CHAPTER 11

YOU'RE BUGGIN' ME

Hi I'm back. Still don't own a thing. I'm sooooo exited it's soon here… You know what I'm talking about.

Oh and thank you JD for pointing out the thing about Snape trying to kill Sirius not being part of my story. Good to see that someone's paying attention. ( Blushing )

Harry was not a happy chap after being awoken at six by a yawning Ron.

"Why?" Harry whined when Ron threw him a pair of trousers and a jumper. Ron shrugged and yawned again looking like he too would rather stay in bed.

They finally entered the common room where a wide awake Hermione beamed up at them from the couch.

"Ready? Oh this is going to be so interesting, just imagine all the things we'll read up on. It's all going to show on our OWL's too of course." Harry glared at her but as she'd already exited through the painting of the fat lady it went unnoticed. Ron managed another jaw breaking yawn before nudging Harry towards the portrait hole and following Hermione towards the Great Hall and breakfast.

Harry wasn't that surprised at seeing only a handful of teachers up at the head table eating breakfast. What other normal person went up at seven on a Sunday after all?

"Oh just leave it Ron." Hermione had reached her time limit it seemed, she pulled Ron away from the toast and herded them towards the library. She almost squealed in excitement when they came in sight of her beloved books.

"Right we need to do this systematically, we don't know what Harry will be tested on after all." Ron yawned and gave her a nod.

"So I'll just go over there and…"He slowly edged towards a shelf where he could stay hidden from her sight.

"Harry did they give you any clues at all as to what the first task will be?" She eyed him hopefully.

"Um, yes something about testing our courage when facing something unknown." Harry answered not sure he wanted her to know just what he was facing." Hermione nodded lost in thought.

"Maybe one of Hagrids little pets?" Ron muttered from behind the shelf making Harry smile ruefully, If only they knew.

"You know that's not a bad suggestion. It might be a creature of some sort." Hermione said heading towards the Care of Magical creatures section. Harry couldn't believe they'd honed in on it so quickly.

"Had a dream you were facing Norbert actually." Ron said, snorting at the possibility of that ever happening. Harry eyed him shocked.

"That would be the day, Professor Dumbledore allowing them to let a dragon lose on Hogwarts grounds not mentioning on to the students." Hermione said absentmindly paging through a book. Harry looked at them both in awe. Maybe they were the seer's?

"He let them bring the Dementor's and they did attack the students." Ron said defensively pointing towards Harry, making Hermione roll her eyes.

"Only because the Ministry forced him to and we all know that Harry's a special case." She said pulling out another book from the shelf.

"Exactly! Harry you are going to face a dragon." Ron said jokingly waving a dragon book around as if to prove his point. Hermione just sighed whilst Harry eyed them curiously, what on earth just happened?

"Here you go mate, a practical guide to dragon breeding." Ron handed him the book and sat down on a chair ready for a nap now that he'd done his part.

"Ron, don't you dare go to sleep." Hermione warned before banging a book down on the table next to him. Ron's hands were covering the top of his head before the sound of the bang ended.

"Oh honestly Ron, stop being so dramatic." Hermione scolded before moving on to collect some more books.

"I will if you stop trying to hit me with books." He muttered eyeing the book she'd left next to him.

Harry was busy reading the dragon book Ron had handed him. It had a whole chapter on controlling the beasts.

"Listen here guys." Harry said placing the book wide open on the table.

"A dragon's weakest point is its eyes. A simple stupefy hitting the eye under its protective extra cornea can freeze it completely." Both Hermione and Ron eyed him with surprised looks.

"You're not actually considering the silly notion of a dragon being part of the competition are you?" Hermione finally asked, shaking her head in wonder.

"Yes mate I was only joking around. Dumbledore would never let a dragon near you." Ron said swatting at Harry trying to knock some sense into him.

"Don't you remember Charlie saying he'd see us later on in the year?" Harry asked, not entirely sure Charley had said anything of the sort but giving it a chance.

"He did, Mione he did. He said that we might see him sooner than we thought when he visited this summer. It is a dragon!" Ron exclaimed after thinking it through, clearly going into panic realising this. Even Hermione looked unsure of herself.

"But he wouldn't… I mean it's a dragon, surely Professor Dumbledore's got more sense than that?" Hermione asked eyeing them worriedly.

"This is Dumbledore we are talking about Mione." Ron said in a resigned tone, with raised eyebrows.

"Oh but this is terrible, it'll eat you alive Harry." Hermione sobbed, looking ready to cry.

"We don't know it's a dragon for sure Mione." Harry said feeling uncomfortable, why was she acting all weepy all the time?

"Oh it makes perfect sense now that I think about it. What are we going to do?" she continued, ignoring his words of comfort. Harry held up the book on dragon keeping shrugging his shoulders at her scandalised looks.

"You are not shooting a little stupefy on a fully grown dragon, it'll fry you before you get the words out." She spat angrily.

"I'll just have to do it quietly then." Harry said ignoring her angry gaze. She marched back towards the Care of monsters shelves and started reading the spines of the books.

"Looks like we're here for the day." Ron muttered before building a tower of books around himself so that he could take a nap undisturbed. Harry sighed tiredly, and it was still early hours of the morning, great.

Mondays should be banned, Harry thought to himself as he was dragged outside by Hermione to a lesson with Hagrid. Malfoy joined them looking disdainfully at the Skrewts.

"I am not walking that!" He exclaimed forcefully eyeing on of the beings in the crater.

"Just humour him, none of us wants to walk them. We just get on with it." Ron snapped, yelping when he got dragged away after his Skrewt, as it shot off. Malfoy just gave him a look that spoke more than any words ever would. The day he walked one of the horrendous creatures Hagrid insisted on calling harmful was the day he'd renounce the noble name Malfoy.

The week was rather uneventful really, well except for the Potions lesson they had in the middle of the week. Snape had Harry testing out different ingredients and their reactions to each other under strict supervision. Snape nearly perched on Harry's shoulders eyeing him so intently. It was when Harry added some puffer fish venom to Erumpent Fluid that Snape squeaked in fright.

"You foolish boy! Do you know what…" Snape lost his steam and eyed Harry's cauldron in amazement.

"How did you do that? Erumpent Fluid is highly explosive and should not be mixed with Puffer venom. It should have exploded by now." Harry gazed up at him unsure.

"Er, I just heated the puffer fish venom as that stops it from reacting with other stuff until it's cooled down." He answered making Snape eye him in surprise.

"Five points Mr Potter." He muttered looking very uncomfortable. He then walked up to his desk and started scribbling madly. And when Neville's potion went up in smoke Snape merely told them to take the last ten minuets as free time. He didn't even take any points from a nervous Neville earning himself shocked looks from most of the students Gryffindors and Slytherins alike.

"I don't think he knew of that combination Harry. Where did you read about it?" Hermione asked as they walked away from the class.

"Oh, I just tested it at home." Harry answered making her narrow her eyes at him.

"You just tested to put something into an extremely explosive substance? You could have blown the house away." She berated smacking him on the arm lightly.

"Sure, me you hit with books if I say something wrong and Harry? Oh he just gets a gentle pat after confessing to trying to blow his own house up." Ron muttered, earning himself a soft glare from Hermione and a snort from Malfoy who walked next to them.

Harry sulked as he made it out from another Potions lesson. Colin Creevey had just announced that Harry was wanted at a photo shoot with the other contestants and Harry who was not really looking forward to meeting Skeeter again, was dragging his feet.

"It's so much fun. Can I have a picture for my album, Harry? Can I? Please…" Harry growled making Colin sprint of quickly.

"Ah here he is, Harry Potter. Oh, cheer up my boy." Harry glared at Bagman, he would not cheer up.

"Ah ello' arry. Ow are you?" Harry smiled at Fleur, who walked over.

"Oh I'm fine, just don't leave me alone with the reporter." He begged, making Fleur nod slowly eyeing Rita with curiosity.

"Mr Potter, Rita Skeeter reporter for the Daily Prophet. You don't mind if I steal a word with our boy wonder do you Ludo?" Rita grabbed Harry's arm in a strong grip only to let go with a gasp. Fleur had pulled Harry's arm out of her grip and now stood with her arms crossed in front of the older woman.

"You ave no right to bother arry, e' did not accept to talk to you." Harry sighed in relief.

"Surely Mr Potter could spare me some time?" Rita eyed Harry carefully.

"After all the lovely things I've written about his beloved Godfather…Hm, what do you say Harry?" Harry eyed her and sighed, he knew a threat when he heard one.

"I'm not really happy about being in the tournament but will do my absolute best just like the others. I have a lot of helpful friends who'll help me learn some of what the others here know. Hopefully I'll be able to get by until the end of the game." Harry said and turned towards the door where Dumbledore and the rest of the crew came strolling through. Rita on the other hand pulled out her quill and with a last look at Fleur started scribbling madly, wetting the tip of the quill with her tongue every so often.

"Ah shall we begin then, allow me to introduce Mr Ollivander he will be checking your wands to make sure everything is in order." Dumbledore said making them all turn their attention to the pale eyed man.

"Mademoiselle Delacour if you wouldn't mind stepping up first." Fleur smiled and handed him her wand. Harry who'd seen all this before couldn't help but be a little bored, he let his mind wander.

"Mr Potter if I could have your attention please." Harry blushed, he'd been lost far away in thoughts.

"Sorry Sir." He mumbled handing over his newly polished wand. He'd used some broom polish the night before, remembering how embarrassed he'd been the last time.

"Ah, lovely, very well taken care of I see. Very special wand as I recall, how has it served you?" Harry had just about had a heart attack there for a moment at the word special. He glanced at Rita who looked very interested.

"Very well sir." He answered quietly.

"Give us a wave then." Harry eyed Mr Ollivander confused, he hadn't had to do that the last time.

"Go on then, no need to be shy, just give it a wave." Harry raised his hand and let it swoop down gracefully. A shower of golden and silver sparks shot out at the tip making not only Fleur but also Mr Ollivander clap their hands.

"Ah yes, the changes of time." Harry looked up alarmed at Mr Ollivander's words but the man had already turned towards Dumbledore, engaging him in a conversation.

"Photos, photos. Don't forget the photos." Harry couldn't be separated from Fleur for any individual photos no matter how hard Rita tried. He walked out feeling that he'd come out of the whole situation more or less victorious.

"Thanks Fleur, I hate it when I get singled out like that." He said, giving Fleur a grateful smile as they exited the room.

"Of course arry, I am glad I could 'elp." She said as they walked down to get some food.

"How did it go mate?" Ron asked making room for Harry and Fleur. Hermione immediately got Fleur talking about her younger sister Gabrielle.

"Alright, just had some trouble with Rita, that's all." Harry answered sighing heavily. He had no doubt he'd hear about himself in the paper the next day, but for now he'd just enjoy the short hours leading up to the delivery of the paper.