Summary – Harry's 4th year at Hogwarts is more exciting with Dragons involved. Sirius and Remus must find something to fill their time while Harry is away at school.

Chapter Summary – The Tri-Wizard Tournament has everyone up in arms. What the bugger is Dumbledore thinking???

Grimly Alive

Part 1 – Tri-Wizard News

The door shut softly behind the two men; Both wore Muggle clothing, one in an old tweed suit with a sweater vest, the other in black jeans and a buttoned down red shirt. The man with long black hair turned to his best friend and gave him a slightly worried smile.

"Moony?"

"I'm fine Padfoot," the other shrugged and made his way to the kitchen. Summer had turned to fall and the trees outside showed with their brightly colored red, yellow and brown leaves that had fallen to the still emerald green grass. It was cloudy and Sirius had a feeling that it would rain by days end. He wondered towards the study, there on the red wood desk was The Daily Prophet. He picked it up, wanting to distract himself from the fact that the house felt much emptier because Harry, his son, was gone off to school.

He pointed his wand at the fire place, and the warmth of a fire gave off a yellow hugh to the room. The burgundy and gold reminded Sirius of the Gryffindor Common room, which settled him a little bit as he sat in a winged back chair. The head lines struck him as lightning: TRI-WIZARD TOURNAMENT TO BE HELD AT HOGWARTS!

He blinked and gasped. Still not over the shock, Sirius began to read.

Tri-Wizard Tournament, once banned for the dangers and the deaths that had taken place in historical accounts – has been reviewed and with an age restriction, shall be held at Hogwarts this year. The other schools to participate are Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. Neither Headmaster nor Headmistress of these schools deigned to reply to this Reporter's missives. However, a statement given from the countries lead this Reporter to believe that both are honored by the invitation to compete in the Tri-Wizard Tournament.

However, not all Foreign Relations are happy with this. The American School, The Michigan Institution of Witchcraft and Wizardry resents the fact that they were not invited to compete in the competition. Needless to say the relations between the American Ministry and our own Ministry aren't at the best and Minister Fudge has promised to work with our allies. However, that is for another article.

Headmaster Dumbledore of Hogwarts had this to say; "I am confident that with the age restriction, no deaths shall be seen in this tournament,"

I am glad to see someone has their head in the sand. Not all are happy with this decision to bring back the TWT. In fact, some parents are very angry by this fact. Their children, no doubt, if of age, will be happy to sign up and make a name for themselves.

Let us all hope that the Ministry will put more safety restrictions on the Tournament, before something terribly agrestic happens to the students.

Remus poked Sirius' shoulder and the older man handed Remus the paper.

"Can you believe this?" Sirius muttered unhappily.

"Huh, that is odd," Remus noted as he scanned the article.

"I'm glad Harry is only fourteen, the age restriction means that only the students in their last year shall put their name in to be considered," Remus explained.

"Good, well, Harry should have a lot of excitement this year," Sirius crossed his arms and looked as stormy as the weather was beginning to be.

"Don't be mad Sirius, we had fun times," Remus handed his long time friend a cup of strong, Gray Earl tea. Sirius took it straight.

"I know we did, but don't you remember the book we found about the Tri-Wizard Tournament?" Sirius asked.

"Yes, three deaths, but all were interspersed," Remus shrugged.

"Why are you not worried!?" Sirius almost yelled.

"Harry is too young, he will be on the sidelines with the other fourth years," Remus almost sighed.

"Oh, right," Sirius sipped at his tea, "And I'm sure you told me that all ready?"

"Yes,"

"Oh, I suppose I'm just being overly worried. This isn't the first time Harry has spent at Hogwarts," Sirius said.

"Indeed, and he still has three more years to complete," Remus replied.

"I know, I know," Sirius groaned.

"So, what's gotten into you?" Remus put the paper down with a snap.

"I don't know. You ever get those feelings of doom that you can't explain?"

"Sometimes," Remus replied.

"Well, I'm having one of those, the sort where one is about to storm the Black Gates of Mordor and no-one is sure whether or not one will survive," Sirius replied.

"Huh," Remus was non committal; "You just need to find something to do," Remus muttered after a few silent minutes of thinking.

"I need to find something to do?" Sirius looked non-pulsed.

"What? You have no job, not that you need it," Remus replied.

"True, I should do something, I had that summer job but…I need something more permanent," Sirius agreed.

"Right," Remus nodded his head.

"Well, hand me the classifieds," Sirius said and held out his hand. Remus went rummaging through the paper and handed said paper to Sirius.

"And what are you going to do?" Sirius asked.

"I've always wanted to write a book on the Dark Arts," Remus shrugged, "This seems as good a time as any,"

* * * *

A red water balloon dropped from an impossible height, and splattered all over Ron. The Golden Trio was just about to enter the Great Hall for the Beginning of the Year Feast and the Sorting. Ron made a face as the other two looked up to see Peeves, the resident Poltergeist, laughing, clutching his round gut as he did so. Tow more balloons dropped and the three were pushed into several different directions as the students around them hurried to get out of the way and so save themselves of Ron's fate.

"Peeves! Get down here!" Professor McGonagall called up angrily; not at all amused by this display of childish behavior. She expected it from the first and second year students, but this from Peeves, who was so much older than most of the Wizards and Witches that called Hogwarts Home, was outside of enough.

"Get down here Peeves!" McGonagall pointed to the floor to illustrate her point.

"Ah, come on Professor! I was only 'aving a bit o' fun!" Peeves replied. He floated in front of the Professor. Off to the side, Hermione conducted a drying charm on Ron and now, even with an afro for hair, he was dry and that was all he cared about at the moment.

"I will not have you ruining the feast," McGonagall glared at the ghost; "Make no mistake, I shall restrict your movements, now off with you!" McGonagall threatened. Peeves went, though he blew the woman a raspberry as he did so. McGonagall shooed the students to their tables, the Sorting was about to begin.

"Sometimes I hate that blighter," Ron muttered as they sat down at their table, near the front so that they could see the Sorting. Harry was about to say something when Colin Creevey gained his attention by snapping his camera in the young mans face. Harry blinked the flash of the light out of his eyes.

"Harry, guess what!?" Colin asked excitedly.

"What?" Harry said out of politeness, though he really wanted to tell the younger Gryffindor to go away and point that camera someplace else.

"My younger brother, Denis, is going to start this year!"

"Really? That's great news," Hermione put in.

"Yeah, cross your fingers that he's on Gryffindor, our Uncle will never forgive him if he isn't," Colin laughed and went to find a seat with those of his own age and year.

"I shall never survive if I have two Hero-worshiper's snapping their cameras at me," Harry groaned.

"It could be worse," Hermione smirked, "They could be girls!"

Harry groaned. "Of all the times you chose to be funny, you chose this one?"

* * * *

"Of all the times, Moony, for you to be funny, you have to chose this one?" Sirius muttered as he mock-glared at his long time friend. Remus just laughed and shook his head.

"You of all people, only you can get a job in the Archives!"

"It's more of a job for you," Sirius shrugged.

"No doubts, I had always thought you and James would open a joke shop or something," Remus replied as he folded a shirt to be put into his wardrobe.

"We talked about it, but, in the end with the war and all, it was more prudent to help out with the Order and all," Sirius replied.

"Well, there are worse places that the Ministries Archives,"

"Of course, but, the best spying and Maraudering has always been done from a library," Sirius smirked.

"You are looking for bats where there are no caves," Remus shook his head.

"Mr. Moony, do you remember our third year, the third week and the third day?" Sirius asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Maybe, what is it that this old dog is supposed to remember?" Remus asked jokingly.

"I had that feeling that Malfoy and Snape was going to do something terrible to us, well, this is the same feeling but on a more Voldemort level," Sirius explained.

"And you think you can figure out Fudge's 'plans' from the archive?" Remus shook his head disbelievingly.

"Yes," Sirius nodded surely of himself.

"Well, have fun," Remus waved his wand, the rest of the clothing folded in upon them selves and threw towards doors or hangers.

"Show off," Sirius muttered and made for his own bed room.

* * * * *

A/N – I know that this is a bit short. But I really have no notion where this is going though I have noted down some things. I shall have one pole though.

Are you comfortable with an AU Dumbledore?

Aye –

Nay –

Thank you and enjoy.

Professor Know It All