Harry's prediction was correct, whe

Harry's prediction was correct, when his healing lessons with Severus were interrupted by an excited Sirius. "It's time," he called out, so excited that he could barely stand still. "The deadline's over and Granger dragged Weasley to Minny's office, who took them to the Headmaster's office."

Harry grinned back. Together, they went to the Headmasters' office, where Sirius said they were waiting. Inside, Harry noted how utterly petrified Ron looked, with a stern McGonagall staring him down. Dumbledore, was of course, sitting behind his desk, looking troubled. Hermione was also looking very solemn, sitting next to Ron.

"Come in, have a seat," Dumbledore said. "I understand we have a slight issue at hand? Something to do with a prank?"

"A prank!" Severus growled. "In two days, this baffoon managed to rally more than a hundred Hogwarts students against Harry! Not to mention the foreign students too. Considering how publicized this bloodly tournament is, it could have far reaching consequences."

"Very well, Severus. I quite agree with you," Dumbledore said, in a conciliatory tone and turned Ron. "Professors McGonagall and Black have given me the gists of the situation, but I would like to hear it in your own words what's been happening."

Ron completely froze, looking panicky.

Hermione huffed impatiently. "It all started with my idea of this club, Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare," she began. "I made these badges to sell them to fund my club. I got a little angry when Harry and Ron refused to help me sell them….I mean fighting for house-elf rights is important! How can anyonenot see…"

"Ms. Granger!" McGonagall barked. "Stick to the issue at hand, please."

"Sorry, Professor." Hermione ducked her head. "So, I had trouble selling them, you see, and Ron came up to me saying he got this brilliant idea, and to trust him. That he found a way for me to sell all of my badges." Hermione turned and glared meanly at Ron.

Seeing that Hermione was done with her role in all this, Dumbledore also turned to Ron. "Is all this true?"

Ron nodded mutely.

"And you don't deny charming these badges to display these defamatory remarks?" Dumbledore pressed.

"No," Ron muttered, barely audible.

McGonagall rose to her full height. "I am very disappointed in you, Mr. Weasley," she nearly growled. "The Triwizard Cup has chosen Mr. Potter as Hogwarts' Champion, and as a Hogwarts' student, no as a fellow Gryffindor, I had expected more loyalty from you than I've been seeing, not to mention you are supposed to be Mr. Potter's best friend." Her voice rung shrilly in their ears, and Harry silently wondered how the Headmaster didn't flinch, as he was closest to her.

"That's right," Sirius piped up. "I can understand a difference of opinion between mates, just like anyone else. But to rally the school into turning on our own Champion is beyond disgraceful, not at all Gryffindor."

"What shall be the suitable punishment, then," Dumbledore asked. "Since it was your godson who was wronged, what do you suggest?"

"I've got just the thing." Sirius grinned a little madly, causing Ron to gulp nervously. "You will still be responsible for collecting the rest of the badges and refunding them, and the students will be obligated to turn them over to you. But that's not all." Surprisingly, he turned to Severus. "Would you like to do the honors?"

"With pleasure," Severus said, making it almost sound like a purr. "For the next two weeks, Ms. Granger…"

Hermione stiffened. "What? But I had no idea Ron was going to use my badges like this!" she protested.

"Do not interrupt me again, Mr. Granger," Snape growled. "You may not have known how Mr. Weasley planned to use your badges, but there is still a lesson to be learned here. Therefore, you will be working in the kitchens with the house-elves for detention for the next two weeks. You will take this time to actuallylearn what the house-elves really want in their lives, not what you assume because you think you know better than them, or some such nonsense."

Hermione glared angrily at this, but didn't protest. This would be the perfect opportunity for her to free some elves. She was already planning on how many bits of clothes she'd have to gather.

Then Sirius took over, looking like he could barely contain himself. "You'll love this, Weasley!" he began. "Since you want to compete in this tournament so badly, you will get your chance at the first task of the tournament, after all the real champions have had a go."

Ron's eyes bugged out. "Really? I actually get to compete?"

Dumbledore frowned at Ron's cluelessness. "Sirius, I do not think Madam Maxime or Headmaster Karkaroff will agree with this."

"Got that covered too, Albus," Sirius smirked. "I've already explained the situation to them, and they agree that this is a suitable punishment for Weasley's behavior."

Harry didn't think they so much agreed with the punishment, but Maxim and Karkaroff thought Ron's failure at the First Task would make their schools look even better.

Since no one was protesting, not even Ron, the Headmaster had no choice. Besides, the magical contract of the Goblet was designed to only prevent a Champion from abandoning the Tournament. It was never made to actually exclude other students from participating. "Very well, Severus, Sirius. You two have certainly planned this out carefully. Harry is very lucky to have all your support."

"As is should be," Severus replied imperiously. "Mr. Weasley, I do not think you realize the true nature of this punishment. You will have no official standing in the tournament. This is only to teach you the difference between real danger and adventure."

Ron, unfortunately, didn't hear anything beyond the part where he got to compete. He straightened up in his seat and puffed up his chest. "So, what's the task then?" he demanded, showing everyone that he still didn't understand. "Can't be all that bad, since Harry's allowed to compete."

At this, Harry gave him a rather snake-like smirk. "Well, Ron, according to Mr. Crouch, the first task is to test our daring in the face of the unknown. So, we weren't given any clues at all. You have until the 1st of December to prepare. Oh, and you're not allowed to ask anyone, including Hermione, for help."

Hearing this, Ron paled slightly, but his head was so filled with glory and gold that he couldn't see the danger for what it really was. Harry almost felt sorry for him…almost.

Over the next couple weeks, you could gradually see Ron and Hermione's attitudes changing, and not for the better either. Hermione, according to the house-elves, was terrifying. Now that she had direct access to them, she was even more determined to see her little crusade through. Instead of actually listening to the house-elves, she was preaching at them with near religious fervor, terrifying the poor creatures with talk of salaries, vacations, and freedom!

Ron, on the other hand, was going around school boasting loudly that he was the 4th Hogwarts' champion! This would have caused the other Houses to complain about fairness, if it weren't for the fact that they knew Ron was being punished. Unlike Ron, they understood the reasoning behind allowing him to participate, and merely shook their heads in pity.


A/N: Okay, Ron was ridiculously hard to write without make him completely evil. Every Ron hater out there writes him as a jealous, immature prat, and yes growing up among 7 siblings contributes to that. But is that enough to cause one best friend to turn against another? Well, if you're constantly watching all these good things happening to Harry-and let's be honest, most of the things in 1st year, Harry didn't have to lift a finger for- then that can reasonably explain why Ron suddenly deserted Harry in GOF.

Up Next : Harry gets revenge on Ron and we find out what going on with Sirius.