Plans & Changes

"You're right, Hermione. I just don't like talking about any of that stuff. No one has ever helped me with any of this before. I don't want to live with the Dursleys anymore but I don't want to go to the Weasleys or an orphanage either." In a tiny voice, he asked, "What am I going to do?" while wringing his hands nervously.

"We," Hermione emphasized clearly, "are going to figure this out together. I'll write to my parents about the situation with your relatives to see if they have some ideas that could help you out. However, the tournament is going to be a priority right now."

After taking a few minutes to compose themselves, Hermione opened her bag and began pulling out quills and parchment so they could write letters to Sirius, Remus, and her parents. Harry put everything he could remember about Dumbledore and Snape's conversation about the tournament and how only Hermione seemed to believe that he didn't put his name in the Goblet of Fire. He finished his letter by asking Sirius and Remus if they knew of a quicker way to communicate with each other because owl post took too long. Hermione had also completed her letter, sealed it, and handed it to Harry to mail.

When they reached the tower, Harry called down Hedwig and told her to wait with Hermione's parents for a reply. After watching his snowy owl disappear over the horizon, Harry sighed and looked over at Hermione and said, "I guess we should head back to the tower so I can get my stuff and face the music."

"Okay. Do you want to go to the library afterwards or should we look for a place to practice spells?" Hermione said understandingly.

"I think that I'd rather look around the castle and try to find a place to practice. My mind is too cluttered to study right now."

As Hermione started to move towards the door of the Owlry, Harry reached out a hand, tentatively touched her shoulder, and gently turned her to face him while saying warmly, "Thank you."

No more words were necessary, Hermione could see the depth of thanks in Harry's emerald eyes. "You're welcome." she replied with a smile before heading towards the door.

Harry pulled the door open for her and they headed towards Gryffindor Tower, each of them thinking of the things that they needed to do to make sure he survived the tournament.

Stepping through the portrait into the common room, Harry was unprepared for the sight that greeted him. Neville was red in the face with his fists clenched by his side standing over the crumpled form of Ron Weasley. "Don't you ever say that about Harry again, Ron! You know he hates the attention. He said that he didn't put his name in that stupid goblet and I believe him." he half shouted at the red headed boy on the floor.

"Thanks, Neville." Harry said while stepping fully into the common room. Neither of them had noticed Harry and Hermione enter through the portrait. "It means a lot to me that you believe I didn't enter the tournament."

"You're welcome, Harry. Hello, Hermione." Neville said as he turned to face them with a sheepish grin on his face.

"Is there something that you want to say to me?" Harry asked Ron.

Without saying a word, Ron got up and walked past them out of the portrait hole.

"I take it that he is upset that my name came out of the Goblet and he still thinks that I entered the tournament on my own?" Harry asked Neville.

Neville paused for a moment in thought and then answered, "Yeah, that about sums it up. He isn't the only one that thinks that you entered on your own but he is the only one in Gryffindor that's mad at you for being a champion."

"What a load of rubbish! If he could get past his own jealousy maybe he would see that someone put Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire for a reason." Hermione fumed as she flopped down into her favorite seat by the fire. Turning to Harry, she said softly, "Don't worry Harry, he'll come around eventually when he realizes that he was wrong and things will go back to the way that they were before." As she said the last part, she hung her head in sorrow.

Harry was watching Hermione from the corner of his eye and noticed that she had slumped down after she finished speaking. Realizing that he hadn't been a good friend to Hermione at all when it came to the relationship between her and Ron, he said softly, "Hey," while reaching over to touch Hermione's arm, "I'm sorry. I should have stood up to him before for how he treats you. Things won't be going back to the way they were, ever. I told you that you are my best friend and it's about time I started acting that way."

"Oh, Harry!" Hermione sobbed as she threw herself into his arms.

Neville silently waved goodbye to Harry and headed up to their room to give them some privacy.

Chuckling a little, Harry said, "It's really been an emotional day hasn't it?" He broke out into a full laugh as Hermione started giggling into his chest. Once their laughter had died down, Harry said, "You know, I think I feel better about all of this now that you know everything I have gone through. It doesn't seem like such a burden anymore."

"I'm glad I could help." She replied before stating, "Talking about things makes you put them into perspective and allows you to move on." Hermione stood up from the sofa and pulled Harry to his feet while saying, "Now hurry up and get your stuff so we can find a place to practice."

Grinning, Harry walked up the steps to his dorm room and retrieved the Marauders Map and his Invisibility Cloak to aid them in their search.