The twins looked at Harry in shock. Making money for pranks? That was their dream; to sell prank products like Zonko's. But to make money as a hired service? That was wicked!
Padma giggled from her place on the couch next to Harry. She laid her head against Harry's chest and looked up at him with wide eyes. "And how much are you going to spend on your ever-loving girlfriend? I really could use that new Arithmancy tabulator that just came out, you know," she teased.
Harry forced himself to look away from her eyes… and the cleavage exposed, before he answered, "I'm open to negotiations."
Now Padma simply laughed. "I would have gotten a full stammer and blush last spring. Sirius's new girlfriend ruined my fun."
"You're evil," Harry muttered as he grinned down at his girlfriend. "I thought Pav was the naughty one. Maybe I'm with the wrong sister. It's possible since this is the Gryffindor common room."
"Oh you little beast!" Padma growled in mock outrage. She then proceeded to show Harry she knew all his vulnerabilities as she tickled unmercifully.
Harry's friends enjoyed the show as Harry begged for mercy from his unrelenting girlfriend.
The next morning during Transfiguration, Professor McGonagall handed Harry a note from Dumbledore requesting his presence for a meeting after morning classes finished. So after the next class, Potions, Harry made his way up to the Headmaster's office.
"You wanted to see me, sir?" Harry asked after being admitted.
"Yes, of course my boy. Please, have a seat. Lemon drop?"
"No thank you, sir," Harry answered.
"Ah, well," Dumbledore said with a small disappointed sigh. The old wizard leant back in his chair. "Quite a night last night. Wouldn't you say?"
Harry shrugged. "I guess."
"Hmmm. I am afraid Harry that I am going to have to enlist your assistance with the Tournament."
"Sir?" Harry asked in shock.
"You see, Harry, we were simply unprepared for nine Champions. Thus, we are being forced to do a great deal of work to compensate. I am being forced to use the other professors' free time to assist with these efforts along with the professors here with our guests. As I will have little time to play host to our guests, I feel that you would be the best substitute in this role. I know you are quite up to this task." Harry felt his stomach fall at that suggestion. Dumbledore had to be kidding!
"Sir, you can't do that! I'm only a Fourth year! Why would they even listen to me?"
Dumbledore smiled and his eyes twinkled in delight. "On the contrary, I found that many of our champions already have quite a high regard for you; particularly our own Mr Davies and the entire Durmstrang contingent. Mr Diggory is quite favourable towards you as well. After all, as I believe Mr Macmillan has suggested, you are our most well-known student at Hogwarts." Dumbledore bent his head down to look out over his glasses to smile at Harry.
'Crap, he knows it was me,' Harry thought in panic.
"Shouldn't the prefects do it? It would make more sense for the Head Boy or Girl to be involved," he tried.
Dumbledore nodded as though considering. Harry felt a brief moment of relief and then Dumbledore said, "While that may be true, with the Tournament I have already added a great deal to their burden. Since two-thirds of the prefects and both Heads are facing OWLS and NEWTS this year, it would not be fair to add more to their tasks. I am sure you can understand that, Harry? However, as a Fourth year you face neither exam and as Quidditch has been cancelled for the year you possess even more free time than normal."
"Yes, sir," Harry muttered in resignation.
"Excellent!" Dumbledore said as he rose from his chair. "Well, let's get ourselves to lunch. I understand our elves have rather outdone themselves today."
Harry stood up and followed the Headmaster out and down to the Great Hall lost in his thoughts. Remus and Sirius were going to laugh themselves silly over this. They were approaching the Great Hall doors before, Dumbledore once again turned to Harry.
"One more thing, Mr Potter."
"Yes?"
"Sometime I would love to hear your theories on how our many Champions were chosen by the Goblet. Mr Crouch was most distraught over that event. Now please find your seat. I shall announce your appointment during lunch."
'Well, this bloody sucks,' Harry thought as he made his way towards the Gryffindor table where his friends sat waiting to find out what the Headmaster had to say. Harry was half way to his seat when he stopped dead in his tracks as a new thought occurred to him.
"The Headmaster just pranked me back?!"
.....
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