"'Course, professor. Come'on Filch. Let's get ya something to drink. The perfessor will sort this all out. Tis a shame what happened to yer friend."
"'E kilt my cat, Hagrid!" the man cried at the giant Care of Magical Creatures professor led the man out of the Great Hall. The doors shut as Hagrid was heard saying Harry wouldn't do such a thing. Harry appreciated the big man's support.
Once the students had settled, Dumbledore started his welcome for a third time. The news of the cancellation of the Quidditch season due to the newly announced Tri-Wizard Tournament was met with silent shock. Most of the students were still distracted by the death of Mrs Norris and Filch's accusation against Harry and the news that students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons would be joining them this year.
It was a dazed student body that left the Hall that night.
....
Waiting for the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students to arrive, Harry was considering that Ernie might be right about his comment on the Express. He was cursed. It was like the old Chinese curse. " May you live in interesting times ." Harry absently wondered if the old Muggle saying was based on a real magical curse. Might be worth having Hermione check the restricted section for it.
Because Harry was living in interesting times. Once again, at least half the school believed Harry was a murderous criminal. Only now instead of trying to kill of the Muggleborns he'd downgraded to killing a cat. Maybe he'd moved from future Dark Lord to future Purple Lord? Or Blue, maybe? Or it could be that at some level they realized he was a wolf? Cause they all had the tendency to act like sheep…
Thank Merlin for his friends. Ron and Hermione were with him in almost every class as fellow Gryffindors. Padma and Ernie were there to help when he had classes with Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff, respectively.
Aside from the core classes, Harry was taking Care of Magical Creatures and Ancient Runes this year. Remus had talked Harry into dropping Divination and tutored him on the Third year material to catch him up over the summer. Remus explained that using Runes was behind many of the Marauders more spectacular pranks much like the Weasley twins used potions. The Marauders Map was a mixture of charms and runes. As Remus was a gifted teacher and with only one student, he covered much more than just Third year Ancient Runes which was really about learning the symbols and the proper way of forming them. Remus went into how to use and charge the runes, even some basic warding and ward-breaking.
"Look Harry, here they come!" Ernie yelled enthusiastically as he pointed to where a large carriage had appeared in the sky.
The entire student body of Hogwarts watched as the beautiful carriage pulled by six glistening white pegasi rolled to a stop on the broad grassy front lawn of Hogwarts. Harry had the impression of the carriage from Disney's Cinderella.
'Wonder if someone at Beauxbatons liked to movie or if Disney was a wizard and used it as the model,' Harry considered as they watched the students starting to emerge from the carriage. It quickly became apparent the interior was greatly expanded as more and more students emerged.
"Bloody hell, guys! Look at that one over there," Ron gasped in that immature teenage male way that announced there was a female that made them act… well, like Ron starring at a roast beef dinner. The witches weren't any better. It was just their 'squee'-ing sound was much louder.
The collective drooling of the Hogwarts males was interrupted by the surfacing of the Durmstrang students in what looked like an old sailing sloop in the Black Lake.
"Bet the Giant Squid loved that thing showing up," Ron snarked only to be shushed by many of his fellow students.
Now it was the chance for the girls, and the many Quidditch crazy guys, to react with shock, awe,… and more than a little drool as Victor Krum led the Durmstrang students down the gangway of their vessel.
"You know, if we went to their school we would have had to have you leading our entrance," Ernie pointed out to Harry. Harry glared at his mate at that comment. "What?" Ernie persisted in an innocently earnest tone. "You are the only student that could get a similar reaction by their students. Certainly none of the upper years can."
"Well, I am bloody glad I am too young," Harry grunted.
Hermione smacked Harry's arm lightly. "Language, Harry! But Ernie does have a point. From the Ministry's point-of-view they would probably love to have had you in the tournament. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that Dumbledore insisted on the age rule partially to prevent exactly that. According to Hogwarts, A History, none of the previous Tri-Wizard Tournaments had the age requirement."
"But that would be wicked if Harry was in the Tournament!" Ron jumped in. "Think of the excitement if you won! That's a thousand Galleons! The average Ministry employee makes less than that in a month."
"Really?" Harry asked in a shocked tone.
"Yep!" Ron confirmed. "I heard him and Percy talking about it when Percy got hired." Harry nodded his thoughts elsewhere.
.....
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