Work Text:
Fandom: Harry Potter
Main Focus: Ron Weasley and Harry Potter and Hermione Granger
Warnings: alternate universe; gen; and no romance
Prompt: (Word) Echo
Summary: In which Ron Weasley knew his best friend.
you got troubles, I’ve got ‘em too
Ron Weasley watched as the Goblet of Fire flared and produced another piece of parchment. This was the forth one! Another Champion was selected. He was stunned. A hush fell over the Great Hall as Dumbledore caught the parchment. His face betrayed no emotion as he peered down.
“Harry Potter,” the headmaster announced, his voice echoing in the Great Hall.
Almost every occupant turned and looked at Harry, who was seated between Ron and Hermione. Whispers started to break out, ending the silence.
Ron frowned, glancing over at his best friend.
Harry was looking pale – more pale than usual – and his green eyes were wide. He looked torn between bolting and being sick. As the whispers grew and people continued to stare, panic flash in Harry’s eyes. His eyes darted around, lingering on the exits.
“Go,” Hermione Granger hissed as she tried to push Harry up.
Harry remained seated.
Ron noticed that Harry started to shake.
Hermione continued to shove Harry.
“Mate, you need to go,” Ron whispered.
Harry looked over at him. Something flashed in his eyes before he stood up. He walked up to the headmaster and he accepted the parchment with trembling hands. With the parchment in hand, Harry turned and entered the antechamber – where the other Champions were waiting.
More whispers started.
Seated at the Gryffindor table, Ron watched. His frown grew. He sat and thought, trying to ignore the whispers. Unfortunately, they proved too hard to ignore.
They were best friends – closer to each other than Hermione – and Ron thought of Harry as a brother – one he actually wanted.
The students around him were impressed. Of course the Boy-Who-Lived was a Champion. Who else was more qualified? Everyone knew about Harry Potter defeating the Dark Lord. It would be easy for the Harry Potter to win the TriWizard Tournament and bring glory to Gryffindor – and Hogwarts.
A lot of people were curious about how Harry entered. Everyone had witnessed various students try and fail to cross the age line. And everyone knew an older student wouldn’t be bribed into helping – either giving up their own chance to enter the tournament or they weren’t willing to risk the consequences if they were caught.
As he listened to the whispers and gossip, Ron grew hurt and frustrated. Why didn’t Harry tell him? They were best friends and they shared everything – like the Mirror in their first year. Additionally, Ron tried to include Harry in things – Christmas gifts from his parents, and summers with his family. When Harry entered, he should have told Ron – or entered him as well.
Thoughts swirling, Ron lingered on that idea. Surely Harry knew what this tournament and the prizes would mean to him – and his family. Ron would be famous – something that he could achieve that none of his brothers had. The money would be everything his family wished for. One hundred galleons would change so much for them.
As he thought about the fame and the money, Ron froze. He knew Harry. Harry loathed his fame and the attention, shying away from it. The money would be meaningless. All Harry wanted was a family and a chance to be normal.
Any idea of Harry entering the tournament disappeared. Ron knew his best friend. Harry would not have entered.
Besides now that Ron thought about it, he realized there was no way Harry could have entered. They had spent most of the last day together. They were only separated when to sleep.
Ron resumed listening to the whispers and gossip. It was clear none of these people actually knew Harry.
Looking to the left, Harry caught Hermione’s eye. He inclined his head to the doors before standing up.
Hermione nodded.
Ron got up and he walked out of the Great Hall.
In the entry hall, Ron and Hermione stared at each other. When the doors closed behind them, a silence fell over them.
“He didn't do it!” Hermione insisted. “Harry didn’t enter.”
“I know,” Ron agreed. He felt guilty for briefly thinking Harry would have entered himself.
Relief flashed over Hermione’s face.
“We need to find Harry,” Ron stated as he turned towards the stairs.
Hermione fell in step next to him. A frown appeared on her face.
“We need the Map and the Cloak,” Ron explained.
Her eyes widened as she nodded. A thoughtful look settled on her face.
They quickly made their way to the Gryffindor Tower. Hermione remained in the common room as Ron dashed into the dorm room. It felt odd getting into Harry’s trunk and looking through his belongings. The Map and the Cloak were easily located.
“I solemnly swear that I am up to no good,” Ron muttered as he tapped the blank parchment with his wand. The Map appeared, and Ron started scanning around the Great Hall for his best friend.
The dot labeled Harry Potter was located in the antechamber with the other Champions, the judges, and a few other professors. Ron’s eyes narrowed as he eyed the dot labeled Barty Crouch Junior . There was something vaguely familiar about that name.
Ron closed Harry’s trunk before leaving the dorm room. Down in the common room, he found Hermione waiting in a dark corner. They leaned in close, slipping the Cloak over themselves.
“Where is he?” Hermione whispered.
“In the antechamber,” Ron answered.
An annoyed look crossed Hermione’s face. “We were just there,” she hissed.
Ron shrugged. “Maybe I’ve been hanging around Harry too long,” he offered.
Hermione raised an eyebrow.
“It could be the twins,” he added.
Hermione offered him a smug look.
“Let’s go get Harry,” Ron suggested.
With some difficulty, the pair crept out of Gryffindor Tower and back down to the Great Hall. On the way, they passed several students and some professors. When they made it down to the entry hall, they checked the Map.
The dot labeled Harry Potter was still in the antechamber.
“I know Crouch Senior,” Hermione muttered, “but I don’t recognize Crouch Junior.”
Ron shrugged. “Beats me,” he said.
Hermione sighed.
Frowning, Ron stared at the name. “There’s something familiar about it,” he muttered. “I swear I should know it.” He shook his head.
A smile crossed Hermione’s face. “We’ll have to visit the library,” she said.
Barely suppressing a groan, Ron shot her a look of defeat. “We?” he asked, his tone had the barest hint of a whine.
She raised an eyebrow in reply.
Ron muttered something under his breath.
The pair looked back at the Map. The dots labeled Harry Potter and Barty Crouch Junior were leaving the antechamber and headed their way.
Ron frowned, looking down at the Map. Acting on instinct, he pulled his wand out. “Mischief managed,” he muttered, tapping the parchment. The Map quickly disappeared.
Turning to Hermione, he hissed, “Take it and don’t pull it out.”
A frown crossed her lips, but she did as instructed. The Map was placed in an inner robe pocket.
A moment later, Harry and Professor Moody appeared in the entry hall.
Ron and Hermione shared a look. There wasn’t a dot labeled Alastor Moody on the Map.
“Looks like your welcoming committee is already here, Potter,” Moody said, his blue eyes settling on them.
Harry frowned, looking up at the professor. He noticed the eye was fixed on something.
“Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger,” the professor said.
Ron removed the Cloak.
Harry looked relieved to see them before it was quickly masked.
“I’ll see you in the morning, Mr. Potter,” the professor said before he limped away.
Ron watched the man leave with a frown.
The blue eye was watching them.
“Why are you here?” Harry asked, his tone was guarded.
“Where else would we be, mate?” Ron said, deciding to act normal. He had a feeling Moody would be lingering nearby to watch them, and Ron didn’t want to risk tipping the man off. It was very likely the man Barty Crouch Junior, not Alastor Moody.
“What Ron means,” Hermione began, catching Ron’s eye, “is we’re here for you.”
Harry frowned.
“We know you didn’t enter, mate,” Ron stated. “You entering is as likely as Hermione writing in a library book.”
Hermione glared at him while a small smile formed on Harry’s face.
“I’m glad I have you two,” Harry told them. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”
That feeling of guilt flared in Ron. He would tell his best friend that he doubted him later. This wasn’t something he could keep from Harry.
“Let’s get back to the Tower,” Ron suggested. “Knowing the twins, there will be a full celebration.”
Harry frowned. “But I didn’t enter,” he muttered.
Shrugging, Ron said, “We know you. Others don’t.”
“None of them matter,” Hermione said as they started walking up the stairs.
Ron slung an arm around Harry’s shoulders. “You’re stuck with us, mate,” he added.
Harry smiled.