AN: I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter 1

Flashback

Hermione was walking down for dinner in the Great Hall. As she was walking down Professor McGonagall handed her a slip of paper. It said this:

Please meet me in my office at your earliest convenience. The password is Laffy Taffy

-Albus Dumbledore

Hermione practically ran to the Headmaster's office. 'What would the great Dumbledore want with a third year like me?' she thought as she rushed through the corridors. Finally she reached the stone gargoyle. "Laffy Taffy," she said in a rush. The gargoyle sprang aside and permitted her entrance. She knocked on the door.

"Enter," came the Headmaster's voice and she opened the door. "Miss Granger, how are you?" he asked.

"I'm fine," she said, "You wanted me professor?"

"Yes, I have come to talk to you about Harry," he said with his trademark eye twinkle.

"What about him"

"I need to ask something of you that may be difficult for you."

Hermione visibly gulped. "And that is…" she prompted.

"If Ron and Harry get into a big fight, I need you to take Ron's side for his own good." He said finally.

Hermione was slightly flabbergasted to say the least. She wondered why the headmaster would ask her to do such a thing. However, who was she to question the Headmaster? She just nodded and said, "Okay".

"Wonderful. You may go down to dinner now," Dumbledore said.

Hermione went down to the Great Hall, slightly troubled, but still having her faith in the Headmaster intact.

End Flashback

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Harry woke up groggily, "Morning Ron" he said. Ron didn't even recognize his presence. Well I guess he still hates me. He got ready for the day and went down into the common room.

"Hullo Hermione" he said. Hermione reacted much the same way as Ron had done earlier in the day. Harry sullenly made his way down to the Great Hall. 'Hermione too?' he thought with pain. Everyone was abandoning him. The moment he entered the Great Hall everyone inside quieted down. He saw some students pointing at him and talking to their neighbors in hushed tones. The Gryffindors were looking at him like some kind of hero. The Hufflepuffs and Slytherins were looking at him with unfiltered hatred. Most of the Ravenclaws looked decidedly neutral.

Harry scanned the Gryffindor table and found Ginny sitting alone. He remembered what she had said to him the night before and sat down right next to her. "Hi Harry" she said.

"Hullo Ginny" he said, then suddenly asked, "Is what you said true, about believing me about not putting my name in the Goblet of Fire"

"Of course I do, this reeks of Tom. Are you sure that you have to compete?" she said.

"Dumbledore seemed pretty adamant that I compete..."

"Can you check anyway? Try to get like a rule book or something."

"Okay, I can try"

Ginny shot a brilliant smile at him. Harry felt a strange twinge in his chest for a moment. The twinge faded as quickly as it came. Harry was slightly perplexed at the feeling, but dismissed it quickly.

"So, why isn't anyone else sitting by you?" Harry asked.

"Well people started to avoid me after..." she trailed off.

"It wasn't your fault! Who would think that?"

"Everyone apparently."

They talked some more as they finished up breakfast. After breakfast Harry approached the Headmaster, "Sir, is there like a rulebook that I could look at. If I could avoid this at all..."

"I'm sorry Mr. Potter; there isn't anything I can do." Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Can I just make-"

"I'm afraid that cannot be arranged Mr Potter."

"Alright, sir" Harry said with obvious disappointment.

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After a day of classes and everyone staring at him Lunch was welcome, because at least he could talk to Ginny.

"So did you get to look at the rulebook?" Ginny asked as she grabbed a roll. "Pass the butter."

"No, Professor Dumbledore refused." Harry passed the butter. "Careful for your elbow" he said teasingly.

"Oh ha ha Potter, very funny." She began to butter her roll. "Did he say why?"

"No, I'm afraid he didn't."

She stopped and and her jaw tightened. "Of course he didn't," she said scathingly, "Wouldn't want to endanger the 'oh-so-sacred' Greater Good!"

"Ginny?"

"Harry, has it ever occurred to you that Dumbledore might not be doing what is best for you?" Ginny said suddenly.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked slowly.

"Well, think about it... What happened at the end of your first year?" Ginny asked.

"Ron, Hermione, and I went after the Philosopher's Stone. I faced off with Quirrel and Voldemort, and Quirrel died."

"And how old were you three?"

"We were all first years."

"And you figured out all of the obstacles."

"Well yeah..."

"All of the obstacles guarding one of the most priceless objects in the world?"

"Yes..." Harry looked confused and then his eyes widened. "You don't mean..."

"Mean what?" she prompted.

"That Dumbledore wanted us to make it through the obstacles and- and make me meet Voldemort!"

Ginny nodded, "And don't even get me started on my first year..."

"He probably planned for this!" Harry spat

"I think the Tom planned this, but Dumbledore is allowing it to go on."

"Then what do we do?"

"Make sure you don't die."

"And your going to help me?" Harry asked

"Of course, in fact, I'm going to help you be the best damn champion ever."

AN: Don't you love it when you decide to write a fanfic and the your life gets crazy, I will try to post much more frequently than I have been.

Velox