"Ron, I didn't put my name in the Goblet. I really have nothing to gain from this tournament, and why would I willingly put myself in danger?" I replied patiently, though I doubted he'd believe me.
'I don't know what to make of Ron as a friend. In the books, he was sometimes an incredibly loyal friend, and other times... not so much. So, the question was—how should I handle him?'
Ron just stared at me, arms crossed, his expression screaming I don't believe a word you're saying.
"Yeah?" said Ron, his tone sharp. Any trace of a grin, forced or otherwise, had vanished from his face.
"You should get ready for the day, Harry. Who knows? Maybe you'll have to do a photo shoot or something."
And with that maybe what he thought was a good roast or something, he stormed out of the room.
I watched him go and sighed. Honestly, I wasn't going to waste energy stressing about it.. I knew he'd come around eventually, but honestly, I didn't care that much. Sure, I had Harry's memories, but I didn't exactly feel that much about any of it, you know?
It was like reading a book or watching a movie, while I felt something about these it really wasn't that much.
I wasn't Harry. I was me, and I planned to live like myself.
I decided to freshen up and go on about my day. After taking a refreshing shower and getting dressed I decided to go out and have breakfast in the great hall.
I also wanted to meet with Hermione and talk with her. I knew she would believe me at least. While fan-fiction stories sometimes make her out to be like the overbearing know-it-all, but in reality she was a genuine good friend.
It also helped that the people in this world looked like the characters in the movies so I knew that Hermione also looked like Emma Watson, who at one point in time had been my crush as well.
But that doesn't mean I'm about to start swooning or writing her love letters.
I'd let things play out naturally. If something clicked, great. If not, no harm done.
At least I wouldn't be like Original Harry, who seemed to forget Hermione was a girl until she showed up at the Yule Ball.
The moment I appeared in the common room, the people who had already finished breakfast broke into applause again. I ignored them, though as I was on an important mission: food.
I opened the portrait hole and got out of it, and found myself face to face with Hermione.
"Hello," she said, holding up a stack of toast, which she was carrying in a napkin. "I brought you this. Want to go for a walk?"
"Yeah sure, also thanks for the food." I said, accepting the toast and following her out.
'Though I would have liked to eat in the great hall I suppose I can ignore it for today.'
We headed downstairs, crossed the entrance hall quickly (avoiding the Great Hall), and walked across the lawn toward the lake.
It was a chilly morning, so we kept moving, munching on our toast as I told Hermione exactly what had happened after I left the Gryffindor table the night before..
To no surprise to me, Hermione accepted my story without question.
"Well, of course I knew you hadn't entered yourself," she said when I'd finished telling her about the scene in the chamber off the Hall.
"The look on your face when Dumbledore read out your name! But the question is, who did put it in? Because Moody's right, Harry." she continued.
'Well that was probably because of the shock of just suddenly finding myself in a weird place, but it works as well.' I thought to myself.
"I don't think any student could have done it . . . they'd never be able to fool the Goblet, or get over Dumbledore's age line" Hermione said looking thoughtful.
" Well I don't really know but I suppose they have to be at the school." I said.
"Though given the years we have had in Hogwarts I am not really that surprised that something like this happened to me."
"What do you mean Harry." Hermione asked, looking confused.
"Think about it Hermione, Think about all of our previous year at Hogwarts. Every year we have to face something dangerous, so honestly something like this was bound to happen." I explained.
"I have accepted it now and the only thing I can do about it is prepare myself and be ready for anything that Hogwarts throws at me."
"You are right, Harry." she said looking at me like I'd just cracked the code to some big mystery.
"I had really never thought about it, but I suppose we have never had a normal year at Hogwarts. there always is something going wrong."
"Yeah so although it was a surprise to me, but now I know what this years danger to me in Hogwarts is, I can prepare to properly deal with it."
'With the essence of archmage , I already have a solid start, next I have to go to the Room of requirement and check some things out in there like some obscure books with some powerful spells.'
'With some solid arsenal of spells I would be ready to face this tournament and also this world.'
' And I could also try to create a power system of some other world as well to be more prepared.'
"Harry, you feel different today," Hermione said, eyeing me closely. "More confident, like you're ready for anything."
" I thought you would be more scared or maybe more angry but I suppose you have already thought things through."
"Yeah, I mean with all that's happening, I decided that something has to change in me." I said to her already having thought of an excuse to for my change in behavior.
"But don't worry I am still the same Harry for you, and I really appreciate all that you have done for me Hermione."
"Truly, if you weren't in my life, I don't think I would've made it out of some of the situations I've gotten myself into."
"And I have never really shown you, how much I am genuinely thankful that you are my friend Hermione." I said to her with a small smile on my face.
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[ A/N If you want to read more advanced chapters , you can do so on Patreon. Link below.]
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Creation is hard, make sure to throw your stones at this book.