Chapter 28 - EAVESDROPPER!

Harry POV

Daphne and I arrived at the Three Broomsticks earlier today to grab a butterbear before she went back to the castle. We were out in Hogsmeade early to run around in our Animagus forms. We didn't want to be cooped up in the Room of Requirement, it was also a nice chance to explore the outer reaches of Hogsmeade area. I had to slow down from time to time as my speed as a Nemean Lion was a lot faster than that of Daphne's Kitsune.

I then waited alone in the Three Broomsticks for Fleur, Viktor and Cedric to arrive. The Yull Bale was tomorrow, and the four of us were going to have our second arranged lunch.

Soon the three other champions arrived. It seemed that there was quite a crowd following them. As soon as they entered the Three Broomsticks, tables inside the Three Broomsticks started to fill up.

So glad Madam Rosemerta got us this table in the corner...

I waved at Viktor, Fleur and Cedric. They then walked over to the table I was seated at.

"Hey Harry!" exclaimed Cedric.

I smiled at him as the three of them got seated. We talked a bit about what everyone had been doing for the last week. It seems that everyone has been practicing and training for the next task. It was also a good work out to keep in shape for the Yule Ball as well.

"So Harry? How have you been? What about you?" asked Cedric.

"Ah... well... you see, I was not very good at dancing, so my date and I have been practicing to dance... it is a lot harder than it looks..."

Both Fleur and Viktor's eyes lit up at this.

"Inzeed, I look forward to seeing you dance Harry! Maybe leave a dance for me?" asked Fleur.

"Sure!"

Viktor then spoke up.

"Yes... a lady should not have to have her feet stepped on... practice well Harry".

Fleur then told us who she was going to Yule Ball with. It was the Ravenclaw prefect and Quidditch Captain, Roger Davies. She then started to tell us about the vast amount of drooling lamposts that walked up to her. Cedric and I got a great laugh out of that, especially when we heard how purple Ron looked when he asked out Fleur in front of the entire Great Hall. Fleur's stories even made Viktor smile and chuckle quietly.

We talked for quite some time, neither of us bringing up anything to do with the second task. There seems to have been an unspoken agreement to not ask each other about these things when together. I thought that this was quite a nice setup, and very professional of everyone.

"So Viktor... who are you going with?" asked Cedric.

We now knew everyone's date, aside from Viktors.

Viktor pursed his lips. He seemed to be debating whether or not to tell us. He then locked eyes with me.

Wait what? Why is he looking at me?

Although he pronounced her name wrong, it didn't make me any less surprised. I sat frozen in my seat whilst Cedric nearly fell off his chair. Fleur seemed confused at our responses and congratulated Viktor. Cedric and I took a while to recover.

"So that is who she was going with... no wonder she didn't want to tell me..." I said out loud.

"Yes..." said Krum.

"Well then, I am going to put my trust in you Viktor. However, I will have to say this, as her friend, if anything happens to her, I will make getting burned by the Horntail look like Heaven compared to what I will do, got it?".

Krum blinked a couple of times before nodding his head. He paled slightly.

After all, I needed to say this... it was one of those things that you would have to say regardless of circumstances... although the threat about to Horntail... that part may have been too extreme...

After we finished eating and chatting, we left the Three Broomsticks and headed for the carriage area in Hogsmeade. Right when the carriage was about to leave, I stopped it.

Fleur, Viktor, and Cedric looked at me, puzzled as to why I stopped the carriage. However, I was not in the mood to discuss, especially when that skunk of a reporter is involved. I waved my hand and conjured out a jar whilst my other hand summoned out my wand.

"Accio beetle!"

A tiny bug then flew towards me from the corner of the carriage. I quickly levitated it inside the jar and sealed the lid. All three of them looked at me with surprise, wondering what I was doing. Cedric was the first to recover.

"Blimey Harry! You just wandlessly conjured out a jar! How? What did you..?"

Cedric then became a loss for words. Fleur and Krum both still hadn't recovered from their shocked state. I didn't answer Cedric, I merely stared at the beetle inside the jar. It was not frantically shooting around, trying to get out.

I've got you now Skeeter...

I had a feeling someone was tailing me, I just couldn't quite put a finger on who. Over the last week, I had been getting a lot of attention from media and Hogwarts students. Everyone tried asking me about my duel with the Horntail or was trying to ask me to the Yule Ball. I was very annoyed when I found out an animagus was tailing me.

I mean, I knew it was animagus as I had gotten pretty good at recognizing them and tracking them down after last year. I had hunted down Peter Pettigrew in his rat form. So when I found out an animagus was tracking me, I obviously didn't overlook tiny animals such as rats or even worms as I had learned my lesson from last year. I used the Maurader's Map to find out that it was Skeeter. Catching her was the hard part.

However! Seems like she was too overconfident, she didn't think I would notice!

I triumphantly held up to jar.

"Everyone... say hi to Rita Skeeter!"

Doran's Ring-

Hi Everyone! I know you all probably have been wondering where was I, why wasn't their any daily updates? I am sad to say that I was in an accident and completely wrecked my knee and have been in the hospital for the last two weeks. The ligaments in my knee weren't too damaged at least. I was stuck in a hospital bed with my leg straightened in a crutch for the last two weeks. I had just managed to get my laptop sent to me at the hospital. I had started this chapter before the accident that caused my knee injury. It wasn't too hard to finish this chapter. However... I may not be able to update for a while until I leave the hospital. I am very sorry, but I will try to continue as much as I can.