Author's Note:

Hello! This is my first Dramione fanfiction...so I used to be totally obsessed with Dramione, then I started shipping Harmony and Fremione, and now I ship Dramione again! This might be...strange (I certainly think it is). Draco and Hermione were picked for the Triwizard Tournament instead of Cedric and Harry. And the reasons...remain a secret… I'm unsure how this was born, but after I got the idea sort of down, I realised how "The Lightning Strike" by Snow Patrol fit in perfectly! I love that song :) I hope you like it! (I've stolen a lot of this from the book. Which I DON'T own…unfortinately.)

Chapter One
Lightning Strike

What if this storm ends?

And I don't see you

As you are now, ever again

The perfect halo, of gold hair and lightning

Sets you off against, the planet's last dance

- "The Lightning Strike" / Snow Patrol

The red flames from the Goblet of Fire erupted and shone so bright that many students had to shield their eyes from it. It stayed a blue-white for another several minutes, before turning a dark shade of red again.

"Any second now…" Hermione heard Lee Jordan said, who was sitting a few seats away from her, Ron and Harry.

Sparks flew from the Goblet and with everyone in an anticipated silence, you could hear the faint crackling. A tongue of flame shot into the air and a charred piece of parchment fluttered out if it.

Dumbledore caught the piece of parchment and held it at arm length. "The champion for Durmstrang," he read, in a strong, clear voice. "will be Viktor Krum!"

A storm of applause and cheering swept across the Hall as they saw the famous Seeker stand from the Slytherin table to shake Dumbledore's hand.

When the clapping and shouting had finally died down, everyone's attention was once again focused on the Goblet, which had just turned red again. A second piece of parchment shot out of it, which Dumbledore caught.

"The champion for Beauxbatons," Dumbledore said. "is Fleur Delacour!"

A beautiful Veela-like girl got gracefully to her feet and swept up between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables. She shook back her sheet of silvery blonde hair before walking to Dumbledore. Like Krum, she disappeared into the side chamber.

The Goblet grew red yet again and from its tip Dumbledore pulled out the third piece of parchment. He stood in the same spot for several moment, confusion flickering on his face.

"Draco Malfoy." Dumbledore said.

The whole school fell silent and all eyes turned to Draco.

"Draco Malfoy." Dumbledore repeated, as if he hadn't made himself clear the first time. "Draco, come up here."

Draco nodded slowly, shaking slightly. He stood up and walked towards Dumbledore. Why he had been called he did not know. Draco had certainly not put his name into the Goblet.

"Draco." Dumbledore said. "You are our...Hogwarts champion."

Draco gulped. He couldn't possibly, after all, he was only a mere fourteen-year-old.

"Draco Malfoy, our Hogwarts champion!" Dumbledore said loudly, and the whole Slytherin table erupted in cheers. After some time, the whole school was clapping. Dumbledore looked behind him at all the teachers and patted Draco on the back. "I see now we have our three champions. By cheering your champion on, you will contribute in a very real-"

But Dumbledore suddenly stopped speaking, and it was apparent to everyone what had distracted him. For the fourth time this evening, the fire in the Goblet turned red. A long flame shot suddenly into the air, and borne upon it was another piece of parchment.

Dumbledore looked around before reaching out to seize out. He opened it and paused, a little longer than he had done for Draco.

"Hermione Granger."

Hermione stiffened as her name was called out. Her heart beat ten times quicker and she could already feel the blood rushing to her cheeks.

"Hermione Granger!" Dumbledore said again.

Hermione just shook her head and looked back down at the table. The Goblet had very much been mistaken, for Hermione Granger could not be a champion.

"Hermione." whispered Harry, nudging her slighlty.

"I didn't." Hermione said quickly. "I didn't put my name in. You know I didn't."

"Hermione Granger!" Dumbledore said, raising his voice. "Up here, Hermione, if you please!"

Finally, Hermione reached the Headmaster, who was frowning slightly.

"In through the door then." he told her. Hermione nodded and followed through to the chamber the previous students had entered. Hermione saw Fleur and Viktor warming themselves by the fire and Draco in the corner, hunched up slightly.

"Granger?" Draco stuttered when he saw Hermione enter.

"Do zey want us back in ze hall?" asked Fleur.

Viktor looked at Hermione strangely. "Vell…?"

"I...my name…" Hermione started.

"This is very strange." Fleur started. "Draco iz not of age yet. And neither are you...whoever you are. All champions must be seventeen, yes?"

Draco looked at Hermione. "Well, cat got your tongue?"

But before either of them could talk, the door behind them opened again, and a large group of people came in: Professor Dumbledore, followed closely by Mr Crouch, professor Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Professor McGonagall and Snape. Snape's eyes met Draco's, who quickly turned away.

"I believe that we may have a, er, slight problem." Dumbledore said.

"What iz going on?" Fleur asked, standing up so her silvery hair reached her waist. "'Ogwarts cannot have a champion who iz underage."

"Make that two, Miss Delacour." Dumbledore said quietly.

"Vat?" Viktor exclaimed. "So are you saying that the little girl is also a champion?"

Hermione looked up. Little girl? She was fifteen.

Madame Maxime stood up, her head touching the ceiling. "What iz ze meaning of zis, Dumbly-dorr?"

"I'd rather like to know that myself, Dumbledore." said Karkaroff, whose icy blue eyes seemed to pierce into Draco and Hermione. "Two Hogwarts champions? Surely, that cannot be allowed. I don't remember anyone telling me the host school was allowed two champions. Or have I simply be reading the wrong information?"

"C'est impossible!" said Madame Maxime. "Zey are not of age, Dumbly-dorr! Zey cannot compete! Zey are too young! And ziz is most injust. Zey might me underage, but this is very unfair."

"We were under the impression that your Age Line would keep out younger contestants, Dumbledore." said Karkaroff. "But it seems like that it has not worked. Twice. You are not allowing both of them to compete, are you?"

"Zey are too young!" Madame Maxime said over and over again.

Draco and Hermione exchanged a look.

"Draco, Hermione." Dumbledore walked to his two younger students. "Did either of you put your names into the Goblet of Fire?'

Both shook their heads fervently.

"Then, did you ask an older student to put it into the Goblet of Fire for you?" said Dumbledore.

"No." Both of them said at the same time.

"But of course zey are lying! How else would zey be right 'ere? How else?" Madame Maxime said angrily.

Professor McGonagall spoke up. "They could not have crossed the Age Line. We made sure of that."

"But Dumbly-dorr must 'ave made a mistake with ze line!" Madame Maxime said even louder, her face rapidly turning a lovey shade of lilac.

"It is possible, you know." Dumbledore said politely. "After all, we did get two underage champions."

As the headmasters and other professors shouted at each other, Hermione shrunk into her seat. This was still unreal. She couldn't be the Hogwarts champion – and neither could Draco. Just like Madame Maxime had said, c'est impossible.

"Mr Crouch...Mr Bagman," started Karkaroff. "You are our, er, objective judges. Surely you will agree that this is most irregular?"

Mr Crouch, who was standing outisde the circle of the fireplace turned to face everyone, looking slightly eerie. 'We must follow the rules, and the rules state clearly that those people whose names come out of the Goblet of Fire are bound to compete in the Tournament."

"But zey are too young!" Madame Maxime shouted.

"I insist upon resubmitting the names of the rest of my students!" said Karkaroff, his face flashing with anger. "You will most certainly be setting up the Goblet of Fire again, and we will continue adding names until each school has two champions, underage or not."

"But Karkaroff, it doesn't work like that." said Bagman. "The Goblet of Fire's just gone out and it won't reignite until the start of the next Tournament-"

"-in which Durmstrang will definitely not be competing in!" Karkaroff exploded. "After all our meetings and negotiations and compromises, I little expected something of this nature to occur! I have half a mind to leave at this second!"

"Empty threat, Karkaroff!" growled a voice from near the door. "You can't leave your champion now. He's got to compete. They've all got to compete. Binding magical contract, like Dumbledore said. Convenient, eh?" Moody had just entered the room, limping towards the fire.

"Convenient, Moody? I'm afraid I don't quite understand." Karkaroff crossed his eyes.

"Don't you?" scoffed Moody. "It's very simple, Karkaroff. Someone put-" Moody leaned in and pulled Draco and Hermione up by their collars. "-Malfoy and Granger's names in the Goblet of Fire knowing they'd have to compete if it came out."

"But why two? Surely breaking the rules once is enough!" Madame Maxime said loudly. "I think zis is just someone wishing to give 'Ogwarts two bites of ze apple."

Moody ignored her and carried on, tightening the grip on Hermione and Draco, causing Hermione to whimper quietly. "Maybe someone's hoping for these two-"

"-to win ze Tournament! After all, this iz something to die for! A thousand Galleons and ze eternal glory!" Fleur Delacour burst out, stamping on her foot.

"Maybe someone's hoping they will die for it." Moody growled.

Silence spread around the room, with Hermione and Draco sucking in their breaths.

Ludo Bagman, who was looking very anxious indeed, bounced nervously up and down on his feet. "Moody, old man...what a thing to say!"

"We all know Professor Moody considers the morning wasted if he hasn't discovered six plots to murder him before lunchtime." said Karkaroff loudly. "Apparently now he is teaching his students to fear assassination too. An odd quality in a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dumbledore, but no doubt you had your reasons."

"Imagining things, am I?" At this, Moody finally dropped Hermione and Draco, who both looked rather sick. "Seeing things? Really, Karkaroff? It was a skilled witch or wizard who put their names in the Goblet."

Madame Maxime laughed spitefully. "And what evidence iz zere of zat?"

"Because they hoodwinked a very powerful magical object!" said Moody. "It would have needed an exceptionally strong Confundus Charm to bamboozle the Goblet into forgetting that only three schools could compete in the Tournament...I'm guessing they submitted…" Moody stopped. "I'm guessing Malfoy and Granger were submitted separately, under a fourth or a fifth category, in which they'd be underage and still able to compete without worrying about not getting chosen."

Fear seared through Hermione, as she thought about a powerful witch or wizard doing this, just so she and Draco could compete.

As Karkaroff protested, Moody glared at him. "Well, Karkaroff, it is my job to think the way Dark wizards do. As you ought to remember-"

"Alastor!" Dumbledore said warningly. He then turned around to face the four teenagers. "How this situation arose, we do not know. Both Draco and Hermione, although underage, seemed to have been chosen to compete. Therefore, they will-"

"-Dumbly-dorr, you-"

"-Madame Maxime, if you have an alternative, I would be glad to hear it." Dumbledore said. When Madame Maxime didn't say anything, Dumbledore smiled.

"Right…" Crouch started, looking rather weak. "The first task is designed to test your daring so we are not allowed to tell you what it is. Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a wizard. Yes, very important." He paused, looking around, first at Fleur, then Viktor until finally, his eyes settled on Draco and Hermione. "The first task will take place on November 22nd…"

Hermione clenched her fists as Crouch went on about the task. Just the thought of competing made her stomach churn. When Crouch had finally finished, Dumbledore turned to where Draco and Hermione were sitting.

"Fleur and Viktor!" Dumbledore said at first. "I am sure you are both equally tired and want your rest. Congratulations once again."

Fleur and Maxime had already left the room, speaking rapidly in French. Karkaroff gave Dumbledore a nasty glare before taking Viktor out of the room.

"Now," Dumbledore started. "I would like a quick word."

Hermione and Draco nodded.

"Miss Granger. Did you put your name in the Goblet, or did you ask someone to put it in for you?"

"No, Professor, I swear it." Hermione said, in all truth. The thought of breaking the rules to compete had not once crossed her mind. Although the Tournament was indeed something to die for, Hermione would much rather have sunk in the background, watching the champions compete against each other. Being one of the champions had definitely not been an option for her, even if she'd been of age, she would never have entered.

"And you, Mr Malfoy?"

Draco cleared his throat. "No."

Dumbledore sighed. "All right then. I presume Gryffindor and Slytherin would want to celebrate with you. Goodnight."

Draco and Hermione exited the room quietly.

"So, Granger, I still find it hard to believe," Draco said. "that a girl like you would even consider entering the Tournament."

Hermione laughed spitefully. "I could ask the same to you, Malfoy. Aren't you the one who goes running crying to Mummy and Daddy because you simply couldn't get your own way?"

"How dare you speak to me like that?" Draco growled.

"I can speak to you however I wish to." Hermione said. 'And anyway, for your information, I didn't put my name in the Goblet. didn't ask anyone to do it for me either."

"Whatever you say, you Mudblood." Draco laughed sarcastically. "Anyway, I'm certain that no one would do the dirty work for you if someone gave them a thousand galleons. Who'd want to help a Mudblood?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "You know, you've used that so many times I'm starting to get bored of it. Anyway, Malfoy, don't you know it's bad manners to lie to a teacher?"

Draco widened his eyes. "You calling me a liar? If I wanted in the Tournament with no help, it would have been easy. This way, however, is okay too." He paused, sneering.

"Of course." Hermione snorted. 'After all, it was easy for you to bribe your way onto the Quidditch team. But that I can understand. With no talent, obviously you'd need something to get your place on the team. How much did it cost you this time? I'm guessing more than a few Nimbuses did it this time?"

Draco laughed again. "Didn't hear a word you said." Draco stopped. "I guess you and I are against each other."

"Yeah. I guess we are." Hermione said, crossing her arms.

"Hope you lose." Draco said before storming off. "Or die. Whichever. Anything to stop seeing that Mudblood face of yours."

Rolling her eyes again, Hermione walked the other direction to the Gryffindor Common Room.

First chapter done! Hope it wasn't too shabby. Feedback will be appreciated :)