Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, the wonderful J K Rowling does. And I don't make any money off of this.

Summary: Harry's name came out of the goblet and something inside him kind of... snapped. No longer is he Gryffindor's Golden Boy who would sacrifice his life for those who can't even show an ounce of loyalty. With new friends and allies, Harry is about to change the world... But will it be for the better? Who is this sexy new ally? And why is Draco eying him like a tasty… HP/TD/DM

Warnings: Bad language is all I can think of there being for this chapter…

oOoOoOo

You Can't be Serious

Chapter Four: Friendly Foes

Word Count: 2243

Beta: On vacation… but if she were available, it would be the awesome sapphyredragon_rn (whom unleashed the plot bunny in the first place XD lol) So yeah… any typos and whatnot you can blame on me :P lol

oOoOoOo

"Hey Potter, I hear you were shacked up with the Beauxbatons' girls all night." Malfoy laughed as they entered Harry's least favorite class.

"Yeah, what's with that?" Ron growled and glared at his "best mate."

"What…"

" First you enter your name in the goblet without letting any of us know how… what you want all the glory for yourself?"

"You didn't…"

"Yeah, I didn't get my name in the cup because you kept that secret all to yourself. What, are your friends not good enough for you now? You can't let them in on a little secret? Can't stand sharing Fleur's attention?"

Harry stared at the Weasley like he'd grown another head.

"Ewww…"

"What, now the Beauxbatons girls aren't GOOD ENOUGH for you?! You stay with them all night, have your fun, and now think of them as "ewww?" Is that how it is?"

"No, I…"

"Seriously Potter, how pathetic…"

"I agree, Malfoy. Weasley is being rather pathetic." Harry cut the blonde off and used Malfoy's sentence to his advantage.

"Excuse me?" Ron asked in surprise and the question was heard around the classroom. Everyone who had made it into the room so far was completely stunned, and those waiting to get in were just as quiet.

"There's no excuse for you, Weasley." Malfoy laughed. Apparently he recovered quickly… just like a good Slytherin should.

"I never thought I'd say this, but I must agree with Malfoy." Harry stated and all those in the class nearly dropped their jaws in shock.

Harry NEVER agreed with Malfoy… In fact, the dark haired teen seemed to make it a point NOT to.

"You… Malfoy… but…" Ron stuttered though he was still to stunned to put together a coherent sentence.

"You have claimed to be my friend for, what? The last four years? If you were truly my friend, you would KNOW that I have fame and I HATE it." Harry sighed and looked sad. "All this time, and you don't know me at all…"

"Oh Harry!" Hermione's voice came out of seemingly nowhere and suddenly Harry had an arm full of brunette. "I was so worried that someone might have pressured you into doing something so dangerous, but that is obviously not the case…" Worried brown eyes looked into Harry's green orbs. "But if you didn't, who… and more importantly, why…"

Hermione's eyes took on a calculating gleam and Harry knew she was working out the puzzle. It would only be a few minutes before…

"Oh Harry!" His best female friend gasped. "We are going to the library after classes. Together. I will not have my best friend be ill prepared, especially since the intentions behind this development seem to be malicious in nature."

"Huh?" Ron asked dumbly and Hermione sighed.

"It's way over your head, Ronald. How about you go take a seat with Dean and Seamus and leave the more advanced thinking to those who have an abundance of mental capacity and are sufficiently capable of using it."

There was a long pause as everyone watched the redhead and wondered what his reaction would be. It appeared he was trying to process what Hermione had said and was having a bit of trouble.

"Okay 'Mione." Ron replied with a shrug. "If you say so." He grumbled as he skulked over to his buddies and left the other two-thirds of the "Golden Trio" at the door with the Slytherins.

"Does he realize…"

"No." Both Harry and Hermione answered before Malfoy could fully voice his question.

"Seriously?"

"Seriously." The two friends sighed.

"You three realize you are blocking the door, right?" A pretty voice came from behind the trio and they turned to see that, sure enough, just about all the Slytherins and half the Gryffindors were trying to get in but to no avail.

"Sorry." Harry apologized as he moved aside and made his way towards the tables, Hermione right behind him.

"Traitor." One of the Gryffindors coughed and Harry looked up to see Seamus laughing from beside Dean.

"Well, if they are going to be petty there is no reason to associate with them and their ilk." Hermione huffed and stuck her nose in the air before she grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him along…

To the Slytherin side of the classroom.

"Um… Hermione…" But the brunette wasn't listening.

Instead she plopped down next to the pretty brown haired girl who had talked to them moments ago and forced Harry into the seat beside her.

"Um… Sorry about this but…"

"It is fine, Potter. Besides, my usual lab partners are both out sick today. It seems they tried to get past the age line, even if they will not admit to such."

"Oh, thanks…" Harry trailed off with a blush.

Honestly, being pushed around and talked to harshly by females would embarrass most males… but Harry was blushing for a different reason.

'I like it when they're tough… is that wrong?' He would have to think on that at another time.

"Now you're sitting with Snakes? How low can you go?" Ron questioned rudely from the other side of the classroom.

"Apparently pretty low, considering snakes crawl on their stomachs." Dean laughed from beside the redhead and the whole of the Gryffindor class joined in.

"Better a snake than a fair-weather friend." Harry shot back. "And you call yourselves the House of the Brave and Loyal?" He shook his head in disappointment and the Lions stopped laughing.

Harry did have a point and most of them realized it. They weren't acting like Gryffindors should. Not one bit…

"At least you can trust a Snake to be looking out for their best interests." Harry added as he looked pointedly at Ron. "I have had to constantly question your motives since we met."

"You have never asked me about things like that!" Ron tried to defend.

"No one with half a brain would ask a person a question like THAT up front, Moron." Malfoy jumped in.

'Interesting…' It seemed the chance to gang up on the Weasley was too good an opportunity to pass up for the blonde, even if it meant teaming up with Harry.

"Hey, who asked you!" The redhead exclaimed and came out of his seat.

"Mr. Weasley! You had best sit down…" Snape commanded as he stalked into the room, looking very much like a Reaper about ready to take the Ron's head off.

"But Harry…"

"Twenty points from Gryffindor!" Snape sneered and Ron finally sat down. "And Mr. Potter…" The dark man looked up and down the Gryffindor side of the room before a brow raised.

"Yes, Professor Snape?" Harry inquired softly from where he was seated.

The dark haired teacher whipped around and a look of shock briefly graced his features before he hid it once more behind his signature scowl.

"Mr. Potter, would you explain why you and Ms. Granger are sitting with Ms. Davis?" Snape's tone was rather neutral, but Harry knew to tread cautiously.

"Well you see, Professor, Ms. Davis' usual partners are out sick and since Weasley is being somewhat… hostile, Hermione and I believed it would benefit everyone for us to work with Ms. Davis instead." Harry explained with an even tone.

"Besides, the Lions are acting uncouth to the point that the presence of your lovely Snakes is much more preferable." Hermione added with a smile before she glared at Ron over the Professor's shoulder. "Far more preferable."

"You can't mean that! They are slimy…"

"Mr. Weasley!" Snape growled as he turned to pin Ron with a death glare. "Twenty more points from Gryffindor and if I hear so much as a peep out of you it will be another FIFTY!" He exclaimed before he rounded back and looked at Davis. "One hundred points to Slytherin, Ms. Davis, for reaching out in an attempt to unite the school's Houses. Our Headmaster will be pleased with your efforts."

"But that's not fair! It was Gryffindors who…"

"Fifty points from Gryffindor, Mr. Weasley, and a weeks worth of detention!" The dark man hissed as he turned on Ron once more. "Those detentions are to be served with me. Starting at eight o'clock tonight. Don't you dare be late."

With a flourish of robes the Potions Master made his way to the front of the classroom.

"The potion you will be making is on the board. Follow the instructions carefully and do not attempt to improvise…" Snape looked directly at Neville and said boy paled. "I would prefer it if I could go one class without a melted cauldron from you, Mr. Longbottom."

"I… I'll try S…sir."

"You had better. Everyone send one member of your party to come and gather your supplies. We start… Now!"

"I'm surprised the Professor didn't take more points from Gryffindor because we are sitting over on the Slytherin side…" Hermione started in a whisper.

"I believe it might have something to do with you publicly declaring that his House is more desirable." The brunette they were sitting with spoke up. "I'm Tracey, by the way. Tracey Davis."

"Nice to meet you." Hermione nodded with a smile.

"Pleased to meet you, Ms. Davis…"

"Please, call me Tracey. May I call you both by your first names?" Tracey inquired with a smile and both Gryffindors nodded. "Splendid!" Her voice was still low as not to disturb anyone, but it held an obvious spark of excitement.

'Well, this is nice… I wonder why I never noticed her before. She far outshines the other Slytherin girls I've seen…'

"I'll go grab the supplies right quick." Harry stated. "Will you lovely ladies be so kind as to get the cauldron going?" He asked with a smile.

"Flattery will get you everywhere, Harry." Hermione laughed lightly as she started to get out their books and organize the equipment.

"I think Hermione and I can handle things here just fine, Harry. Now watch out for wayward Gryffindor feet… some of those idiots look like they would be tempted to trip you up." Tracey paused and glanced over at Snape. "Then again, perhaps you might wish to let them?" She asked with a suggestive tone.

'You know… that's not a bad idea.' He had won Gryffindor the House Cup for the past three years, so if they were going to treat him like shit this year… then what was the point in helping them achieve such an honor? 'Not like I'm going to be here next year anyway.'

"Be right back." Harry bowed slightly and made his way over toward the supply closet.

The line wasn't too long and most of the students were back at their stations… If something were to happen, it would be blaringly obvious which side did it and they would be punished accordingly.

"Um, Neville… There aren't any lacewing flies in the recipe…" Harry commented when he noticed the other boy grab the incorrect ingredient.

He didn't want to embarrass the other boy, but he also didn't fancy seeing an explosion and dealing with an angry Potions Master.

"Huh? Oh! I get those mixed up with… Thank you Harry, that would have been horrible." Neville stated with a blush.

"Any time, Neville." Well, at least the forgetful Gryffindor was on good terms with him. Or so it seemed since the larger male was cordial and smiled at Harry as he walked back to his table.

Harry got the group's ingredients at a leisurely pace, as to give everyone a chance to get seated. When he had collected everything he made his way back to the station he shared with the two brunettes, mindful of the fact that there was a good chance…

"Ah!" There it was. The lame "foot in the aisle" trick. 'And looky there. Snape saw EVERYTHING.'

Oh yeah, this was going to be good.

"Mr. Thomas! I see you wish to follow in the footsteps of your dunderheaded friend. Very well, you may serve a weeks worth of detention with Filch!" Snape growled before a smirk graced his lips. "And for retaliating against a fellow Gryffindor just because he is playing nice with other Houses, I shall deduct fifty points from Gryffindor…"

"That's not…"

"Make that sixty." Snape glared but Harry knew he was inwardly gloating.

To take a total of one hundred and fifty points from his House's rival in the first half of the class? Oh yeah, the Professor was a happy camper.

"Are you okay, Harry?" Tracey asked when the Boy-Who-Lived finally returned to their table after having gathered their supplies up off the floor.

"Yeah, I just hate that I dropped everything." Harry sighed before he lowered his tone so only those close by could hear. "But it was worth it."

"Pfft!" Malfoy tried to muffle his laughter from the station behind them, but to no avail. "Seriously Potter?" Harry just shrugged in answer.

"Harry, we are having a study group after dinner is finished. If you and Hermione are free, would you both like to join?"

"Study group?"

"You said the magic words." Harry chuckled when he saw Hermione's eyes light up. Asking the brunette to join a study group was the equivalent to Christmas come early as far at the bookworm was concerned.

"I take it you're in." Tracey smiled.

"Oh yes!" Hermione nodded enthusiastically.

"And you, Harry?"

"I wish I could, but I can't. Some silly Champions meeting…" Harry paused.

He was bound to try and participate in the actual TOURNAMENT. There was nothing stating that he had to comply with the stupid side shit… 'Besides, Fleur can always fill me in on anything important that might happen.'

"You know what? I would love to. My studies are far more important than a tournament in which I never wished to participate in the first place."

Yes, Harry was going to start doing things he wanted and living life his way.

'To hell with what the Headmaster thinks…'

oOoOoOo

A/N: Whoops! Almost forgot to post this XD lol Sorry about that. Anyway… here Harry starts to take on a more badass persona. Yes, the Slytherins seem to be taking to him rather quickly, but he just got them 150 points closer to the House Cup. Any Slytherin worthy of their House can see how getting Harry on their side would be beneficial and will not hesitate to do so.

There is only a week left of October! Can you believe it? I will leave my profile poll for which fic to focus on after October up until, well, after October XD lol