just died but there had to be something else on her mind.
“Hermione! We have got to find the snack cart now. We can buy so many good snacks and then show them to Ron and Harry. However, they won't be able to have any because they never share with us.” Ginny said, grabbing Hermione by the arm and dragging her out the car door. This must be a way to distract her, Michael thought. That left Luna and Michael alone in the car.
“Why give us this money?” Luna asked Michael as soon as she was sure nobody was around. Michael looked at Luna, who was intensely staring at him.
“I have no need for it. My family is super wealthy so I figured I would give it to people who would use it instead of letting it sit somewhere.” Michael responded casually.
Luna nodded. “How rich are we talking?” She questioned. Michael wasn’t even sure how he could put it into proportion.
“Enough that lets me buy everyone in the school at least three brand new brooms and there is still a lot left over.” Michael said, figuring that would explain how much without outright saying it. Luna looked a little shocked but quickly dropped it.
“Anyways, I am going to start sending you a copy of The Quibbler this summer. Starting with this one.” She said while tossing the magazine in her hand at him.
He looked at the cover and smiled. He was glad someone was acting casual with him and not all sad.
~
At the drop off platform, Michael was helping Hermione with her trunks and getting them onto a cart. He gave Ginny a hug before she ran off to her family and Luna gave him a side hug, and a quick thank you as she hurried off towards her father. Michael looked at Hermione and gave her a melancholy smile.
“Mike, you promise to write to me?” She said with tears starting to stain her eyes. Michael pulled her into a giant hug, picking her up as he did so.
“I won’t ever stop writing to you, Hermione.” Michael said. He put her down and continued, “I want to come and visit your house some time this summer. We have gone out but we haven’t seen each other's houses before.”
Hermione smiled and said, “You will have to come then. My parents finally agreed I can get a pet so you can come and see it.”
With that Hermione saw her parents and Michael took that as a good time to part ways. He looked through the crowd and easily found his parents.