GOING BACK HOME
When the entire gang met up again, they were on the Hogwarts express
Neville was happily re-telling the story about how he saw Krum catch the snitch, when the Trio came in
“Hi guys! I was just telling them about the game!” said Nevile, smiling with all his teeth
“Our parents didn’t let us come” said Crabbe with a frown
“Don’t worry mate” said Ron, pretending like he wasn’t thinking of him falling to his death in the fiendfyre he himself had created. “There will be other games, I’m sure” he smiled at him.
Pansy, Draco and a few others were being uncharacteristically quiet, and Hannah said so
“Come on, Han” tried Susan, in a futile attempt at being subtle
“What?” the girl asked, still not understanding
“They think we’ll hold the death eater attack against them” said Harry panting a little as he placed his trunk on the rack
Hannah seemed even more confused now “But I don’t…”
“Their parents were behind the masks Hannah” he clarified and the girl finally understood and gasped, covering her mouth
Pansy straightened “Will you?” she asked, looking ready to fight or flight
“Will we what?” asked Hermione petting Crookshanks
“Hold it against us” Pansy cleared, talking with her head held high.
Hermione raised an eyebrow but Ron answered her “I thought I had made it clear enough that we really don’t care who your parents are and what they do doesn’t reflect on you”
“I mean unless you all suddenly decide I should die in a ditch…” muttered Hermione as Ron and Harry both called her warningly “Hermione!”
“What? I like them and I love being friends with them, but you can’t ask me to keep a friendship with someone who thinks all muggleborns are shit and ‘I’m one of the good ones’”
Draco answered from the door “We know better now” he said even as his voice was shacking
“Then it’s fine” answered Hermione, going back to petting her cat.
Even as the Slytherins were looking at each other with a ‘just like that?’ face, Neville had already started talking again, this time about some plants he had found out about.
“Hey Nev, what do you know about Gillyweed?” asked Ron, with an air that was way too casual to be believed by his best friends.
Hermione’s worried looks were ignored, and Harry only sighed and laid back, trying to convince himself that this was only Ron trying to keep a backup plan.
The rest of the train ride passed as usual, and soon they were at Hogwarts
“I do believe this year will be particularly hard. But if we work hard enough for it now, we can rest later on” said an airy voice from behind. Half the group jumped, but the trio smiled
“Thanks Luna” said Hermione
“I think we all needed that” commented Harry.
There was an awkward silence before Ron said “Lets go”
Luna, with her usual aloof vibe said “I don’t think I like pink that much this year”
with that they boarded the carriages and went off to their fourth year.
The sorting was ignored as usual, and Harry ignored even the Umbitch as she interrupted Dumbledore right after his speech about the Triwizard tournament.
her “hem hem” was just as annoying as he remembered.
“Woah! I think the tournament sound so cool” said Dean “I wish I could participate!” said Seamus, but Harry wasn’t about to shut up about that particular topic
“You’re both completely mental. The both of you”
“Harry…”said Ron in a warning tone
“Harry my ass! This is literally a DEATH tournament. Their objective is for the champions to entertain the school populations, they say they want to enhance the friendships between the schools, but why did we never hear about the other schools? I only know about Beuxbaton because Faye’s sister goes there, it makes no sense, the entire thing. And a competition enhances the competition between the schools, not the friendships!”
“Mate come one, this isn’t the place” said Ron
Harry huffed “Whatever. It’s all bullshit anyway” and served himself some roasted vegetables.