DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter. Although that would be nice, the idea, concept, characters, and so on belong to J.K. Rowling. However, this plot belongs to me as do the characters of Aunt Elizabeth, Uncle Scott, and Cassandra. Any other characters you don't recognize belong to me unless specified otherwise.

A/N-alright. This is my first go at a Harry Potter fan fic. For the past year or so I've been doing mainly Newsies fics, with a few Mighty Ducks on the side. But, with the coming of HP3 on the big screen, I've been in a Harry Potter mood recently, so here it is, the fic I started a little while ago and am finally getting it up. For all my usual readers, this does not mean I'll be shirking the responsibility of updating my other stories. Of course I wouldn't. And...if you're at all interested in Newsies, make sure you check out my other fics. Uh...not much else to say, so here goes nothing!

INTERNATIONAL WIZARDING GAMES

CHAPTER ONE

"Well I just had the worst holiday of my lifetime" Hermione Granger announced as she entered the compartment which her best friends Ron Weasley and Harry Potter were occupying. They stared up at her in shock. Now only did she just strike up a conversation upon entering but the boys had heard little from her all summer. Dumbledore had decided it best for everyone to continue about, with extreme caution though, their normal lives and in case of any danger there was a special "owl line" for emergencies. Harry had spent another dreadful summer pent up in the Dursley's house, under constant surveillance of the Order of the Phoenix, learning to cope and deal with the death of his beloved godfather, Sirius Black, a difficult task on it's own. Ron refused to speak of his summer except for mumbling the words "mum", "Percy" and "argument". The boys watched as Hermione settled in, Crookshanks taking comfort on an empty seat, waiting for her to continue her tale.

"So..." she said, plopping herself down on a seat and resting her hand on Crookshank's back. "I spent the summer holiday in Germany with my mum, dad, Aunt Elizabeth, Uncle Scott, and cousin Cassandra" Hermione said this last name in a disdainful tone.

"Who?" Ron questioned carefully.

"Cassandra Anne Tyler" Hermione scoffed. "Little miss perfect from head to toe. Flawless in every way possible to a human" Hermione shuddered in disgust. "She ruined my summer. Uncle Scott's from California, so they live there but she attends some top notch, elitist boarding school in upstate New York where she's miss popularity herself. I spent most of my time listening to Aunt Elizabeth babble about how wonderful Cassie was, how Cassie was "top of her class" "captain of the team" "queen of the ball" and so on. The other part I spent with my dear cousin Cassie herself, in the flesh, listening to her petty stories about which guys liked her at school and watching guys ogle over her as she passed. Let me tell you, it was positively dreadful" Hermione let out an exasperated sigh. "When I was younger I was always being compared to her, by my parents and all my other relatives. "Cassie has top marks. Cassie's on five different sports teams. Cassie's staring in Grease at the local theatre. Cassie, Cassie, Cassie!" Hermione exclaimed adamantly. "No matter how hard I tried, Cassie was always one step ahead. Well now I've finally one upped her" she smiled and took out her wand. "Is she a witch? No. Can she do this?" with a flick of her wrist, sparks shot out of the end of the wand and filled the compartment, almost like fireworks, sending Crookshanks rocketing out of the seat, chasing after them. "No, I don't think so."

"Gee Hermione" Ron said in surprise at her mood. "I can't imagine someone smarter than you."

"Oh we're about the same. Both always getting top marks. But she was always so involved. Hell, she even got a bloody boyfriend when she was only ten! With her looks I'm not surprised, but I'm always being compared to her and I HATE IT!" Hermione said this with such passion that her wand slipped from her fingers, flying across the compartment. "Oh sorry Harry" she said apologetically to Harry who had been struck in the face by the butt of the wand. "But I couldn't keep in touch because I was sharing a room with Cassie and they don't know that I'm a witch" Hermione sighed. "It's so good to see you guys again. Any news of..." Hermione lowered her voice. "...you know who or the order?"

"No more than the usual" Harry replied, handing Hermione back her wand. "They're still keeping their eyes out" Hermione nodded her head.

"I heard mum telling dad about something this morning" Ron began. "Well, more like over heard. I don't know what they were talking about but whatever it is, it happens once every 28 years" Ron shrugged. "I think it's something that goes on at Hogwarts, but if she said I didn't hear."

"Don't suppose it's the Triwizard Tournament again, do you?" Harry asked.

"Don't be a fool" Hermione shot back. "After that disaster I'd be surprised if they had a tournament ever again!"

"...of course I'm going" a too familiar voice drifted into their compartment from the corridor outside. "I mean now that father's name has been cleared, why wouldn't I?" Draco Malfoy, flanked by his two goons, stepped into the compartment smirking. "I don't suppose you three are going. I don't suppose you even know what I'm talking about."

"Get out Malfoy" Harry said forcefully, drawing his wand. "Unless the three of you would like to relive your lifetimes as slugs" Malfoy's pale face became even more pale and with a final glare, the three Slytherins stalked out of the compartment.

"So Malfoy already knows" Ron said with a sigh.

"Of course he already knows" Hermione scoffed. "Don't let it get to you though. I'm sure that whatever it is we'll be involved in it somehow."

"I don't know Hermione" Harry replied. "I'd kinda like to spend this year uninvolved. We already know what happens when I do get involved..." Harry's voice trailed off and the mood in the compartment grew dim.

"Cheer up there mate" Ron tried. "I'm sure Dumbledore's gonna try his best to keep you out of trouble. Though we all know, trouble seems to have a knack for finding you."

"Yeah, it does. I just wish that I could have a semi-normal school year for once."

"Oh Harry" Hermione laughed. "A normal year at Hogwarts for you? You're off your rocker!"