Chapter 3: The Injury
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER. IT BELONGS TO JK ROWLING.
A/N: Read, enjoy, and remember not to take either life or my writing too seriously.
Harry leaned against the stone wall just outside the library, still trying to process everything that had happened in the last fifteen minutes.
First he had kissed Hermione.
Then she had agreed to be his girlfriend.
Now they were both standing in the corridor staring at each other while trying to remember that the rest of the world still existed.
And unfortunately that world included Ron Weasley.
Harry groaned softly.
"He's never going to let this go," he muttered.
Hermione looked thoughtful.
"You mean the tournament or… us?"
Harry rubbed the back of his neck.
"Both," he admitted. "First I'm suddenly a champion in the most dangerous competition at school… and now I'm dating the smartest girl in Hogwarts."
Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"Only the smartest?"
Harry smiled sheepishly.
"Also the prettiest."
Hermione's cheeks turned pink, but she tried to stay focused.
"Harry, earlier you said you didn't want to compete in the tournament at all."
"Of course I don't," Harry said immediately. "I was hoping for a quiet year for once."
He gave her a small grin.
"Now I'd much rather spend my time with you than worrying about dragons or whatever they're planning."
Hermione's eyes sparkled.
"In that case… what if you didn't compete?"
Harry blinked.
"I just said I didn't want to."
"No," Hermione said patiently. "I mean what if you legally didn't have to?"
Harry frowned.
"But the contract—"
"Do you trust me?" Hermione asked suddenly.
Harry didn't hesitate.
"More than anyone."
Hermione smiled brightly.
"Good."
Then she leaned closer and lowered her voice slightly.
"What if Ron competed instead?"
Harry stared at her.
"What?"
"Think about it," Hermione continued. "Ron would love the chance to prove himself. He'd get the tournament he secretly wants… and you wouldn't have to risk your life."
Harry ran a hand through his hair.
"But the contract binds me, not Ron."
Hermione's smile became slightly mischievous.
"Yes… unless you become unable to compete."
Harry narrowed his eyes.
"That sounds dangerous."
Hermione tilted her head.
"What if it causes you a little pain?"
Harry gave her a suspicious look.
"You can be terrifying sometimes, you know that?"
Hermione laughed softly.
"Relax. I'm not planning anything permanent."
She tapped her finger thoughtfully against her chin.
"Do you remember the historical example I mentioned earlier? The champion who named a replacement?"
"Yeah."
"Well," Hermione said calmly, "we simply need to make sure you qualify for that rule."
Harry frowned.
"And how exactly do we do that?"
Hermione shrugged.
"You become temporarily unable to compete."
Harry crossed his arms.
"That still sounds dangerous."
Hermione leaned forward and kissed him quickly.
"I'll make sure it isn't."
Harry sighed.
"I should probably be worried that you sound so confident."
"You should probably be grateful," Hermione replied sweetly.
Harry chuckled.
"Fair point."
Hermione glanced around the corridor to make sure no one was nearby.
"Can we keep our relationship quiet for a couple of days?" she asked.
Harry looked surprised.
"Why?"
"Because we should tell Ron about both things at the same time," she explained. "The replacement plan… and us."
Harry nodded slowly.
"That actually makes sense."
Hermione smiled.
"Good. Then we have two days."
"Two days for what?"
Hermione's expression turned thoughtful again.
"I need to confirm that the rule about replacement champions is still valid. I'm going to send an owl to Percy and ask him for an official copy of the tournament regulations."
Harry blinked.
"Of course you are."
Hermione ignored his tone.
"And I also want to double-check something in the Hogwarts medical policies."
Harry frowned.
"Medical policies?"
Hermione smiled mysteriously.
"You'll see."
The next two days felt unusually long for Harry.
Part of the problem was Ron.
Ron still wasn't speaking to him.
The other problem was Hermione.
More specifically, the fact that she was now his girlfriend and they couldn't tell anyone yet.
They walked together between classes like they always had, but now Harry constantly had to stop himself from reaching for her hand.
More than once he noticed Hermione almost doing the same thing.
Every time their hands brushed accidentally, both of them would quickly pretend nothing had happened.
Still, Harry couldn't stop smiling.
And Hermione noticed.
Two evenings later Hermione approached him after dinner.
"Come on," she said.
She grabbed his sleeve and practically dragged him down a corridor.
"Where are we going?" Harry asked.
"You'll see."
They eventually reached an empty classroom.
The moment the door closed behind them Hermione wrapped her arms around Harry's neck.
The kiss she gave him made up for the last two days of restraint.
When they finally separated, Harry looked slightly dazed.
Hermione grinned.
"I have the information we need."
"What information?" Harry asked.
Hermione pulled a folded parchment from her bag.
"The official tournament rules."
Harry leaned closer.
Hermione began reading.
"The clause is still there," she said with satisfaction.
"What does it say?"
Hermione scanned the text again.
"Basically, if a selected champion becomes physically unable to compete before the first task, they are required to nominate a replacement competitor."
Harry's eyes widened.
"That means—"
"You can step down," Hermione finished.
Harry laughed.
"Hermione, you're brilliant."
She smiled proudly.
"I know."
Then her expression turned serious.
"But now we have the difficult part."
Harry folded his arms.
"I was wondering when we'd get to that."
Hermione took a deep breath.
"We need to make sure you're genuinely unable to compete."
Harry nodded.
"That part worries me slightly."
"At first I thought about finding a powerful hex," Hermione admitted.
Harry's eyes widened.
"You did what?"
"But then I realized something much simpler would work."
Harry waited.
"You just need a broken arm or leg."
Harry stared at her.
"That's your simple solution?"
Hermione nodded calmly.
"Yes."
"But Madam Pomfrey can fix broken bones instantly!" Harry protested.
Hermione shook her head.
"Normally, yes."
Harry frowned.
"What do you mean normally?"
Hermione folded her arms.
"Muggle-born students are allowed to request non-magical treatment instead of magical healing."
Harry blinked.
"You're serious?"
"Yes," Hermione said. "Which means if you choose muggle treatment, your arm would be placed in a cast for several weeks."
Harry slowly began to understand.
"That would take me past the first task."
Hermione nodded.
"Exactly."
Harry stared at her.
"That's brilliant… and slightly terrifying."
Hermione smirked.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Harry suddenly looked suspicious.
"You already know how to break my arm, don't you?"
Hermione smiled innocently.
"Maybe."
A little later they began practicing spells.
Hermione had brought a pillow so Harry could practice the banishing charm safely.
"Depulso," Hermione demonstrated.
The pillow shot across the room.
Harry tried.
Nothing happened.
Hermione sighed.
"Harry, you need to focus."
"I am focusing!"
"No, you're thinking about kissing me again."
Harry turned red.
"I might be."
Hermione crossed her arms.
"If you don't learn this spell properly, I'm canceling the reward system."
Harry blinked.
"The reward system?"
Hermione leaned closer.
"Kisses for studying motivation."
Harry immediately straightened.
"I'm ready to learn."
Hermione laughed.
After another hour of practice, Harry finally managed to banish the pillow across the room successfully.
Hermione clapped.
"Excellent!"
Harry grinned.
"I definitely prefer your rewards to Snape's detentions."
Hermione blushed slightly.
"Now comes the important part."
She reached into her bag and removed a very large, extremely heavy book.
Harry eyed it nervously.
"That's not comforting."
Hermione placed the book on a desk a few feet away.
"I'm going to banish it toward your left arm," she explained. "That way your wand arm will still be usable."
Harry swallowed.
"Can I have another kiss before the pain?"
Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"The pain hasn't happened yet."
"Pre-pain kiss," Harry said quickly.
"And after that you'll want a pain kiss… and a recovery kiss," Hermione guessed.
Harry grinned.
"I was thinking several pain kisses."
Hermione shook her head, amused.
Then she stepped back.
"Ready?"
Harry nodded.
Hermione raised her wand.
"Depulso!"
The heavy book shot across the room and slammed into Harry's arm just below the elbow.
There was a loud crack.
Hermione winced.
Harry clenched his teeth as pain shot through his arm.
"Sorry!" Hermione said, rushing forward.
Harry forced a weak smile.
"I think I deserve that pain kiss now."
Hermione laughed despite herself.
A few minutes later they entered the Hospital Wing.
Madam Pomfrey turned around immediately.
"Mr. Potter! What have you done this time?"
Harry glanced at Hermione.
Then he sighed.
"It was an accident."
Hermione tried very hard not to laugh.
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