Chapter 4

Two months passed in the blink of an eye for the Potter brothers. Their training had been relentless, and Harry was coming along nicely in his classes and his final prep for the inventions he wanted to sell to Gringotts. He had completed his rune set for the muggle technology, and merely needed to continue experimenting with it around high concentrations of magic.

It was the day before Halloween at Hogwarts, and Harry and his brother were finishing up their morning training with big smiles on their faces. The bond the two had forged over the past two months through the blood, sweat, and tears (mostly from Justin), had really brought the two closer together. He knew his parents would be thrilled about the closeness of the boys, and Harry couldn't help but be bitter that it took this many years for their relationship to blossom.

Justin had sworn up and down that Harry was likely one of the most powerful magic users he had ever met. Even after traveling the world to meet different teachers, and take different courses, Justin said he never felt so in tune with his magic than he did now.

As the two were returning to the castle Justin asked, "So have you changed your mind about the tournament, Harry?"

Shaking his head at his little brother, "No. I have told you at least a million times I have no interest in competing in the damn thing. It's going to get me killed, and I have far too many things to do before that happens."

"If you can't do it, Harry, then none of these other champions stand a chance." Justin said in defense of the man's skill.

"Accidents happen, Justin, and I am not infallible. Just imagine that I am fighting a dangerous magical creature? I slip on complete accident because I lost my footing, and then 'bye bye, Harry.'" The boy said, cringing at the thought of such a stupid thing getting him killed.

"What about the dueling and Quidditch tournaments?" The boy asked.

Harry shrugged, "I have proven myself to the world by taking down Pettigrew and then the Death Eaters at the Quidditch World Cup that I am capable. I don't need to prove it to some school kids. If Hooch makes me captain of the Quidditch or dueling teams I would not reject it, but otherwise I think I will turn it down."

"But Harry, you could give Krum a run for his money. The best seeker in the world. You are easily the best seeker I have ever played with, and I have played and trained with professionals growing up. Your natural talent and instinct is too good. You would have a great chance against him, and the match would be legendary!" Justin said excitedly, but was already preparing to make his case to Madame Hooch about making Harry the Quidditch team captain.

"I don't know, Justin, he is pretty good. They call him the best in the world for a reason. Plus I have too many projects I want to work on right now." Harry explained.

"You have the rest of your life, Harry! This is your last year at Hogwarts and something extraordinary is happening." The two boys were approaching the great entrance hall, and were preparing to go separate ways while Justin sighed, "At least think about it! I think you would be great."

The older brother merely smiled at his young companion, "Alright, Justin, I will think about it. Now go upstairs and get changed, I will see you tonight at the greeting ceremony, and then the feast."

The boys bumped knuckles and went their separate ways from there. As Harry walked through the school most people cowered out of his way. While the boy was certainly more approachable and friendly this year then he had in the past, his reputation still preceded him, and he liked it that way. Even the most powerful Slytherin and Gryffindor students didn't dare cross him, and he definitely wanted to keep it that way.

He returned to his common room, showered and prepared for the day and as he came out of the common room he caught the end of a shouting match in the corridors that was beginning to draw a small crowd, "You just don't take this seriously enough."

The girl whom the accusation was thrown at glowered at the red headed boy, "No, Percy, you take this way too seriously. The position is more for respect than it is power. We are given more privileges than we are responsibilities because we worked hard for them. You're not even the top male student in the class, yet you are abusing the position like this was your birthright. You are not the Head Boy."

Percy glared at Penny with ferocity, "It's obvious we no longer see eye to eye on this matter any longer."

The girl sighed a bit at that, "I suppose we don't. I like you Percy, but you are just not the same person you were two years ago. You have been blocking out your family and me at every turn, and I can't keep up with it anymore. I have been distracted in my classes, and it can't go on any longer. I am sorry, Percy."

Just as Penny was about to walk away Percy grabbed her by the arm roughly, "I am not done talking to you, and you will not walk away from me until I am."

Harry then stepped out into the open of the gawking students, "That is enough, Percy."

Percy looked up glaring daggers at the boy, "This is none of your business, Potter."

Harry took a few steps closer to the two saying, "You're right. The argument is not my business, but you placing your hand on my friend is. Let her go, or I am going to do something I will certainly regret."

"Are you threatening me, Potter?"

Harry squared up at the boy without a hint of fear, "What do you think, Weasley? Step away from Ms Clearwater. Now."

Harry's wand twitched into his hand with a wandless summoning charm, and the Gryffindor Prefect seemed to notice this. It was clear a brief moment of arrogance and anger surged through the boy enough to make him consider dueling with Harry, but wisdom eventually won out. He let go of Penelope and stormed off in the direction of the grand central staircase. Harry stared in the direction the boy went off in until he was out of sight, clearing himself from any possible attack before asking, "Are you okay?"

The girl looked sad and frustrated, but nodded her head, "Thanks, Harry."

Harry rolled his shoulders back into a relaxed position, "Don't worry about it. Let's go down and get some lunch. It's a nice cool day outside, maybe we can talk a bit before the school delegations arrive."

The girl nodded and Harry offered his arm to her as the crowd dispersed, and the two walked off towards the Great Hall. Harry, wanting to give the girl some privacy however, took her on a sudden turn before they reached their destination on the third floor, tickling the pear and revealing a new doorway that the Head Girl had never seen before. At first she blushed saying, "Harry I just broke up with Percy, I am not about to go into a broom closet with you."

Harry looked at the girl in surprise at her annoyed tone, "Just follow me. It's not what you think it is."

Harry walked straight ahead, unhooking his arm from the girl, and after a moment she followed. The whole room lit up as they walked around a short corner and she saw dozens of house elves going around the kitchen frantically. Harry grinned at his friend, "Welcome to the Hogwarts kitchens." he then whispered a name quietly, "Dobby."

At first the Head Girl thought the young man had made the word up, but a house elf appeared before the duo, bouncing on his heels with excitement, "Master Harry Potter sir! Dobby is very glad to be seeing you again. What can Dobby do for you sir?"

"My friend has had a bit of a rough afternoon, Dobby, could you make us a quick lunch. It can be something simple like a few sandwiches. We just don't want to face the masses just yet." The boy explained and Dobby disappeared in an instance.

Penny looked at the boy in surprise, "Are we even allowed to be here?"

Harry shrugged, "I have read the Hogwarts bylaws, and History many times, and have never seen it in the rules that we can't. I think if you discover the location and how to get access then you are free to use it. On normal days when there isn't a big feast being prepared, dozens will swarm you looking for work, and anxious to make you food."

The girl looked around in amazement, "This place is crazy. Why haven't you ever taken me here before?"

"I don't know. Just never came up I guess. I just thought you wouldn't want to go to the great hall and face our charming Gryffindor Prefect, and the stares that will certainly come from what happened in Ravenclaw tower." The boy answered honestly.

She gave him a slight smile as she took a drink offered to her by a house elf, "That was thoughtful of you, Harry. Thank you."

"Just be glad it is a Saturday or I may not have caught the whole altercation. I was actually hoping Weasley would try something. Apparently he has been telling people that I only got the Head Boy position because of who my brother was. He seems to be under the impression that he can beat me in some sort of duel, and apparently some of the Gryfindors believe it as well." He said with a bit of annoyance in his voice.

Penny looked up from her drink in surprise, "Someone thinks Percy is as powerful as you are? Since when do you care what people think?"

Rubbing his temple softly he growled out, "When they taunt my brother about who the most powerful student in the school is. My brother is quite defensive of my...talents, so he speaks vocally against the Gryffindors who think Percy is more powerful than me. I personally don't care, but I don't like how much it bothers Justin. I'd just as soon let everyone go ahead and know that he is probably the second best duelist in the school, and let Justin put the boy in his place himself."

The girl gave him a soft smile, "I think it's great your brother and you are finally starting to bond. I noticed you two have been doing a lot of training together. We have dueled before. Do you think he could take me?"

"He is a powerful young wizard. Miles behind where I was at his age though, but his determination might just make him formidable one day, and I would be glad to take part in that. The short answer is, yes, I believe he could take you in a duel without rules. He fights dirty when he is determined to win, and I am teaching him some of my tactics just in case. The Dark Lord's followers might just come back for him one day if the past few years have been an indicator. I just want him to be ready for anything. He is my brother." The boy explained gently, hoping this conversation was at least keeping her mind off the breakup she just experienced.

"That's sweet, Harry, I didn't know you had such a soft side to you." The girl cooed almost mockingly.

Glaring at the girl he responded looking at his fingernails, "And if it gets out, I will personally feed you to Tech-9."

Penny laughed, "Tech-9 loves me, Harry, you can't scare me with threats of him."

The boy shook his head, "I could always just reprogram him to eat the Head Girl."

She glared at the boy, but then the two broke into chuckles, and enjoyed their lunch. Harry leaned back content after his meal. As he was preparing to stand up and depart his eyes glanced towards his best friend. She had a disturbed, and sad look on her face which made the young man sigh before saying, "Penelope. If you want to talk about it I will listen. I don't know if I will be very understanding, or objective, since I never liked Weasley, but I will do my best if you just want to get it off your chest."

The girl looked in surprise at the boy, "Thanks, Harry. You really are a good friend...I just haven't known what to do about Percy for a while. When I first started seeing him he was fairly humble, and family oriented, and because of that we started dating. Even when we became prefects together he was still fairly modest. I don't know what happened to him, and where all this arrogance and controlling power comes from. No one else in his family is like that. The internship he took at the Ministry last summer just made it all worse too. He just wants to get out of the poor life that the Weasleys have and he will do anything to do it."

Shaking his head, "I can understand that. Wanting to be his own man."

Penny looked at the boy in surprise, "You're taking his side in this?"

"No, not at all. I just understand the need to prove yourself. Having six siblings to compete with for attention, affection, and pride in that family can't be easy, but he is learning something that I learned the hard way. No one can teach it to him either. Many people tried to teach me, but reality can be the only teacher for this lesson." The boy said, as if that answered all the questions in the world.

"What lesson is that?" The girl inquired.

"No matter who you are, you are never alone." He said with a bit of a smile on his face.

Smiling at the young man before her she said, "You are definitely a different boy then the one I met seven years ago."

"Wingardium Leviosa."

The young boy said confidently. On his first attempt the feather began to fly off his desk, and the head of Ravenclaw house looked at the boy with pride, "Well done, Mr Potter I do believe you have your mother's knack for charms."

At this the boy had a sour look on his face that went unnoticed by almost everyone. Almost being the keyword as the young girl beside him did catch the look, but didn't question it, and instead asked, "How did you do it?"

The boy looked at the girl with a flash of annoyance in his eyes, "Do what?"

"Lift the feather. You did it on your first try, and didn't even read the book." Penelope answered in exasperation.

Harry shrugged, "I just pictured it in my head and then said the incantation. I did exactly what professor Flitwick said to do. It wasn't anything difficult."

The girl looked at the boy in surprise this time, "Well no one else has gotten it yet."

"Too bad for them." The boy said aggressively.

"Will you help me?"

The young green-eyed boy looked at the girl in confusion, "No? I wouldn't know how to."

"Oh..."

The girl then resumed trying to lift the feather, and even took his words of how he did it and tried to apply it. After several attempts it worked, and she turned to the boy beaming at him, but he merely looked bored and pulled out a leather bound journal and began writing in it.

Pulling out of the memory Harry shrugged, "I was just a kid without a friend in the world at the time, and had no idea what to really expect out of my magic that was developing beyond my control. I did everything I could, and it was all for me. To prove to people that I was worth something."

She patted the boy on the hand gently attempting to calm him, "You certainly did that. I mean, winning England the Dueling U17 title, helping defeat the Monster in the Chamber of Secrets and stopping Quirrell from stealing the Sorcerer's stone. You also killed Peter Pettigrew to protect your brother and defended innocents at the Quidditch World Cup. You have certainly made a name for yourself Harry, and you are a very powerful young wizard."

He rubbed the back of his neck as his face heated up, "Stop it, you're going to make me blush."

The girl smacked him on the arm and the two shared a smile, "Well, look I think you were way too good for that prat, Penny. Honestly you could do so much better."

"Like who?" The girl asked curiously.

The boy shrugged, "I don't know someone who is just a genuinely good person like Cedric or Herbert maybe. I know Cedric may be in a relationship now, but every girl loves to tell me for some reason that he is a good looking bloke, and I think we can both agree he is a true Hufflepuff. I don't care much for Chang, and I could remove her from the picture if you wanted a chance."

The girl looked thoughtful and then shook her head, "I think I am definitely going to take some time away from relationships. You never know when someone special might pop up, but I think I will do my best to wait for the right guy."

Harry smiled at the girl, "That sounds like a good idea. After all, that gives you time to focus on the tournament as I assume you will be partaking in the academic challenge, and maybe even the dueling challenge?"

"Well I plan to put my name into the goblet, and do the Academic Challenge no matter what. I don't really want to do the dueling challenge though. The thought of embarrassing myself in front of everyone, including the other school delegations, makes me sick to my stomach." The girl explained.

He looked at the girl in honest shock this time, "I never took you for the type to seek eternal glory, Clearwater."

She gave him a weak smile, "Professor Flitwick, and surprisingly Arthur Weasley convinced me to do it. Arthur wrote me a letter saying that if any Muggleborn had a chance at being selected as champion then it would be me. He also said that if I won the thing it might do some good for muggleborn rights."

"That wasn't fair of him to put that on you." Harry spat unhappy with the Weasley patriarch.

"But he is right isn't he?" The girl asked.

He looked her in the eyes, and for a moment thought about lying, but it was actually fairly true, "He is right. You are a very powerful Muggleborn. You stand a better chance than anybody in the selection."

"Unless you are planning on doing it?" The girl asked.

"Not bloody likely. I have no intention of dying." The boy said sharply.

Not looking for an argument though the girl just nodded, and the two handed their plates to the house elves and stood to leave from the kitchens in a heavy silence.

(A/N) Hello everyone welcome to chapter 4. If you want to read up to chapter 6 join me on discord! You can find my server by searching either for The Hunters Lounge, or by searching for my username which is at OrionB15 .

This chapter was beta approved by Brian64, Bobkey, an James Marx! Thanks guys.

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