When Hermione woke the next morning it was to see Harry asleep with a wide smile on his face. She had to admit, being a Veela had perks. Losing her virginity hadn't hurt her at all and while she was a bit sore she wouldn't be walking funny like she would have been otherwise. She leaned over to kiss Harry gently on the lips. His smile grew when she pulled back and he stretched as he opened his eyes, "Good morning love," he said.
"It certainly is," she smiled. "Do you think we'll get in trouble for not staying in the dorm?"
"We have the cloak and the map," he said, "and the portraits can't tell on us if they don't see us."
"Then how do we get back each morning?"
Harry was delighted Hermione wanted this sleeping arrangement to be permanent. He without a doubt did too but to hear her say what she had was fantastic. He shifted to lie on his side and face her, "Well we can use the cloak or we can ask for a little help from a friend of mine."
"I suppose that will work," she admitted. She moved closer to him and a seductive smile appeared on her lips, "Why Harry I do believe you're trying to tell me something."
"Maybe a little bit," he grinned. "I think you should forget having pajamas."
"You too," she said before their conversation ceased and they again became lost in each other.
Dobby took them back to their dorm rooms to get ready for the morning. Neither teen believed that they could get ready together without falling back into bed. Hermione got cleaned up and ready for classes and walked downstairs to the common room to see Harry waiting for her, "Do you like the new bag?"
"Yes," she kissed him gently, "thank you Harry." His birthday present to her had been a dragonhide bag that was indestructible and could hold all of the books she put in it without weighing more than three pounds. It was a great gift, she had to admit. And easier on her back and shoulders. Harry grinned and they walked down to breakfast together hand in hand.
The rest of September and most of October passed with no real excitement. Harry insisted that on their first Hogsmeade weekend he'd buy a new wardrobe only if Hermione did too, pointing out that she was incredibly sexy and at the very least some bikinis and lingerie were on order. Hermione protested but he insisted on paying for it. Begrudgingly she accepted. She wrote home to tell her parents she was dating Harry but left out her being a Veela. That required a face-to-face explanation.
The approaching tournament made Hermione nervous though. Bad things always happened to Harry on Halloween. She had only tried praying to Apollo once but on the night before Halloween, before she met Harry to go up to their room, she got down and removed the pendant from under her shirt, holding it as she prayed to Apollo, "I have accepted and come to enjoy being a Veela. But if I lost Harry I don't see how I could go on. Please, don't let him be entered into the tournament. We have already had pressure put upon us. We both just want to have one easy year. Please, oh mighty Apollo, spare my Harry from being forced into this tournament somehow."
Apollo loved his Veela. And hearing the words of one Veela who was concerned for her mate spurred him to action. In the dead of night he appeared on Earth and waved his hand at the scrap of paper which said 'Harry Potter' on it. The name changed into something else and he smiled before returning to Olympus. His Veela would be happy. He liked it when they were happy.
Voldemort had been miserable ever since Hermione's birthday. Not that he knew it was her birthday. For him it was just the day he'd begun to suffer through pain worse than the Cruciatus curse. And worse, it was joy. He was suffering through love and joy that Harry was feeling as he and some girl went at it like rabbits. While he was probably more than a little crazy now (splitting your soul does not keep you sane after all) he was still smart. He worked out that Potter was a horcrux. And then he realized that that blasted prophecy probably referred to the horcrux even if he didn't know all of it. Getting Potter to not be a horcrux was now a priority. When he wasn't writhing in pain he worked out a potion and instructed Wormtail to make it and get it to Crouch. Potter would have to drink it but once he was free Voldemort could rest easy.
Harry woke on Halloween certain it would be the best Halloween he'd ever had. He was with Hermione and they'd woke up in bed together as was the normal way things went. He turned and kissed her, "Good morning love."
She smiled and returned the kiss, "Good morning handsome." He grinned. "I'm assuming by your smile that you're happy?"
"Always happy to have my girlfriend in my arms," he said. "Want to shower together?"
"I suppose I could manage that," she teased, her hand moving down Harry's chest. She didn't understand why he thought he wasn't attractive. All the twists and turns and dives he went through on his broomstick had led to a very fit body. Granted he wasn't muscular but she didn't mind that.
Their shower was certainly longer than necessary but they both exited feeling quite pleased and content. The pair decided to spend part of the day working on homework so that they'd have the rest of the day free. They worked on their homework with the other boys in Harry's dorm (minus Ron) in the library before going to see who was entering the tournament. Ginny smiled and made room. Harry and Hermione sat next to her while the boys sat across from them, "Cedric Diggory entered. So did Bode and Angelina Johnson."
"Any Claws?" Seamus asked.
"Roger Davies," Ginny said. "And of course Krum entered along with everyone who came with the other two schools."
"Hopefully Angelina gets it," Harry said, "but how many people do you think entered last night when no one was around? Seems like the right time."
"Well the cup chooses so if you don't get chosen it's not a negative thing," Hermione said.
"Yeah but with all these people around? It'd be nervewracking to enter."
"Harry, love, other people aren't afraid of fame or hate it like you do," she said, kissing him on the cheek.
Ginny snickered at Harry's blush from being obviously read by Hermione. Dean and Seamus joined her in laughing at their friend's discomfort. Harry was pretty great but he was obviously not a fan of his fame. They all ate lunch before Harry went flying on the Quidditch pitch. Hermione took a book to read while he flew.
When Harry landed he kissed Hermione and headed into the lockerrooms to see Professor Moody there, "Nice flying there Mr. Potter."
"Thanks sir."
"Your father was good on a broom too," he said.
Harry nodded, "I've heard that before. Professor McGonagall says he was really good. Do you know what position he played?"
"He was a chaser I believe," Moody said. "You've looked tired lately Potter. Not getting much sleep?"
Harry fought to keep the smile off his face, "No sir not particularly."
"This is a potion we Aurors take. It's a specialized Pepper-Up Potion that keeps you up longer and helps you sleep easier when you finally go to sleep."
Harry accepted the vial, "Thank you sir."
"Your father would be proud of the way you handle that broom," Moody said as he walked away. His master would be pleased with how he handled that.
Harry drank the potion and took a shower before exiting to find Hermione waiting near the changing room doors, "Miss me?"
"Yes," she kissed him, "You okay?"
He nodded before frowning. "Actually, I'm pretty hungry."
Hermione looked at him curiously. "Harry you don't look well."
"Just hungry I reckon," he said, taking a few steps before leaning against the wall. "My head really hurts."
His scar suddenly burst open and Hermione caught Harry as he passed out. She watched black goo drip down Harry's face and green mist exit his scar. Hermione helped Harry lie down, "Dobby!"
The elf appeared, "Harry Potter sir is hurt! What can Dobby does?"
"Get us to Madame Pomfrey," Hermione said. The elf took hold of them both and they appeared in the hospital wing. "Madame Pomfrey! Something's wrong with Harry!"
The mediwitch appeared and levitated the teen to a bed before running tests on his scar with her wand. "Whatever it was, Miss Granger, Mr. Potter is showing up as being perfectly healthy."
Hermione watched the mediwitch cast spells to banish the black goo that looked to be as thick as tar and magically healed Harry's scar which looked much lighter now, "Could a dark curse have been in the scar?"
Pomfrey looked at the young man, "It is possible. Perhaps Mr. Potter unknowingly expelled it. It would be quite taxing."
Satisfied with this theory, and glad that Harry looked healthier, Hermione kissed him gently and watched him wake, "I like waking up to a kiss from you."
"You worried me. Do you feel okay?"
"Well I'm hungry but other than that I'm fine." Hermione shook her head. Boys could be so ridiculous. With Pomfrey giving them the all-clear they walked down to the Great Hall. It was nearly dinner time and the announcements were approaching.
Hermione didn't see any point in bringing up what had happened to Harry. He seemed fine and happy. That was all that mattered. They ate dinner with their friends and Harry seemed happier than any Halloween before. After dinner it was time for the announcement of the Champions. Dumbledore rose, "The Goblet of Fire will now make the choices for the Champions. Once your name is announced please enter the side chamber. For Durmstrang," the fire turned green and spit out a paper which the headmaster caught easily, "Viktor Krum!" There was applause from almost all the tables. Ron could be seen clapping loudly and whistling.
"Viktor and Ronnie sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g," Harry sang to Hermione who laughed.
"The Beauxbatons Champion is," another paper flew out, "Fleur Delacour!" There was plenty of applause but it was noteworthy how angry the rest of the French contingent looked.
"I wouldn't want to live in that carriage," Hermione said, the other girls at the table agreeing with her. She leaned into Harry, "Fleur is part-Veela," she whispered.
"You can tell?" She nodded in response. "Do you think she can tell?"
"Not sure," she admitted.
"The Hogwarts Champion is…Cedric Diggory!" Hufflepuff exploded in cheering. Harry winced at the volume and he wasn't alone. Ravenclaw and Slytherin students also had their hands over their ears. Cedric entered the chamber and Dumbledore spoke, "Now then this…" He was cut off by a paper flying out of the cup. Harry suddenly had a sense of foreboding and squeezed Hermione's hand. She returned the squeeze. Dumbledore caught the paper and read with some surprise, "Draco Malfoy."
The entire hall was silent. Hermione closed her eyes and offered a silent thank you to Apollo. He had looked out for her mate. Harry's grip relaxed and he leaned into her. The entire hall was staring at Draco Malfoy at present in surprise and, in Hufflepuff's case, anger. Dumbledore cleared his throat, "Draco Malfoy, please step into the chamber."
Draco Malfoy slowly rose and walked into the side chamber. Shortly after Dumbledore, the other headmasters, the ministry personnel, and Professors Moody and Snape followed. McGonagall excused the school and Harry and Hermione went up to the Room of Requirement.
Harry had just shut the door behind Hermione when he spoke, "I don't know how you did it, but thank you."
"For what Harry?"
"We both know that that parchment probably said Harry Potter. I'm always sucked into controversy or danger on Halloween. I don't know how you changed it but I'm thankful you did."
She smiled, "I might have sent a prayer to my patron asking him to protect my mate."
He scooped her up in a hug, "Thank you Hermione. Thank you, thank you, thank you!" He swung her around the room and she laughed at his joy. They exited the room and walked back toward the common room, stopping in a broomcloset along the way for a snog to explain their absence.
Draco Malfoy walked into the side room feeling confident. His father was a very important man. People fell all over themselves to do what he wanted. And that meant that Draco wouldn't have to compete if he didn't want to. But even better he could show off his pureblood abilities. The French girl asked, "What eez it? Do zhey want us to go back out?"
"My name came out of the goblet," he said, puffing his chest out.
Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur all looked at each other before Fleur spoke and gave Draco's ego its first hit of the night, "You? You are just a leetle boy! You cannot compete wiz us!"
Draco was about to argue when in came the headmasters, "Yes now then I daresay you three are aware of tonight's…irregularity."
Fleur turned to her headmistress, "Madame Maxime surely zis leetle boy cannot compete!"
"How does Hogwarts get two champions?" Karkaroff said.
"Eet is extremely unprecedented, Albus," Maxime nodded with her colleague. "I am of a mind to pull support from zis tournament altogezer!"
"They've all got to compete," Moody said. "Contract is binding. Lose their magic if they don't."
Draco ignored that. His father could do anything. "Mr. Malfoy did you ask an older student to put your name in the cup?"
"No," he scoffed. "As if I would do such a thing. When my father hears about how I'm being treated…"
Unseen by Draco Cedric and the other champions rolled their eyes. Draco was proving to be the spoiled brat he was and none of the three were eager to deal with that. Karkaroff was thinking to himself 'like father, like son,' which was a thought shared by Moody aka Barty Crouch Jr. Dumbledore shared those sentiments but kept his composure, "Mr. Malfoy's name has been submitted, somehow, and he must compete. All four must. Now as for you Champions you will receive no help from the staff but you have full access to the library and are excused from end of year exams. The first task will be at the end of November and I wish you all luck. You are now excused."
Draco left in a hurry but the other three exited the room and lingered. Cedric smiled sheepishly, "Sorry for him. He's a miserable prejudiced git according to the younger students in my house. He's always trying to start fights with Harry Potter and his girlfriend Hermione. Don't judge all of us by the actions of that prat."
Viktor nodded, "I vill try not to. I vill certainly not sit at his house table again. He vas obnoxious."
Fleur was pondering something, "Ees his father the minister of magic here?"
"No," Cedric shook his head.
"Zhen why was he bragging?"
"Well the Malfoys put alot of money towards the ministry," Cedric said, remembering his father's complaints about the amount of influence Lucius Malfoy had with Fudge.
"My fazzer is ze Minister of Magic of France but I do not brag…zis Malfoy ees very rude."
"He's a pureblood bigot," Cedric said.
Lucius Malfoy was sipping his evening firewhiskey when their owl arrived with a letter. He opened it to read:
Father,
I've somehow been entered in the Tri-wizard Tournament. Get me out of it. This French peasant called me a little boy. She should be punished. Make her suffer. Her name is Delacour.
Draco
Lucius rubbed his face. Draco had often whined that he wanted to be in Durmstrang; the truth was in Durmstrang he was certain that Draco would be smeared over the walls of that school. His son was all mouth with nothing to back it up and Durmstrang encouraged fighting in the halls. His grades the past three years were worse with each session. Draco complained that the teachers all favored the mudblood Hermione Granger but Lucius had asked Severus about it, who insisted that the girl was actually quite the intellectual. And that Draco was quite poor even in Potions where Lucius knew Severus showed favoritism. The fact that despite this favoritism the Granger girl still got an O in class and Draco got a P spoke volumes about his son's abilities magically. He took solace that they were better than the youngest Weasley son's at least.
And then there was Draco's treatment of his fellow students. Lucius had told Draco to try and befriend Potter. He'd then embarrassed himself in front of the lad in Malkin's shop. You didn't make friends by slandering someone's parents. Yet Draco blamed Potter for this as though the boy was to go around wearing an 'I am Harry Potter' t-shirt. And then there was how he treated Granger. She was Potter's best friend and now girlfriend according to Snape. Potter was very close to her and very protective. Draco did himself no favors in slandering the young woman every time she bested him or he saw her. According to Severus she was always happy to tutor other students and those she did had improved grades. She'd be a good teacher one day. Snape himself said that she possessed an inherent teaching ability and that Dumbledore and McGonagall had both spoken about hoping to catch her with an offer of an apprenticeship in any field she wanted after graduation. Even Severus had said that if the girl wanted a Potions mastery he'd happily take her under his wing. Lucius was well-aware Severus had never before had an apprentice and had once said he never would. That he thought the girl warranted such a title indicated just how good she really was.
When Draco had written home that Granger had punched him last year Lucius had saluted the girl's actions with a glass of firewhiskey. He'd often wanted to take his hand to his son but Narcissa would flay him alive if he did. Snape had secretly given the girl 10 house points for that. Draco Malfoy was, to his father, a large disappointment. Potter got a Nimbus 2000, Draco wanted a 2001. Potter got a Firebolt, Draco whined and complained that Potter only won because of his broom. Lucius remembered James Potter playing and according to Severus Harry Potter was even better on a broom. That admission cast doubt on Draco's words. Not that Lucius took his son at his word.
Now he was angry at a Delacour? Lucius was well-aware of who Fleur Delacour's father was. Claude Delacour was the Minister of Magic in France. He was a loving father who doted on his two daughters. The mere thought that Draco had already made an enemy of the girl was a reminder of his treatment of Potter before he knew his name.
As for the tournament…well Draco needed a healthy dose of humility. Plus the contact was binding. He'd inquired about the tournament that summer and the ministry had assured him that the contracts were unbreakable. The best question was how did Draco get entered? Lucius supposed that he could have asked someone older to enter his name. Actually he wouldn't put it past his son to do just that and then think better of it far too late.
Still the tournament would be dangerous. Perhaps he could offer Narcissa a divorce if she produced another heir for him? She'd happily take that. With a plan in mind Lucius finished off his firewhiskey and went to find his wife.