Back to School

Waking up the next morning was interesting for Harry. Erica was still asleep on his chest, having lightly drooled on his shirt, somewhat breaking the flawless image of poise and elegance she'd built up so far. He enjoyed looking down at her as she continued to sleep before he heard a ringing sound echoing throughout the tent.

"Harry, we have to head back," Hermione's voice called out through what he was assuming was a magical intercom.

The sound also woke up Erica, who blearily blinked the haze from her eyes before she took in their position. That made her face go completely red as she looked between him and the drool she'd left on his shirt.

"I-you-what," Erica stuttered, completely out of sorts.

"Point me," Harry said with a laugh before he leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips. Then, he got up and made his way out the door of the tent, continuing to laugh as he left Erica to try to regain her composure. 

When he walked out of the tent, he was greeted by Hermione and Ron, both of whom were looking at him with amusement. "Have a good night mate?" Ron asked.

"Best sleep of my life," Harry responded.

"We can see you both certainly slept well," Hermione commented, trying to keep a smile off her face as she pointedly looked at the drool on his shirt.

They continued to rib him as he made his way into the Weasley tent to change, only running into Bill who shared a proud look with him before he was left alone to change and gather his things. He was still wearing the invisibility cloak as a shirt, but he'd decided to wear normal pants to avoid situations like Rome where he couldn't fit anyone else under it without being naked. With a thought, his shirt was clean once again and he stepped out of the room.

When the group met up again outside the tent, Erica had gotten dressed and regained her image of a prim and proper heiress. That image was slightly broken by the light blush on her face when she saw him before she managed to stave it off.

"Harry, what are your plans for the rest of the summer?" she asked.

"Did you not want me to keep staying with you?" he asked innocently.

"No, I just wanted to make sure. I've got a house we can stay at in London until the school term starts," she replied not letting him get to her.

"Then yeah, I'll keep staying with you then."

"Erica smiled brilliantly in response as the group began to make their way through the campgrounds towards the portkey to return to the Burrow. 

"Too bad we can't hang out for the last bit until school starts, but I don't blame you," Ron spoke as they walked.

Erica was quick to offer another option. "If you want, you guys are welcome to come hang out. I've certainly got more than enough room." She then turned to Hermione and continued. "I can also have those books brought over and we can go over them together if you want."

Hermione quick agreement seemed to please Erica. From what Harry could tell, both of them had been rather starved of friends, Erica only ever having had one childhood friend while Hermione was primarily friends with him and Ron, neither of which was all that academically inclined. He was just glad they were both getting along so well.

The group made it back to the Burrow and Erica and Harry bid their farewells before leaving in a car that Erica had called to pick them up and take them to the house they'd be staying in for the rest of the summer.

----

The rest of the summer passed in short order. Erica had sent someone to pick up their school supplies, and the rest of their time was spent together, with the occasional visit from Hermione and Ron. 

Now, the two of them were getting out of the car at King's Cross Station to board the Hogwarts Express. Harry was excited to be back at school, but he also wasn't looking forward to his conversation with Dumbledore. The man knew he'd become a Campione, and he was also the one who'd gone out of his way to hide that fact from all of wizarding Britain.

Erica and Harry walked through the barrier, finding the bustling group of students and parents getting ready for the year. The Weasleys tended to be late to the train, so the two of them made their way into the train to get a compartment for their group before they arrived.

"Excited to see Hogwarts for the first time?" Harry asked as the two of them sat down, Erica sitting directly next to him. 

"I've heard the castle is quite beautiful. It'll be my first time attending an actual school."

"You're going to be announced as a foreign exchange student added on to the ones coming for the Triwizard Tournament, right?" Harry asked and that had been an interesting conversation. 

Her uncle had informed Erica and then she told him about the Triwizard Tournament that Hogwarts was going to be hosting this year. They'd be hosting the foreign schools of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, with the return of a deadly tournament, although the age limit was being raised to 17. 

"Yes, it'd be interesting to compete if the age limit wasn't there. It could've been interesting," Erica hummed to herself.

"Well, I definitely am not, even if I wasn't a Campione I'd have no interest. As it is, it'd just be unfair for me to compete."

Harry was mildly interested in seeing Erica compete, though. She was powerful, and seeing her compete with students from other schools would be fun.

Eventually, Ron and Hermione made it into the compartment shortly before the train started moving.

Hermione quickly began to regale Erica with talks about how beautiful the castle was, while Ron and Harry settled into a quiet conversation about Quidditch, which was broken up by Harry informing Ron there wouldn't be Quidditch this year.

"What do you mean there's no Quidditch this year?" Ron asked, outraged.

That drew Hermione's attention as well, and Erica informed the two of them about the Tournament and its history. 

"Is it really such a good idea to bring back a deadly tournament," Hermione questioned. "Although having students from other schools should be interesting."

"And imagine how fit the foreign girls are," Ron muttered under his breath, although Hermione clearly heard him as she rolled her eyes. 

"I'm just glad there's an age limit, makes it even easier for me to not compete."

Some more time passed as the train continued to go before their compartment door was opened and Draco stood in the doorway with Crabbe and Goyle. He opened his mouth, probably to say something snide before he noticed Erica's presence in the compartment.

"What is she doing here?"

"Going to Hogwarts Draco, or did you forget it was a school?" Harry asked.

Draco scoffed, but careful in Erica's presence due to his father's warning, he turned on his heel to leave. "I'd be more careful who I associate with Blandelli."

"I'm sorry, am I supposed to know who you are," Erica asked, making her accent quite noticeable as she feigned innocence. 

Draco stumbled as he walked out the door, before quickly leaving with his two cronies.

"Ha, that was brilliant," Ron laughed out.

The rest of the train ride passed quietly, Ginny popping in for a little bit to talk before she left. Eventually, he and Ron stepped out so that Hermione and Erica could change into their robes. When the doors opened again, they were surprised to find a dazed Hermione and a quietly amused Erica.

"What the hell do you eat, you're only a few months older than me," Hermione was muttering to herself.

"Do I even want to ask?" Harry asked.

That snapped Hermione out of her daze, who quickly stuttered out "N-No it's nothing."

The train came to a stop and the group disembarked and made their way to the carriages. When they came up to them, Harry was surprised to see that something was actually pulling them. They looked like skeletal horses with wings, and when Erica noticed Harry staring she quickly clarified.

"They're thestrals, you can only see them if you've seen death."

"There are thestrals pulling the carriages? I always assumed they were charmed to move on their own," Hermione said in surprise before she turned to sharply look at Harry. "Why can you see them now, though, you couldn't see them last year."

Erica quickly covered for him, thankfully, because he wasn't sure what exactly to say. "Sometimes you can only see them once you've accepted death."

Ron accepted that explanation easily enough, but Hermione still seemed a bit leery. Harry wasn't quite sure why he hadn't told his friends about what had happened to him this summer, but it just felt like they could never go back once his new status was known. He wanted to enjoy this year at least since he highly doubted he could get away with hiding it for any longer than that.

They boarded the carriages and began the ride to Hogwarts, while Erica watched out the window as the castle came into view in full. Hermione was telling her different things about the castle as they went, and Harry couldn't help but be happy being back at Hogwarts.

----

When they arrived, Erica was taken by Professor McGonagall, so the trio made their way to the Gryffindor table. Dean Thomas came over to them and quickly sidled over to Harry to ask a question. "Harry, mate, who's the girl you guys were with?"

"She's an exchange student from Italy," he replied.

"Think you can introduce me?" Dean asked, and Harry couldn't help himself from being mildly annoyed at someone who clearly was trying to hit on Erica.

"We'll see."

People had also begun to notice that his scar was gone, and he gave the same excuse he'd given Hermione; he'd found a doctor in Italy who'd managed to heal it.

Similar conversations popped up as people were curious about Erica, but eventually, the sorting began and they quieted down. Once the first years were sorted, Dumbledore stood up and drew everyone's attention. His eyes passed over students, and he made eye contact with Harry before he looked away.

"Welcome back to Hogwarts. I originally planned to announce this after you all have had a chance to eat, but that would leave our newest student out in the cold, so I suppose I'll make it now," he began before the doors to the Great Hall opened and Erica strode into the room, with Professor McGonagall behind her.

"Hogwarts will be hosting quite a few foreign students this year, the first of which is Miss Erica Blandelli here. She's an exchange student from Italy and will be attending Hogwarts for the duration of the year," Dumbledore continued, before gesturing for Erica to step up to wear the sorting hat. The stool was much too small for her, as it was clearly made for first years, so she stood as McGonagall placed the sorting hat on her head, which immediately yelled out "Gryffindor."

Erica took long, confident strides as she walked directly to the table, heading straight for him and sitting down directly next to him, which drew some attention.

"Furthermore, this year Hogwarts will be the host of a momentous event, the Triwizard Tournament."

"You're joking," the twins called out.

"I am not joking. It has been decided that the tournament would be reinstated, with some restrictions. The most important of which is that only those of age may participate. If you are below the age of 17, you will not be allowed to join." Dumbledore said.

There was some outcry at that but to Harry, it made perfect sense considering how dangerous the tournament was supposed to be.

"The other schools, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, will be arriving in October, where the drawing for champions will occur on Halloween." Dumbledore finished and sat back down as the food began to appear on all of the tables.

"So Erica, how do you know Harry?" Lavender Brown, always looking for gossip, asked as she slid over across from Erica.

"We met over the summer in Rome and I went to the World Cup with him and his friends."

Lavender squealed listening to her and hurriedly asked "Oh, did sparks fly in Rome?"

Erica turned to Harry, a grin on her face as she asked "I don't Harry, do you think sparks flew?"

That drew all eyes to Harry, who could almost feel the contented stare Erica was giving him. She clearly was trying to put him on the spot to make him nervous, another point in their game she thought was going to her. 

"Well, she certainly spent a lot of time watching me sleep while we were there, you could almost say she was infatuated."

That had one of two effects. Erica started blushing and Lavender looked like Christmas had come early as she quickly turned to Parvati Patil and began whispering.

"You did that on purpose," Erica whispered as she leaned in to not let anyone else here.

"You're just making it even worse," Harry commented, amused, as she realized that she looked even more intimate leaning close to him.

"Shut up," Erica said as she leaned back again.

"I didn't say I didn't like it."

From there, they continued to eat although Erica seemed to get an idea as she made a show of brushing lightly against him and offering him different foods to eat. It almost reminded Harry of a cat marking its territory, as she seemed to go out of her way to play up the rumors even more.

Eventually, the feast came to an end and Professor McGonagall stopped Erica and Harry when they were going to leave.

"Professor Dumbledore would like to speak to the two of you in his office."

Neither of them was surprised, having expected this conversation since they found out Dumbledore was actively hiding Harry's Campione status from the rest of the Wizenmagot and wizarding Britain. 

Ron and Hermione were confused, however, but they explained it away as being part of Erica's foreign exchange. They just said Dumbledore wanted Harry to help her out since he knew her already.

The two and Professor McGonagall made their way up the stairs until they came to the gargoyle that led to Dumbledore's office, she said the password and let the two of them in while remaining outside. 

When they walked in, they found Dumbledore sitting behind his desk while looking at the two of them. 

"I believe we have much to discuss, Lord Potter."