Ever since Harry and Elaina were chosen as the fourth and fifth champions, the entire school of Hogwarts had been buzzing about it.
Reactions varied, but what surprised me most, Hermione Granger, was that Harry was not sitting next to Ron at breakfast the following morning.
When I asked Ron about it, he said that no matter how many times he asked Harry how he had outwitted the Goblet of Fire, Harry kept insisting, "I didn't do it!" Apparently, heated words were exchanged, and it turned into a fight.
"If he doesn't want other people to know, fine. But there's no need to lie even to me, right?"
Ron's attitude reminded me strongly of last year's Scabbers and Crookshanks dispute, and unable to find a good response, I could only nod vaguely.
If there was one thing I had learned from last year, it was that trying to push mutual understanding by immediately taking Harry's side in situations like this was the wrong move. I did not think Ron's attitude or arguments were right, but rejecting them outright would only make things worse.
Whether right or wrong aside, what he really wanted was for someone to listen to him first. I had been the same last year, so I decided to hear Ron out before anything else.
"So, you see, it's always Harry who stands out, and I'm just an extra at best. Like those overly sweet carrots that come with a hamburger."
Those are tasty, though… I thought to myself as I listened and nodded along. After more than ten minutes of Ron venting emotionally, his tone gradually began to calm.
"I know this is stupid jealousy."
Having finally let out the frustration he had been bottling up, Ron spoke as if squeezing out the feelings buried deep in his heart.
"But you wouldn't understand. My brothers are all amazing, you're the top student in the year, Hermione, and Harry defeated 'You-Know-Who.' I don't have anything that measures up to that."
"That's not true. You have plenty of good qualities."
"Like what?"
At Ron's skeptical question, I took a breath and chose my words carefully.
"You're good at chess. You crack jokes. You care deeply about your pets. You care about your friends…"
"That's it. That last one."
Ron smiled sadly.
"I've always been Harry's best friend. When Gryffindor lost 150 points over the Norbert incident, when everyone thought Harry was the Heir of Slytherin… I was always on Harry's side, and Harry trusted me too."
That was why he had managed to suppress his inferiority complex until now, Ron muttered in a weary voice.
"When Dumbledore read out Harry's name, do you remember the way everyone was looking at him?"
"…Yes. Like they were absolutely sure he cheated."
"Right. That's why I decided then that I'd stand by Harry. No matter what method he used, no matter what anyone else said, I would support him as his best friend."
Hearing Ron's serious confession for the first time, I was left speechless.
"I thought Harry would at least tell me in secret. So when he told me 'I didn't do it' even when we were alone, it felt like he didn't trust me at all."
"That's…"
I hadn't known. I had no idea Ron had been thinking like this all along.
"I know in my head that this jealousy and suspicion aren't Harry's fault. But I still can't sort out my feelings."
After confessing that quietly, Ron slowly stood up.
"I'm going to go. For now, I want a little distance from you guys."
Leaving with barely any breakfast touched, Ron walked away. His back looked smaller than ever.
Almost as if replacing Ron, Harry entered the Great Hall, greeted by applause from Fred, George, and the other Gryffindors.
But Harry himself looked downcast. The fight with Ron was clearly weighing on him. When he spotted me, he opened his mouth with an anxious, pleading expression.
"I really didn't do it."
"I know."
When I told him plainly that I didn't doubt him, Harry's eyes widened in surprise.
"You… you believe me?"
"Of course."
As I spread marmalade on my toast, I answered casually, and both relief and suspicion crossed Harry's face at once. Perhaps because Ron had refused to believe him no matter how many times he explained, he seemed unable to fully trust my easy acceptance.
Trying to keep things light so he wouldn't brood, I continued cheerfully.
"Don't make that face. And for the record, I'm not saying this out of sympathy. From the bottom of my heart, I believe you didn't put your name into the Goblet."
"R-really? You really mean it?"
"Obviously. With your grades, there's no way you could break through Dumbledore's magic."
Harry stared blankly for a moment, then his face flushed with embarrassment.
"…Aren't you supposed to say something nicer at times like this?"
"Oh dear, how unfortunate. I'm terrible at lying."
Our eyes met, and I winked at him triumphantly. After that, we both failed to hold it in and burst out laughing.
**
"Thanks. I feel better now."
Having traded jokes and eased the tension, Harry spoke again, looking a little more relaxed than before.
"But what should I do to make Ron believe me?"
"Well…" I thought for a moment before answering.
"If it were just about proving you're telling the truth, it wouldn't be that difficult. But that's not the real issue."
Harry paused with his teacup halfway to his lips and tilted his head in confusion.
"Not difficult? What do you mean?"
"If you drank Veritaserum and testified in front of everyone, no one would doubt you. It's a powerful truth serum. Even Dumbledore couldn't lie after four drops."
For a brief moment, Harry looked intrigued by the idea of a "truth serum," but then he frowned as if reconsidering.
"It sounds tempting, but that 'truth serum' isn't something that just happens to be sitting in Snape's potion store, right?"
"..."
"I get it. Let's forget about the truth serum for now."
"I figured you'd say that. Besides, even if you drank it, Ron probably still wouldn't be satisfied."
The real root of their falling-out was Ron's jealousy, born from his inferiority complex. As I explained what Ron had told me, Harry remained silent the entire time.
"Anyway, try not to worry too much."
I looked straight at Harry.
"Let's wait until Ron calms down. Time will sort things out."
When Ron and I fought last year, we needed time too.
When you're together all the time, it's easy to forget how precious that closeness is. Maybe, at least once, you need to experience the loneliness of being apart to truly remember.
"I'll tell Ron when I see him next time that you didn't ask to become famous."
"Please do, Hermione. And tell him that I'll throw in the scar on my forehead as a bonus service."
Matching Harry's forced bravado, I lightly chopped his shoulder in response.
(End of chapter)
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