I walked behind Hermione and Neville as they followed the others to the Gryffindor common room. I wasn't really paying attention to what they were saying; I could only think of ways I could help Harry prepare for the tournament. I was also considering telling him everything I knew, although I wasn't entirely sure things would happen the way I thought they would. In the time I'd been here, I'd noticed some differences from what I remembered. I didn't know if that was because of something I'd done or if I'd simply not been paying close enough attention and was remembering things incorrectly.
But I was afraid to tell them, afraid they'd think I was crazy and distance themselves. At the same time, I had a strong feeling that I didn't want to keep things from him. I wanted him to know what he was about to face so he could prepare. I didn't want him to lose something important to him again if it could have been avoided with a little information.
I was pulled from my thoughts when Hermione asked me what I was thinking about, but at that moment I heard someone talking badly about Harry.
"If he was going to participate, why do it in secret?... It's obvious he wanted to be the center of attention again. He can't stand letting someone else be..."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing, and I spoke with clear fury in my voice.
"What are you saying?... Are you all idiots? Have you already forgotten the oath Harry literally made just a few minutes ago, risking losing his magic to do so? Do you think he's someone who's always looking for fame?"
Everyone in the room fell silent when I began to speak. Some looked at me in surprise. I suppose it's because they'd never seen me angry, and I was almost always smiling when I was in the living room or the dining room with them, but I couldn't stand hearing them speak ill of Harry.
Do you really think he wants the fame he's so well known for? Have any of you ever stopped to think, even for a moment, about the meaning of that so-called fame? No... I thought so. All that stuff you stupidly call fame is nothing more than a reminder of his parents' death. Do you really think he's happy to be known for that? Let me give you another, more recent example. A few years ago, how many of you called him the Heir of Slytherin? And why was that? Was it because he wanted to be the center of attention or something? No. It was simply because you, in your ignorance, accused him just because he's a Parseltongue speaker. Do you even know how that matter was resolved? It was Harry. Thanks to his gift, the very thing you accused him of, he was able to recognize what it was and fight the creature that was attacking the students. He remained silent, without seeking recognition. Thanks to Harry, who defeated it, there were no fatalities. Do you really think someone who always seeks to be the center of attention... Attention, would he stay silent after doing something like that?... How many of you accused Harry during that incident... and how many of you apologized to him?... How is it possible that...
- SELENE!... Calm down... your magic... is...
I stopped when I heard Hermione's panicked voice and felt her hand tremble on my arm. When I turned to look at her, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in one of the windows. My eyes had an intense golden glow around the iris, and when I looked at the others in the room, I noticed that some were trembling and others looked like they were about to collapse. It was then that I realized that in my anger, I had unknowingly released some of my magical pressure. I took a few deep breaths to calm myself and release the pressure. I called Artemis through our link as I walked to the window and said in a serious, cold voice,
"I need some fresh air. You all continue your conversation."
Once I opened the window, I saw that Artemis was already there, so I jumped out and climbed on. I didn't give her a direction to fly; I just wanted the wind to carry away my anger, and only Artemis's company could calm me down at that moment.
*** Meanwhile, in the Gryffindor common room ***
When they saw Selene jump out the window, Hermione ran towards her and caught a glimpse of her flying away on Artemis.
It took the students a few moments to recover from the magical shock, even though Selene was no longer there. The first to speak were Fred and George.
"That was terrifying.
" "Even more so than Mum... remind me not to make her angry."
Seeing that everyone remained silent, Neville said,
"She's right... Harry didn't want to enter the tournament."
Upon hearing Neville's words, Ron snorted in annoyance and headed upstairs to the boys' dormitories, while those who had been badmouthing Harry just minutes before now looked uncomfortable and embarrassed. Then someone asked,
"Is what he said true... about Harry confronting the Slytherin creature?"
Hearing the question, Hermione stopped staring out the window and spoke.
"It's true... he was even poisoned and almost died from it... he has a scar on his arm from that wound, that's why he always covers it up..."
Hermione's voice was interrupted when the door to the common room opened from outside and Harry entered. He seemed distracted, but he still noticed that something seemed amiss, as the Gryffindor common room was never this quiet on weekends. So he looked up at everyone gathered there, though some of them seemed uncomfortable and most had sweat on their foreheads.
"What's going on?"
The twins approached Harry on either side and put their arms around his shoulders as they said,
"It's nothing, Harrykins .
" "Yeah... just a bunch of silly kids who got scolded by a scary little bird.
" "Yeah... a very scary one.
" Harry looked more confused by their answers.
"What bird could be scary?... Is it one of Hagrid's creatures?"
The twins just laughed and then said,
"It's a very beautiful one, and no... it's not Hagrid's.
" "But let's forget about the little bird...
" "Yeah... better tell us how it went?"
"So you're the Hogwarts champion now?"
Harry looked a little dejected as he was dragged by the twins to an armchair where they placed him next to Hermione.
"Yeah... sort of... even though they know it wasn't me who put my name in, they told me I have no choice but to participate because of the binding contract; if I don't, I'll lose my magic."
They all chatted for a while longer, and as they began to head to their dormitories, when they said goodbye to Harry they always said, "Sorry and congratulations on being a champion, I'll be rooting for you." Every time someone said that, Harry seemed confused, and all the while his gaze was unconsciously drawn to the stairs leading to the girls' dormitory.
When only he, Neville, and Hermione remained, Harry asked about Selene. Neville and Hermione exchanged glances, and Neville finally said,
"Well, she... jumped out the window and...
" "WHAT?!"
Harry jumped up from his seat in a panic and was about to head for the window when Hermione grabbed his arm to stop him.
"She's flying with Artemis."
"Oh... I'm sorry... I was just surprised... why did she leave so late? She doesn't usually fly so late. "
Hermione sighed and said,
"She was upset... she needed to calm down... she'll come back when she's feeling better.
" "Why was she upset?... umm... was it... was it because my name came out of the Goblet of Fire?"
Neville shook his head hurriedly and said,
"No... she was upset about your name.
" "About me?... why would she be upset about me?"
Hermione snorted indignantly and said,
"She heard some idiots talking nonsense about you... that made her angry."
Neville nodded and added,
"She got so angry that her magic almost went out of control."
Harry looked like he couldn't believe it.
"Did she lose control of her magic?... But she has great mastery and... she never gets upset... I can't believe she'd get angry..."
Hermione and Neville told Harry everything that had happened before he entered the common room. Harry was very surprised and moved. He never imagined that someone he had literally only known for a few months would defend him to that extent, and for the first time, he felt something warm fill his chest—a feeling he had never experienced before.
The three of them remained in the common room for a few more hours until finally only Harry was left, sitting in front of the fireplace. It was past midnight when he heard one of the windows open, and when he stood up, he saw Selene entering through it. When he looked at her, a smile spread across his face, and he said, half-amused, "
Hello, you rascal..."