Picking out a couple of shirts and a new jumper, Harry eyed the casual robes curiously. Was it time he bought something a little more wizardly for everyday wear? The only wizarding clothes he had were his school robes and the cloak from Sirius and Remus. He examined a pair of slate blue robes, and Neville appeared at his side. "If you're going for robes, don't get Gladrags; the size-adjusting charms wear out way too quickly. Go for Malkin's or Twilfitt's, and get them tailored," he suggested. "Also, I think you'd look good in burgundy," he added, gesturing to the rack of soft wool jumpers Harry had just come from. Harry grinned.
"Thanks, Nev." He doubled back and picked up a burgundy jumper in his size.
"Is all that really necessary, Harry?" Hermione asked doubtfully, eyeing the bundle of clothing slung over his arm. Harry shrugged.
"I like them, so I'm gonna buy them."
"But you shouldn't be spending all your money so early in the term!" Hermione protested.
"Why not?" Harry raised an eyebrow at her. "I've got plenty more. Not like anyone else is using it for anything," he added sharply, still a little bitter about Dumbledore taking from his vaults.
"You've never been one to care about fashion, Harry."
He didn't understand why she was making such a big deal about him buying a couple of jumpers. "I've been going around in my cousin's hand-me-downs my whole life. I don't have to anymore. I don't want to."
Hermione didn't have anything to say to that, but the frown on her face made it clear she thought his spending was frivolous. Harry threw in an extra pair of trousers just to spite her, shoving it all in his bag on the way out. He caught sight of a familiar crocodile-skin handbag, and he threw himself around the corner suddenly. Skeeter walked right by him, chatting away to her photographer friend. "She must be staying in the village," he muttered to Neville and Hermione. "She'll be at the first task, then."
Harry vindictively hoped he had a case built up against her by then. Amelia Bones had written back promptly, assuring him that it was quite illegal to quote a minor without consent, and the entire article was easily a case of libel, but that Rita Skeeter was a tricky one and it might take some time. Harry was just happy to know working on it.
there was
a lawyer
They finally made it to the Three Broomsticks, where Harry put his foot down once more about sitting with Ron. "Harry, please," Hermione urged, but Harry wasn't having it.
"Hermione, maybe you should just let it go," Neville suggested gently.
"Oi, Harry!" Harry whipped around at the call, seeing Cedric sat in a booth with Cho Chang, who was waving at him. "Want to join us?"
Cedric was a lifesaver. "See you, Hermione. You coming, Nev?" He didn't wait for either response, heading straight for the booth. Luckily, Neville was right behind him.
"Hi, Harry," Cho greeted brightly. "And… Neville, right? Neville Longbottom?"'
"Yeah, it's nice to meet you," Neville returned.
"You looked like you could do with a bit of a save," Cho said by way of explanation. "Besides, Cedric keeps ditching me to go sit with you at lunch, so I thought I'd see what all the fuss was about." She gave him an impish wink, and Harry remembered the time last year where he'd briefly thought he had a crush on her.
"Well, here I am," he said dryly, holding his arms out as if to say 'ta da'. Cho laughed. "I'm gonna grab drinks, can I get you anything?"
He bought a round of butterbeers for all of them despite their protests, bringing them back to the table with barely a glance over to where Hermione was sat with a scowling Ron. He'd definitely made the better choice, he thought when he took his seat back in the booth. "So how's it going?" Cho asked, sipping at her drink. "Have you been driving yourself as mad as Ced trying to prepare for the first task?"
Harry shrugged. He hadn't told anyone of his suspicions about dragons yet, just in case he was wrong. "Kinda. I've been brushing up on spells I think I might need, but it's hard to prepare for the unknown. I figured I'd just wing it and hope for the best."
"Your approach to all of life's challenges, then," Neville cut in with a smirk. Harry rolled his eyes, but couldn't deny it.
"I hope they don't keep all the tasks a mystery," Cedric mused. "That'd be a nightmare."
"I think it's just this one. Supposed to test our quick-thinking and all that." Considering the last time he'd faced an enormous bloodthirsty beast, he'd stabbed it with a sword he'd pulled out of the Sorting Hat, Harry didn't think his usual method would work for him. All the books on dragons said their eyes were their weakest spot, but he couldn't exactly call Fawkes and have him claw them out. Again.
They tried to keep conversation off the task, but everything turned back to it eventually. It was hard not to, when it was all Cedric and Harry could think about.
He looked up when the door opened, and a familiar imposing figure ducked into the bar. It was Hagrid, walking with… Professor Moody?
The professor's magical eye spun in its socket, landing quickly on Harry. He nudged Hagrid in the side, nodding in Harry's direction. Hagrid grinned, waving, and started trying to squeeze his way through the crowd. "Alright, you lot!" he greeted. If he was confused by Harry's choice in company, he didn't show it. "Harry, I was wonderin' if yeh'd come down to meet me tonigh'? I need yer 'elp with summat. After dark, if yeh don' mind." He gave Harry a pointed look. "It'll be cold, so bring yer cloak." The emphasis made it pretty clear to Harry what he was implying, but just made him look like a weirdo to the rest of the table.
"Uh, yeah, sure, Hagrid." What could he possibly want? Hagrid beamed, nodding.
"Great, I'll see yeh then. Enjoy yer afternoon." With that he went to go sit beside Moody at the bar, leaving Harry blinking after him in confusion.
"What was that about?" Cho asked, frowning. Harry shrugged. "Not a clue." He'd find out tonight, he supposed.
.-.-.-.
Harry's first stop Sunday morning was the library, to scour all the books on dragons a second time. His little outing with Hagrid the night before had confirmed his fears, although at least now he knew he didn't have to fight or subdue the dragon. Just get past it.
•
🚀New updates on my Ko-fi!🚀
Support me and read the novel, now available in PDF, with the advanced chapters.
•
https://ko-fi.com/cmrowling