POV: Harry

The Great Hall is starting to settle down now after reuniting after summer.

Dumbledore takes the podium and begins his usual speech in the beginning of the school year.

" Welcome students of Hogwarts. We begin another year at Hogwarts. Let me go over the basics as usual before we go over what is new this year. The forbidden forest is banned to all students as you all know. Students are to not wander the grounds after ten p.m..."

My best friends Ron and Hermione start discussing what we have not talked about yet since the Quidditch World Cup. The reminder of Voldemort's followers attacking everyone gives me a cringe.

" Harry, why would Voldemort attack randoms at the World Cup," Hermione asked me. I have been wondering that too. I have a feeling that he wanted to get to me." I don't know Hermione," I answered. I don't want worries on her mind the first day back." You should tell Sirius about this. He might know something now being on the run and all."

" I don't want to put Sirius in danger trying to look for answers for me." Sirius is my godfather who is known to the world as a murderer. He isn't though so he has to stay on the run so he isn't caught. One sign of him could put him in jeopardy and it would be all my fault." You are right Harry. He could be captured and sent back to Azkaban." Thank goodness she agreed to my idea and we didn't have an argument.

" Ron could you stop stuffing your face!" Ron was eating as usual and was not sharing his ideas which bothered Hermione a lot." It isn't a crime to eat Hermione," Ron said." You are eating snacks from the train! We haven't even gotten our real food yet!"

Their argument continued as usual, but I returned my focus to Dumbledore's speech.

" We have our new defense against the dark arts teacher here, Professor Alastor Moody, an ex-aurora . He is not the only addition to this year at Hogwarts. Hogwarts have been given a new honor."

Everyone was now paying attention to him. What honor is given to schools besides extra work?

" This year we shall host an admired event that you can only see once in a lifetime. We are to hold the Triwizard Tournament." Everyone started whispering with excitement. Hermione dropped her jaw in horror. I have never heard of this tournament.

" For those of you who don't know the tournament is when three schools come together for a series of competitions. This year although there will be four wizarding schools. One from different countries. Let us be joined by Beauxbuttom academy from France, Dumstrang acadamey from Bulgaria, and Panem witchcraft and wizardry from the United States of America!"

At the end of his sentence the Great Hall doors opened and revealed three groups of students which each separated to one of the three aisles dividing the different houses and their tables. Beauxbuttom went through Griffindor table and Slytherin. They were a group of beautiful girls all about sixteen or seventeen years old. Each wore a blue skirt with blue tights under the skirt. They wore blue hats and blue shoes. Every boys eyes followed them and including mine. The girls on the other hand followed the group of boys from Dumstrang which were all tall and muscular. The leader of the group was Viktor Krum, the Bulgaria worldwide champion seeker in Quidditch. Ron dropped his jaw at the sight of him. He was Ron's idol back at the world cup. Each guy wore fur jackets and fur hats over a red shirt and black pants. The last group from Panem didn't seem to have wands, but weapons like bow and arrows and axes. Only there headmaster had a wand and showed off fire sparks from his wand. They all looked normal in casual jeans and T-shirts. They were the smallest group although with only six students and their headmaster who has white hair, a white beard, and a white mustache.

Dumbledore shook hands with each headmaster and announced each one of them to us,"Welcome Madame Maxine of France, Igor of Bulgaria, and Snow of America." Madame Maxine was about ten feet tall, taller than Hagrid. Igor wore white fur instead of black like his students. His teeth were all crooked and yellow and made me gag when he smiled. Snow wore a blue suit with a white rose in his coat pocket. He smelled of blood as he passed by which also made me gag a bit.

Dumbledore walked up to the podium as each school settled at a different table. Beauxbuttom sat at Ravenclaw table, Dumstrang at Slytherin, and Panem at Griffindor table, ours.

Dumbledore spoke," These students will join us in these games. What are these games you might ask. Usually the games consist of three competitors, but this year it will be a bit different. There will be six competitors from each of the four schools. The competitors will be chosen by those who place their name in the Goblet of Fire."

He moved a cover off this standing figure next to the podium that I didn't notice until now. It revealed a giant cup about as tall as Dumbledore. Everyone started whispering again. Hermione made another disgusted look like when Dumbledore announced the games would be held.

" The games shall be dangerous so the Head of the Department of Underage Wizard Protection will tell you himself what will be this years restrictions. Here is Mr. Barty Crouch."

A man with a grey mustache and grey hair walked up to the podium from his seat from the staff table. He said," Because of the dangers of the Triwizard Tournament, it was unanimously agreed that only students over the age of sixteen can participate."

Boos and screams broke out from underage students. Fred and George led the screams and were the loudest of course. That is when dinner finally started. Everyone talked of the tournament of course especially Hermione.

" This is barbaric. These games are too dangerous. I read that once three out of four students died one year. This is risky for any great witch or wizard. I hope you two idiots are listening and not staring at the girls from Beauxbuttom."

My eyes went back to Hermione. How did she know that's where we were looking?

" Sorry Hermione," I said." Honestly these games will kill someone for sure. So I am going to make some good and go to the library."

" Hermione, have you ever heard of Panem. I have heard of the other two schools except that one." Hermione thought about my question for a moment then shook her head.

" Well I must be going. Care to join me at the library or are you still stuffing your face Ronald?" She rose from her seat staring at Ron and I with a look that scared me.

" No... I am feaing," Ron said with a mouth full of cake. He meant eating I think.

" You two waste all your time," Hermione said as she walked towards the exit of the Great Hall and left.

Ron and I stayed and talked to other students. Ron's twin brothers Fred and George showed us how there new candy that makes people talk backwards work on a first year. Ron's sister Ginny asked me about what she should see this year at her first visit to Hogsmade. Dean Thomas talked to us about how he learned to cast a patronous which is an owl for him. Seamus Finnagin showed us his latest explosive. It felt great to be back at school.

Cho Chang looked at me from Ravenclaw table. She giggled with her friends as she saw me blush. I never talked to her before, but for the train ride and hour we have been back we have stared at each other a lot. Ron spoke to me for a while and I didn't hear one word of it because I kept staring at Cho. Ron thought I was staring at the girls from Beauxbuttom so I played it off like I was.

After dinner Ron, Dean, Seamus, Neville, and I left for our room in Griffindor tower. We stayed up late practicing charms for school the next day. A summer without magic makes us forget a lot. I seemed to remember a lot. I waited in the common room for a bit for Hermione about news on Panem or the Tournament. She never came. At ten is when I returned to my room to sleep.

Hermione could be heard returning to Griffindor tower at twelve. She must have found a lot at the library for staying there for four hours.