" You can thank my father for them. " Severus finally answered him leaving the kitchen and going back to bed. But not before checking in on Harry to make sure he was still sleeping soundly.
It was now time to get ready for the new school year, the trip to Diagon Alley went smoothly as did the trip to the train station, with the exception of Sirius coming in and talking to Harry for a bit, he apologized for his behavior and gave him a photo of the original order, his parents were there but his mum looked uncomfortable standing next to his father as well with Wormtail there.
His father and Wormtail didn't seem to share in her discomfort or acknowledge it, he noticed that Severus wasn't in there, but he may have joined after the photo had been taken or because he was a spy it was best that he wasn't in the photo.
Harry thanked him for the photo but he wasn't et ready to forgive him, Sirius accepted this and understood.
The train ride was uneventful as well.
Then the feast, two other wizarding schools arrived, and it was announced of the tri-wizard tournament. A student from each school will compete in the tasks and would be awarded the tri-wizard cup, but only those in 6th and 7th years can enter.
There was also going to be a ball. Which meant dancing and asking a girl or a boy to go.
Classes would still continue unless it was time for the tasks to begin.
Their names were to be entered in something called the Goblet of Fire, at the announcement of the object, it appeared and was a massive stone goblet on a stone pillar with large blue flames.
Everyone was excited about this, everyone but Snape.
There was also the announcement of the new defense teacher, and it was Mad-eye Moody. But something was off Harry could tell, he was too...hyped up, was the best way to describe it, but no one else seemed too concerned by his behavior, but Harry was going to keep an eye on him. He looked to Snape to see if he noticed anything off and it seemed that he too noticed it.
But Harry should know that this year wouldn't go by without a hitch.
---
When the time came to have the names drawn everyone was shocked to have a fourth name come out of the goblet and it was Harry's. The teachers all asked him how he done it and he kept saying that he hadn't there must be a mistake.
Severus agreed saying that Harry didn't have the knowledge or skill to break through the wards and protection spells to put his name in the goblet let alone have the thing spit out his name to the limit of three.
Albus looked so angry he'd looked like he could strangle Harry, but the restraining order prevented him from doing so, Severus also gave him a look that held warning should he try anything.
It was decided that Harry had to participate because his name was in. Harry was naturally scared and just confused on how this happened.
The first task, thanks to Hagrid, was going to be fighting a dragon for an gold egg that was a clue to the next task.
The next day a reporter came and was writing things that was just absurd. Blowing up a hug that Harry and Hermione shared before it was his turn to face the most dangerous of the four dragons brought in.
Thankfully, Harry made it out, though he was sure he gave Severus a heart attack along with McGonagall when he flew by them so closely.
Severus said as much when he pulled him aside once no one was looking, " Are you trying kill me this year? "
" No sir and I swear I didn't put my name in the cup, I don't know how it could've gotten in there. "
This was the first time they were able to talk.
" It had to have been dark magic. Something I know for a fact you haven't touched or dabbled with. "
" So I really stuck going through the rest of the tasks? "
" I'm afraid so Harry. But be more careful next time. This tournament is very dangerous. "
" I know. And I thought a basilisk was scary. "
" Please try not give a heart attack like you almost did today. "
" I can't promise that since I don't know what I'll be facing in the next two. "
" I said try. "
" I'll try...Professor, have you noticed anything odd with Mad-eye? "
" I have. But I can't prove anything. Stay alert and keep your guard up around him. And don't go anywhere with him alone, if he tries, make an excuse. "
" So it's not Mad-eye. I thought so, he's too, hyped up and he keeps drinking from his flask. "
" He does drink, but not... "
" Every hour? I noticed and counted down to how long it took him to take another drink, it's almost every 60 minutes that he takes a drink. "
" Very clever Harry. I'll inform Albus and we'll go from there. And when I say 'we'... "
" You and the other teachers. Got it. "
" Good. But should you find yourself in a dangerous situation, use your patronus to send for me and I'll be there. Don't, go head long into the danger yourself. Understand? "
" Yes sir. "
" Good. Now off you go. "
" See you at dinner sir. "
" See you at dinner Harry. "
---
The second task was just as dangerous and crazy as the first. Only this time it was underwater, cold water. Harry had to choose which of his friends to save, Krum came in and saved Hermione, though he was thankful for it, it confused him. He grabbed Ron and made it out of there by the skin of his teeth because the Gilly weed Neville gave him was wearing off.
Then came the announcement of the ball and that, Harry found was more terrifying than the first two tasks. Because he had to talk to a girl, which he knew was ridiculous, he talked to Hermione all the time, why can't he simply talk to another girl? Let alone ask her to go to a dance?
McGonagall taught them how to dance and had them practice, Neville was a natural at it, Ron kept stepping on Lavender's toes while he kept an arm's length away from Hermione, afraid that he'd end up stepping on her feet as well, she mock glared at him and he grinned, pulling her a little closer and twirled her around a bit, making her laugh. He smiled in return.
Afterwards, he went to Severus and asked him for advice.
" Come again? " He asked looking across his desk at Harry in surprise.
" How do you talk to girls? "
" Why are you asking me of all people? "
" Because your older and you had to have had a girlfriend at some point. "
" Well there was only one girl I fancied, but I couldn't say anything to her because... "
" She was your friend. "
" How did you...Never mind, but yes and I also thought her to be out of my league. She only saw me as a friend anyway. "
" You talk to McGonagall. She's a girl. "
" I respect her and that's the only reason I talk to her, you talk to Granger all the time, just pretend your talking to her when talking to other girls. "
" Is that what my mum told you when she tease you about girls? "
" You cheeky little brat! "
" Wouldn't that hard to figure out. " Harry grinned, it wasn't going to say he heard Sirius say that he fancied his mum back then.
---
It was clear to Harry in the week leading up to the dance that Hermione wanted to go, despite her attitude towards not wanting to go, Ron didn't catch it and even joked who'd want to go with her, Harry swatted him in the arm for that when Hermione left, he noticed her eyes getting watery, why his friend so dense?
" Why are girls so, girls? " Harry asked during a 'detention' with Snape, Mad-eye had wanted to talk to him, but he made the excuse that he had detention with Snape and he needed to get to him, luckily for Harry was near by and had heard what he said to 'Mad-eye'.
" How do you mean? "
" I don't know how to describe it. Emotional? "
" It's just her hormones kicking in is all, she'll settle down in a couple of years. "
" Hormones? "
" You don't...Merlin give me strength. "
And that is how Snape and Harry had 'the talk'. Much to both their embarrassment and discomfort. Severus even had to tell Harry about girls having their periods and what PMS was. Another thing Severus told him about was stranger danger.
Though it was embarrassing at times, Harry was thankful Severus told him.
---
The day before the ball and Harry still hadn't found a date. He approached Hermione and finally asked her if she'd like to go with him, she said no, that someone had already asked her. He nodded, and asked who it was, curious as to had asked her, not to be mean like Ron was being.
She said it was Krum.
Harry felt a pang go through his chest, he didn't understand it. Hermione was his friend not his girlfriend, why would he get upset? Or jealous even?
Ron came to him that night saying that he had gotten them dates, the Patil sisters, Parvati and Padma.
---
The next night, Harry was getting ready with his dress robes, Ron came bursting in wanting help with his, which were very outdated and brown whereas Harry's was black and white, similar to Snape's look, which made Ron feel a bit disgusted because he thought Harry was a miniature Snape.
Harry brushed it off and helped him with his robes, not Harry's fault he chose a set of dress robes that were similar to Snape's usual attire.
Luckily for him, he wasn't the only one wearing similar black and white dress robes.
He commented on Padma's dress and that she looked pretty. He probably said the wrong thing because she looked like she was expecting something else for him to say.
Then something caught his eye on the stairs and there stood his best friend Hermione with her hair up and curled just right, light make up, lip gloss, small hoop earrings, light pink dress, she was smiling at him as she came down,
" She's beautiful. " He heard Padma say and couldn't help but agree,
" Yeah she is. "
---
The dance was a disaster and quickly became boring. Harry saw Hermione running out of the great hall and excused himself to go follow her, upsetting his date, but he didn't care, his friend was upset. He found her crying the same stairs he had seen her come down earlier and joined her. He didn't say anything, just sat there with her and she leaned into him, muttering that boys were stupid, seeming to forget that she was friends with two boys.
" Yeah, they are. " He agreed, hugging her to him in support.
He escorted her back to the tower and made sure she was alright before heading back out, not to the ball, just walking around, he wrapped his robes around him tighter against the chilly night air.
He ended up where the carriages were, a couple of them were moving, he spotted Severus making rounds and stopping whatever was going on inside the carriages, taking points as he did, he also took more points from one couple inside the carriages for sex.
Harry felt bad for him that he had be doing that. Then the headmaster of Krum's school came up to him and they began talking as though they knew each other, he came closer and heard them talking about Severus' tattoo, one that Karakoff also had, only his was darker, had Severus' gotten darker too?
Harry though the two were going to fight when Karakoff pushed Severus back, which surprised Harry and he went to intervene, but stopped himself, he would get in trouble if Severus caught him eavesdropping, he waited but then after a few more words that were spoken more softly, Karakoff backed off and let Severus go about his rounds.
---
The third task seemed simple enough, a maze to get the tri-wizard cup, the first one there won their school the cup, but they were to be going against each other, Harry and Cedric teamed up because they were from the same school.
Cedric and Harry got there about the same time and Cedric, and he grabbed the cup only for them to disappear the second they touched it and ended up in a graveyard where they were met by a group of Death Eaters and Wormtail carrying something that Harry recognized as Voldemort.
Voldemort order Wormtail to kill Cedric, and he did so before Harry could do anything to stop it. He was then captured, cut, and forced to watch Voldemort come back to full strength. Or so it seemed as he made Harry fight him.
But he was still too weak to fully fight, but the oddest thing happened when Harry and Voldemort's spells connected, three spirits, his mum, father, and the same old man from his vision appeared and aided Harry to push back Voldemort's spell and throw him back in shock of his followers.
But it didn't stop there, the spirit of his mum began to solidify and soon she was standing there, alive!
" Impossible! Your supposed to be dead! " Voldemort shouted.
" Harry, we have to go now. Grab the trophy. "
" What about Cedric? We can't leave him here. "
" Hold onto him sweetheart and he'll come with us. "
Harry did as she said and once they grabbed the trophy they were transported back to the school, shocking and everyone there.
But during the confusion, someone grabbed Harry and pulled him away from the crowd, he thought it was Severus at first then he saw that it was 'Mad-eye'. He got the feeling that he now knew who had put his name in the goblet and who turned the trophy into a Port-key.
" Let me go! Expecto Patronum! "
" What good is that going to do you? " 'Mad-eye' asked, a wild look in his eye.
---
" L-Lily? " Severus said in shock once he got through the crowd.
" Severus? Severus! " She got up and ran to him, hugging him.
He hugged her back hesitantly, " But how? "
" I don't know. But I... "
Whatever she was, she didn't get to say, a stag Patronus came running at them.
" It's Harry, I need to go, he's in danger. " He said turning running after the stag, Lily was right on his heels along with Minerva and Albus.
" Not without me your not! " She said running alongside him.
" Figured as much, by the way, welcome back. "
" Thanks, it's good to be back. But be warned, I'm madder than hell. "
" I knew something was wrong. "
" I was cursed Sev. I don't know by who, but I was cursed. And I think you were too. "
" I'm learning that more everyday. "
" We'll talk more once we save Harry. "
The patronus led them to the dark arts room. They could hear 'Mad-eye' shouting at Harry, Severus kicked the doors in, wand at the ready along with Albus and Minerva, Lily was ready as well, though she didn't have wand, she could do wand-less and non-verbal magic.
'Mad-eye' was surprised to see Lily alive, giving Harry time to get away from the man and get behind his mum and Severus
" Stay behind us Harry. " She keeping him behind her as she, Severus, Albus, and Minerva found who the man before them was, it was Crouch Jr. The real Mad-eye was in a trunk in the office.
" If we are done here, I'd like to get my son to the hospital wing. " Lily said once Kingsley and Tonks took Crouch Jr. away.
" Perhaps you could... "
" My son is bleeding from a cut to his arm Albus! I'm taking him to the hospital wing! IF want to question me then do so after my son is tended to. I'm no longer under the curse that caused me to be like timid little lamb who did as she was told. And there is no lion in its place it's a damn dragon so do not test me. "
Albus backed off and watched as Severus, Lily and Harry went off to the hospital wing.