Chapter 38 - Aftermath

***** Regular Chapter ***** A/N: Currently slammed at work..... haven't even had a chance to read any comments lately (>.<). I have some bonus chapters scheduled for the next few days, but ya haven't gotten around to writing the past couple of nights.... Anywho... Hope you all enjoy! *****

'I really need to keep up with my exercising....' Khan thought to himself, out of breath. 'Especially since I don't have as much time to adventure around the Hogwarts Valley this year with the OWLs and NEWTs to take, on top of the Triwizard Tournament....'

It was early morning on Sunday, November 1st, the very next day after the champions were announced, and Khan had decided to go for a run outside, alongside Stella, his golden unicorn.

He didn't get to spend as much time with her recently, since she was in a different vivarium than his Battle Beast friends and Sol. And since it was still pretty early on a Sunday, and there were few students outside, Khan decided to let Stella out of his Knab-Sack, to stretch her legs.

And although there was a chill in the air, it was still a nice morning, and now that Khan had been chosen as a Champion, he wanted to take advantage and get some exercising in. Not to mention, spend some time with Stella.

His parents had always emphasized the importance of physical activities after all. When Jordan began to show an interest in books, they hired an athletics and exercise tutor to ensure their son was well trained physically.

He hated it as a child.

Growing up, he just wanted to read and play games.

But after going to Hogwarts and getting thrown into Ranrok's Goblin Uprising, when he hadn't even learned a basic cast, he totally appreciated the physical training he was forced to endure.

His dodging and reflexes in particular, carried him through the early part of his adventures, when he was still learning all the various spells.

'Basic Cast. Dodge. Roll. Protegeo. That was all I knew at the beginning.' He thought, as he jogged around the nearby lake, admiring the Drumstrang ship in passing. 'God... battles used to take so long.....'

Khan chuckles to himself, remembering his previously pitiful combat prowess, especially compared to him now.

He knew a bunch of combat spells and spell-combinations, the 3 unforgivables, and had even mastered his ancient magic (max level in game).... at least before he had absorbed all the ancient magic under Hogwarts and gone into a coma.

All that ancient magic changed him..... Not only was he biologically the same age, even after a 100+ year coma, he had noticed some changes in his personality and his magic as well.

Khan had already noticed that he was slightly more impulsive. Quick to anger. Even rash at times.... But he was able to also cast more Ancient magic spells consecutively; If he was previously able to cast 5 Ancient Magic Lightning bolts in a row, now he was able to cast double that. Who knew what else all that ancient 'fear-based' magic had done to him.....

'I really should take some time to investigate those magic changes as well.' Khan thought to himself. 'So many things to do...'

Khan really did have a lot of things he was procrastinating on. Going through a mental check as he ran, he began to list them off in his head.

- Investigate Fear-based Magic absorption changes. (Mental, physical, magical)

- Check in on Hogsmeade Shop

- Handle outstanding family matters, and expand the family business

- Pay Respects to throne/investigate current monarchy (1/2 blood prince?)

'Speaking of which....' A frown appears on Khan's face. 'I really need to set a trap for Moody..... and investigate Mr. Crouch.'

Khan was highly suspicious of Professor Moody and Mr Crouch, especially after their displays the night before.

He was already suspicious of Moody previously. Moody was acting too differently than before..... It had even gotten to the point where Khan had contacted Tonks, Moody's previous protégé, to investigate his suspicions....

'I think I need to move up my schedule....' He muttered to himself. 'I was going to set a trap for Moody to gradually expose himself. But after what happened last night.....'

If Khan's suspicions were at a 6 or 7 previously when he had contacted Tonks, after the previous night, his suspicions were now at a 9 at least.

'What are the chances that I suspect there is an imposter Moody.... and the first big event at school, there is an incident?'

'Not to mention....The Goblet of fire was not in use even during my time, and it is doubtful that there are replica goblets to study how this magic works. So this is probably the first time in over 200 years that the Goblet has been used..... yet somehow, even though he was late to the investigations, and had no witness details from Harry, he was still able to hypothesize how an ancient magic relic was able to be tampered with? With that much detail?'

Khan was almost certain that Moody was an imposter... Now he just needed to prove it.

Mr Crouch on the other hand, is a different story. Khan didn't so much suspect Crouch, as he thought something happened to him....

Unlike Moody, Khan had immediately disliked Crouch since their confrontation at the World cup. Rude, arrogant..... He cared about nothing but results and making the ministry look good. This was evident when Crouch immediately tried attacking and blaming Khan as well as Hermione and her friends for the Dark Mark.

But at the first sign of trouble, at another ministry event, which Crouch himself helped organize, he appeared to be uncaring and uninterested?

'He sounded almost bored and monotone when he was giving us the first task instructions....' Khan thinks to himself, as he wipes some sweat off his forehead. 'Dumbledore noticed, even asking him to stay the night..... I wonder whats wrong with him.... '

'Maybe it has something to do with that dark magic aura I sensed around him at the World Cup.' He thought to himself. 'Although I didn't see that aura present on him now..... maybe his experiment/task failed, and his look and attitude is a backlash?'

*SNORT*

Khan was interrupted of his thoughts by Stella snorting at him from far in front. One could easily tell from her body language that she was getting impatient of waiting for the distracted and slow Khan.

Shaking his head free of his muses, he accelerated his pace, still running along trying to catch up with the agile Stella who was galloping in front of him with happiness.

*****

Time quickly passed that morning, and Khan & Stella were nearly done their run and were on their return lap back to the castle, when Khan noticed a familiar Bushy Head of Hair in the distance marching towards the lake.

'Oh there's Hermione!' Khan thought as he spotted her. 'With just Harry? Where's the redhead?'

And it appeared She was leading, rather forcefully he thought anyways, his Hogwarts co-champion for the Triwizard tournament Harry Potter, for a lakeside chat.

Khan was slightly surprised they were up so early on a Sunday, especially after last night.

When Khan had returned to the Ravenclaw dormitories the previous night, he was surprised to find a giant party occurring.

The Ravenclaw house was having their best year. With Prof. Khan as a member, their house was easily #1 in popularity, giving the Ravenclaw members new found confidence.

And when Khan was chosen as champion for the Triwizard tournament.... well that just pushed things over the top. After all, how many houses, in all of Hogwarts history, could brag and say that they had both a Jr. Prof. and a Hogwarts Champion for the Triwizard tournament?

All this culminated in an after hours party last night, celebrating Khan's achievements and accomplishments.

With Harry also chosen as a champion, Khan assumed that Gryffindor also threw him some kind of similar party, hence his surprise at the 2 of them being up already.

He whistled at Stella, to call her to follow his lead, as he changed his direction, taking a slight detour to head them off.

Unfortunately, Khan was slower than usual; being at the end of his run, he was tired, not to mention it had been a few months since he had any sort of real exercise. Thus as a result, Hermione and Harry were already settled by a lakeside tree by the time he arrived with Stella, deep in conversation.

"-bledore said that there's some kind of contract or something associated with the Goblet, and that we have to participate, or we risk losing our magic." Harry explained distraught. "I didn't even enter my name, and I could still lose my magic!"

"Well of course! I knew you hadn't entered yourself just from the look on your face when Dumbledore announced your name Harry!" Hermione immediately accepted Harry's story without question, and seemed to be comforting him. "The question is, who did put your name in? Because I don-"

"Hey guys!" Khan greeted them, albeit out of breath. "*HUFF*... You guys are up early.... *HUFF* Where's Ronniekins? *HUFF*"

"Hey Jordan!" Hermione immediately greeted her friend, before answering his question, still staring at Harry in concern. "Um..... Ron was at breakfast earlier.... but he's not going to be joining us for a period of time...."

"So he still thinks I entered myself, does he?" Harry asked angrily.

"Well.... no, I don't think so anyways...." Hermione said awkwardly. "Not really....."

"What's that supposed to mean!?" Harry demanded angrily.

"Oh Harry, isn't it obvious?" She answered him despairingly. "He's jealous of you!"

"Jealous?!? Of me?!?" Harry was stunned. "He wants to make a fool of himself in front of 3 schools does he? Compete against a World-class Seeker, a Veela, and a Jr. Professor... as a 4th year?!? He can take my spot!"

"Look...." Said Hermione patiently, as she got to her feet from sitting on the floor. "It's always you who gets all the attention, and you know it is..... I know you don't want it, and I know its not your fault.... But Ron's got all these brothers to compete against at home."

"You're his best friend, and really famous and good at Quidditch." She continued explaining to Harry, while finally turning to wave and say hi to Khan properly. "He's always shunted to one side whenever people see you, and usually he puts up with it, but I supp-"

"IS THAT A GOLDEN UNICORN?!?"

It appeared her original musings about Harry and his complicated friendship with Ron, was forgotten with the appearance of Stella, who was currently taking a drink from the lake behind Khan.

"Yes.... her name is Stella!" Khan announced like a proud parent talking about his child. "Isn't she just so beautiful and strong? My big beautiful girl!"

"How is it possible that she is gold? I thought only unicorn foals were gold, and they turned silver/white after maturity?" Hermione was shocked at the rarely colored unicorn of Khan's, and immediately began asking numerous questions, as usual. "Is she yours? Are you allowed such a large magical pet as a Jr. Professor? Where does she live?"

"I'm not sure how she was able to stay golden... I actually rescued her parents, who ended up giving birth to her, a golden foal, the typical color of a baby unicorn, as you just said." Khan started answering Hermione's many questions, used to her behavior by now. "I fell into my coma before she could mature... but after I woke up, and met back up with her, she was still this color."

He shrugs, uncaring about Stella's rare color.

"Would you like to pet her?" He asks a clearly excited Hermione, who squeals out an instant 'yes!' before running over to where Stella was hanging out, beside the lake, leaving Harry and Khan a little behind.

"So... you're fighting with one of your best friends?" Khan turned to ask Harry.

"He's being a prat!" Harry complained to Khan, before continuing to explain what had happened after Khan and himself had split, the night before.

Khan learned that Gryffindor had indeed thrown Harry a party for becoming a champion... but turns out nobody from his house, including Ron, believed him when he said he didn't enter.

Only Hermione was on his side.

"Honestly Harry..... Hermione is probably right." Khan began, watching Stella and Hermione out of the corner of his eye. "Ron is most likely jealous of you and isn't thinking straight... He's always been very emotional as I recall."

"Well thats just great." Harry said bitterly. "Really bloody great... Well he can just switch with me if he wants to. Dead parents.... people staring at your forehead... he can have it all!"

"Can I give you some advice Harry? something my parents used to tell me?"

"..... Sure, I guess."

"They told me, 'Anyone can sympathize with the sufferings of a friend. It takes a very fine nature, to sympathize with a Friend's success..... That's how you know who your true friends are."

"What do you mean?"

"You need to figure out..... which kind of friend is Ron?"