Chapter 39 - Aftermath pt. 2

***** Bonus Chapter ***** A/N: So I was reading this chapter this morning to edit it, and realized I didn't like it. So I re-wrote it after work just now... Honestly, just felt too... generic? Is that the right word? (>.<) I dunno, I'm hopped up on coffee finishing this up at starbucks, and words are starting to jumble together. So I'm gonna grab a bottle of wine, and enjoy the rest of my friday. Anyways, this is unedited as I literally wrote this out in 2 hours LOL. Hope you all enjoy! *****

"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." Khan passes on more of his parent's advice.

"What do you mean?" asked Harry, confused.

"You need to figure out..... which kind of friend is Ron?" Khan replied to the confused Harry. "I haven't known Ron for too long, so I can't speak about his previous actions..... but let me ask this another way..... Does he celebrate your wins and is genuinely happy for you when you succeed? If you can answer that question, then you'll know if he is a true friend or not."

"Well of course he's a true friend! He's one of my best friends, and has always been there for me before this!" Harry replied outraged at the possibility Ron may not be a true friend. "He's been with me for all my adventures, and he was the first friend I've ever made!"

"That's not what I asked Harry....First friend... adventure buddy..... those titles don't matter when it comes to true friends." Khan replied, face deadpanned. "Look.... I've heard rumors about your various adventures in 1st and 2nd year.....from basically the entire school. I understand he's been your mate for 3 years now and has been with you since you've entered the magical world...."

"But you're thinking emotionally right now..... instead of objectively. Let me ask you a few other questions.... you don't need to actually answer them... just think about them." Khan hoped these questions would give Harry more clarity about true friends. "Think carefully…. Question 1."

"Does Ron push you? Does he make you want to improve yourself? He's been with you during your various dangerous adventures..... do the two of you practice to better prepare yourselves for the inevitable dangers?" Khan thought of Natty, while asking this question.

Coming from Uagadou, she was already skilled in wandless as well as animagus magic. And with her Father having passed away saving her, she was constantly striving to improve herself, pushing Khan to do the same, just following her example. They constantly trained, duelled against each other and eventually battled enemies to help rid of the Ashwinders terrorizing Hogwarts Valley and the surrounding hamlets.

Harry meanwhile, frowned. A name came to mind to answer Khans first question, but it wasn't Ron.... It was Hermione.

Ron was inherently lazy, and other than chess, didn't care to practice anything..... Hermione on the other hand always pushed him to study, get better grades, practice his spells; improve himself.

She had even insisted on taking Runes and Arithmancy as they help with better understanding magic and practical application, instead of Divination like Ron had (since it was an easy course). Harry of course listened to Ron, and was now suffering for it….

"2nd question!" Khan interrupted Harry's train of thought. "Does Ron do things for you? Does he help you? And not because he'll get anything out of it, just simply because it will aide you?"

Khan this time, thought of Sebastian helping him track down Isadora's history in the undercroft, and her other hidden locations around Hogwarts Valley. Without Sebastian, Khan would not even have known about the undercroft, let alone find all the obscure locations that Isadora had hidden, without Sebastian's help. Even while searching for a cure for his sister, Sebastian still took some of his own personal time, to help Khan with his various investigations, asking for nothing in return.

Harry's frown deepened in thought listening to the 2nd question. Hermione's name once again came to mind over Ron. Hermione had just helped him last year after all; Sharing her Time-turner with him, and helping him save Sirius..... Never asking for anything.... Harry didn't even remember thanking her for helping him last year.

Hell…. Other than Khan, she was the only person who believed him about submitting his name this year.

Meanwhile, Harry could not recall the last time Ron had done something for someone, out of the goodness of his heart…. He was sure there was something…. Harry just couldn't remember in the spot…..

"Last question." Khan interrupted Harry's thoughts once more. "Does he make you want to change for the better? Does he motivate you? He wants to be a professional quidditch player right?"

"Do you see him working hard towards his goals?" Said Khan thinking of Ron and his obsession with Krum and the Chudley Cannons. "Do you look at him working hard every day, and think, 'I need to be better at school..... or better at quidditch, so I can help him with his goal of becoming a quidditch captain/professional player?'"

Khan thought of Poppy, the best friend from Hufflepuff, who probably influenced and changed him the most. Growing up, Khan was never really a beast/animals type of person, preferring to spend his time reading/studying. But after meeting Poppy, he had come to fall in love with magical beasts, and wanted to help her keep them safe.

This new found love, pushed Khan to improve his magic at an exponential pace, now having a reason for said improvement; Saving all the magical beast in the area with Poppy, who ironically enough, was the daughter of a pair of poachers. He spent quite a lot of time adventuring with her, clearing out all the various poachers from the surrounding hamlets, and saving all kinds of rare and magical beasts, and setting them up in his various vivariums.

These 3 TRUE friends helped Khan become who he is today. He was truly feeling grateful for experiencing friendships such as these, and quickly got lost in memories of old.

Harry meanwhile, was stressing out by now, examining his and Ron's friendship while thinking about Khan's questions. Once again, Harry thought about Hermione over his other best friend. She constantly pushed him to be a better student, a better person. A better friend.

Her studious attitude alone, bothered him and made him feel often times lazy when he was relaxing with Ron, while she was off studying or researching for their various adventures.

Ron on the other hand, never really strives for anything, and often times made fun of Hermione and her studious attitude. Although he had a dream of being Headboy/Quidditch captain (according to the mirror of erised), Ron never put any effort toward it. To be honest, Ron never once made Harry feel like he had to get better at anything….

But that's what he liked about him….. Ron never made Harry feel like he had to try to be someone he's not. Ron made Harry feel like he was just a normal kid. Ron liked Harry for who he is... not what he did as a baby, right?

But where was Ron now? Why didn't he believe him, and was acting like this is all for attention? It's not like he's ever wanted attention…. Especially for something like having dead parents….. could Ron really be jealous?

But then….. the jealousy didn't explain Harry's lack of answers at Khans other questions, nor why he thought of Hermione immediately when Khan was asking those questions?

He already knew Hermione was amazing…. That's why she was his other best friend…. But Was Hermione really that much of a better friend than Ron was? Is that why he thought of her right away, even when Khan was asking him about Ron?

Silence followed between the two of them; Khan lost in his thoughts and memories of his old friends, and Harry musing over his friendship with Ron and Hermione.

Hermione meanwhile, remained blissfully unaware of the heavy discussion between the two heroes, and continued to enjoy her time petting Stella.

Time quickly passed.

The group left later that morning, separating to go their separate ways.

Harry and Hermione left heading off to the owlery, to send some secret letter, they wouldn't tell Khan about.

He suspected it involved Sirius Black.... although that was the only secret Khan had overheard between the 3 friends, so that wasn't much of a guess on his part, as it was his only guess.

Khan ended up sending Stella back into his Knab-sack, and went back to his dorm to shower and freshen up after his run, before grabbing a late breakfast (due to his chat with Hermione and Harry).

Walking into the Great Hall, Khan was looking forward to his breakfast, when he was immediately mobbed by a crowd of Hogwarts girls, all asking him for his autograph... It was like the crowds Krum attracted, But that was normal of course, as he was a World-class Quidditch seeker. For Khan however, this was all new..... there was this one girl who was brazen enough, that she even asked him to sign his autograph on her bosom.... Needless to say, Khan was overwhelmed with the amount of attention he was receiving.

He was a minor celebrity already in Hogwarts with his distinct clothing, Jr. Prof. title, and the growing popularity of Summoner's court, of which he was the 'inventor', at least to common public knowledge. And Ravenclaw had thrown him a party already, he wasn't expecting much of a change when he was announced as one of the Hogwarts Champions the night before. He figured that was just his house being supportive.....

'It's not like they had any personal stake in the competition after all...' He thought to himself. 'Why is my popularity so much larger now as a champion....'

The girls were quite excited, some of them even feinting after receiving his autograph.

'This.... is something else entirely.' Khan looked at the crowd around him helplessly, realizing it was growing, even with him fulfilling some of their requests. 'I am not going to be able to eat in public for a while it looks like....'

*****

Over the next couple of weeks, Khan quickly realized he was correct in his assumption.

Crowds of students followed him everywhere he went, many of them female, and he appeared to be now on the same popularity level as Krum was.

Harry too, was realizing how correct he was, when he was worried about nobody believing him about submitting his name. And while Harry was relieved that at least Khan believed him, with his numerous fans constantly crowding Khan, Harry could not find any time to talk with his new close friend.

It was clear, that the rest of the school, thought that Harry entered his name for the tournament.

Even the Gryffindors, his own house, did not believe him..... why would the rest of Hogwarts?

However, unlike the Gryffindors, who were supportive (except for Ron), the rest of the school did not seem impressed.

Slytherins had always detested Harry, so he wasn't necessarily surprised by their cold shoulder and snubbing.

And the Ravenclaws were Khan's house, so Harry didn't blame them either for their attitudes towards him.

But the Hufflepuffs, who was usually on good terms with, were the ones who surprised him with their attitudes. Normally, the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors got along great.

But it was clear that, similar to Ron, they believed Harry to be a gloryhound, wanting to gain personal glory, instead of winning a possible school championship. The ever loyal Hufflepuffs, believed that Khan was their best shot at winning the entire Triwizard Tournament, and were upset that Harry appeared to be attempting to interfere.

Rumors flew all around, and soon it appeared that the entire school was against Harry.

The past few weeks should have been some of Harry's worst at Hogwarts. The closest he had ever come to feeling similar to this, was during his 2nd year, when the entire school suspected him to be Slytherin's Heir, and attacking students with the monster from the Chamber of Secrets. But at least then, he had both Hermione and Ron.

Now however, he only had Hermione, with Ron still upset with him. The entire school, while not outright bullying him, shunned him, dislike pouring in from all sides.

It truly should have had Harry feeling terrible.

But Harry found that it wasn't the worst feeling..... In some ways, he almost appreciated the alienation and shunning, due to how much less attention he received, a majority of them being dirty looks from Khan's followers... Honestly, it felt nice to be out of the public spotlight..... even though it was for a somewhat controversial reason. If only the school could support Khan, without shunning him and not believing him, that would be the dream... It's not like he entered the tournament in the first place..... why would he try to win?

And sure, he felt the dislike and the shuns, but truthfully, he was more preoccupied thinking deeply about his friendship with Ron, and examining it from all sides, not to mention studying and preparing for the tournament with Hermione.

Harry had thought a lot about his and Khan's chat that morning of November 1st. With only Hermione to keep him company, not even quidditch practices to keep his mind and body occupied, and dislike from the rest of the students (except Khan who was being constantly guarded by his girlfans), he had thought a lot about the various questions Khan had asked him, and had a lot of time to think about his previous friendship with Ron.

Yes Ron was his first friend. Yes Ron had been there for the Philosopher's stone in 1st year, helping with the Chess match. And yes, even with a broken wand, Ron had at the very least, accompanied him down into the chamber, even if he didn't help slay the basilisk in 2nd year.

But Ron didn't push him to be a better person. Ron didn't teach him new things, or help him with tasks, unless it was fun, or he benefitted.

Ron alienated other houses, was quite lazy, and at the end of it, never appeared to work for anything.

He even bullied Hermione at times, making fun of her studious attitude, even though it had saved them countless times...

And this jealousy fit he was currently throwing, was the final straw that broke the camel's back.

It was pretty sad to think, but after his talk with Khan, and spending the past few weeks thinking about all this, Harry wasn't even sure that he wanted Ron back as one of his best friends.