Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER, AND I AM NOT MAKING ANY MONEY OFF THIS PIECE OF WRITING.
Chapter One
Hermione Granger hurried down the corridor towards her Transfiguration class. Having stayed up so late the previous night helping Harry learn the Summoning Charm for the first task, she didn't realise that she had overslept. She took a quick shower and rushed out of the common room, cursing under her breath for forgetting to set her alarm.
"Sorry I'm late Professor," she gasped, clutching a stitch in her side. "I overslept."
"That's alright Miss Granger," said Professor McGonagall, eyeing her reprovingly. "Make sure it doesn't happen again."
Hermione slid into her seat next to Harry Potter. "How is it that you probably stayed up longer than I did, and still managed to wake up earlier?" she whispered, as Professor McGonagall continued with her explanation.
"Well, it's probably because I'm nervous about the task today," he replied. "Do you know a spell to make me skip straight to tonight?"
"No I don't Harry," said Hermione, scribbling down a few key points on a piece of parchment. "Don't worry so much. You'll do fine! Last night proved that."
"Yeah, but like I said, the Firebolt's going to be a lot farther away than you were from me. What if I stand there looking like an idiot and the dragon shoots a huge fireball at me?"
"I'm sure that won't happen Harry. You need to calm down."
"Miss Granger! Please don't make me take any points away from Gryffindor!" Hermione blushed as the entire class turned to look at her.
"I'm sorry Professor," she said, lowering her head, but not before catching a glimpse of Ron Weasley, who was glaring at both of them.
"Sorry," whispered a guilty Harry. She pursed her lips and shook her head. The rest of the lesson proceeded in relative silence, as both of them attempted to turn the rat in front of them into a box. Hermione succeeded on her fourth try, but Harry, already unsettled due to nerves, managed to make bat wings sprout out of the poor creature's head. Hermione watched him turn a delicate shade of green, as the class laughed and pointed at the rat, who was now flying all over the classroom, squeaking at the top of it's lungs. Professor McGonagall frowned and pointed her wand at the rat. It's wings disappeared instantly, and it fell onto the floor and scampered away.
"Try again Mr Potter," she said grimly, handing him a new rat.
After Transfiguration ended, Harry and Hermione walked out of class first, trying to ignore all the mutters that broke out around them. "Harry, you've got to calm down! I'm telling you, you'll do fine! Tell him Ginny," she said, grabbing the back of the redheads robes as she passed. "He's got all the spells he needs, he's going to do perfect."
"Harry, you always do well in everything," began Ginny.
"Not Potions," retorted Harry.
"But this isn't Potions!" she exclaimed. "You've faced You-Know-Who, for heaven's sake! You're telling me that you're afraid of this task?"
"Hey, with Voldermort I had no idea what I was doing ok?"
"Then pretend it's like that," said Ginny softly. "Lose yourself in it. Forget what you're doing." Harry looked into her eyes and saw that she truly meant what she said.
"Thanks Ginny," he said. "I'll try to keep that in mind."
"You'd better," she said, walking away and getting lost in the sea of students. Harry turned to Hermione, but before he could say anything, he felt a slight tap on his arm. He turned around. It was Cho.
"Good luck today Harry," she said with a small smile, and walked away with her friends. Harry's face heated up, as he tried to ignore the giggles of Cho's group of friends.
"Well now you've got something to work for haven't you?" said Hermione looking amused at the expression on his face. "Come on, I don't want to be late for yet another class."
The rest of the morning passed quickly. Hermione noticed that Harry's calm mood disappeared quickly when Professor Binns mentioned the word dragon during his lecture. Harry, who was lost in his own world at the time, gave an odd yelp which caused everyone to stare at him.
"Is something the matter Peterson?" asked Professor Binns, looking rather annoyed to have been interrupted.
"Nothing sir," said Harry turning red. "Just er, hiccups."
Professor Binns went back to his lecture and Harry put his head down on his desk.
When they headed down to the edge of the forest after lunch, Hermione gave Harry a quick hug and headed towards the stands and sat down next to Neville Longbottom. "How's Harry?" he asked.
"He could be better," she replied. "Where are the dragons?"
"Dragons?" asked Neville looking confused. "What dragons?"
Hermione instantly realised that she had made a huge mistake. "Erm, can't you hear them roaring?" Neville looked positively terrified.
"There are going to be dragons?" he squeaked.
"Oh what's Longbottom moaning about now?" The cold drawl was right behind them. Hermione turned around so fast that her hair slapped Malfoy in the face. "Watch it Mudblood!" he snarled.
"Who asked you to sit behind me if you hate me so much?" asked Hermione turning to face the front. The first dragon had been brought out, and it definitely wasn't happy. Neville's hair was standing up on end, and most of the crowd looked a little uneasy.
"If I were you Granger, I wouldn't spend as much time helping Potter out," said Malfoy. "Why waste your time when you can support a winner instead?" He flashed his Support Cedric Diggory badge at her. Crabbe and Goyle gave twin grunts of laughter.
"Well it's a good thing I'm not you, because Harry's going to win this tournament," said Hermione, still facing the front. Cedric had walked out ashen faced, eyeing the dragon apprehensively.
"Want to bet on that Granger?" asked Malfoy, his voice becoming low as he leaned towards Hermione. She shuddered, as she felt his breath on her neck, and debated whether she should reply or not. "What's wrong?" asked Malfoy, sensing her hesitation. "Scared? Oh well, I didn't expect anything less of you Granger," he said leaning back.
"I bet ten Galleons that Harry wins this task," said Hermione turning around and staring straight into Malfoy's cold grey eyes. He smirked.
"I believe that we were betting on Potter winning this tournament?" he said.
"Yes. Ten Galleons for now, and everything else will be settled for later."
"That's not how I operate Granger," drawled Malfoy. "I already have all the money in the world. Why would I want anymore?" Hermione held her gaze as the crowd gasped. Cedric seemed to be in trouble, but she didn't want to look back.
"What do you want Malfoy?" she snapped. His smirk broadened.
"Well," he began. "For starters, if Potter loses this task, then you have to carry my books around for me for a month."
"Whatever," she said, instantly hoping that Harry wouldn't lose. She didn't know how she would deal with the humiliation if she had to trail after Draco Malfoy as if she was his slave.
"If he loses the second one, you'll have to do everything I say for a whole term."
"And?" she said, wishing that she wasn't having the conversation.
"If he loses the third task, well, then I suppose I'll just have the satisfaction of gloating, and of course, telling your lovely best friend that the only reason you wanted him to win was because you didn't want to lose a bet that you made with me." Hermione glared at him.
"Have you even considered the fact that there is a possibility that you might very well lose?" He laughed.
"No. But since you seem so eager, you might as well ask for something."
Before Hermione could open her mouth, Neville spoke up. "If Harry wins the first task, you have to stop calling her Mudblood, and start being nice to her. If Harry wins the second task, you have to carry her books around for her for a month, and if he wins the tournament, you have to admit that you were wrong." Hermione and Malfoy both stared at Neville in disbelief. They didn't even notice as the Welsh Green ignited Fleur's skirt.
"This isn't your bet Longbottom!" snapped Malfoy, recovering quickly. "Even Mudbloods can speak for themselves."
"Despite that," said Hermione. "I think I agree with Neville. Oh, I just want to add something to the last one." Malfoy raised an eyebrow.
"If Harry wins the tournament, you have to kiss me in front of the whole school." Malfoy's expression instantly turned to one of disgust.
"I will not!" he spat.
"What's the matter?" asked Hermione. "Scared?"
"No!" he said, but he seemed a lot less sure of himself. "Then I'm adding one more thing to it," he said.
"What?" asked Hermione, as she heard Ron shout for Krum.
"If Potter loses the tournament, you have to admit that you love me in front of the whole school." Hermione felt sick at the very thought, but nodded nevertheless.
"It's a bet then," she said, turning around just as Krum grabbed the egg. Cheers filled the stands and she clapped politely.
When Harry walked onto the pitch, she thought she would faint. He looked so tiny compared to the enormous Hungarian Horntail that lay protectively over her eggs. She saw him shout something inaudible, and crossed her fingers. Soon enough, she saw the broom heading straight towards him, and breathed a sigh of relief. Now, she thought, it was all up to him.
She bit her lip hard and clutched her face, watching Harry fly higher and higher. When he got grazed by it's tail, she winced, but soon enough, he dived, and the next thing she knew, the egg was in is hands.
"Whoo hoo!" she cheered, and ran down the steps straight towards the medical tent where Harry seemed to be headed. She was only vaguely aware of Ron following her, and when she got in, she threw her arms around Harry. "Well done Harry! I knew you could do it!"
"Harry," said Ron. "Whoever put your name in the goblet must have been trying to get you killed!"
"Finally caught on have you?" asked Harry coldly. Hermione looked at the both of them, waiting for Ron to apologize. "Forget it," said Harry, grinning. She burst into tears.
"You two are so stupid!" she said, and hugged them both tightly. Then she ran straight out. Ron and Harry could be really thick at times. Neither had known why the other was angry at them, and neither of them had made an effort to make up, even after Hermione had tried to act as a liaison between the both of them for the first few weeks. As for the crying, she supposed that it was one of her mood swings. She's been having a lot of them lately. She stood under a tree and wiped her tears away.
As the judges began to hold up the scores, Malfoy came and stood next to her. Hermione heard him gasp as Ludo Bagman announced Harry as the winner of the task. She turned to him and smirked. "Looks like you've got something to work on," she said, and ran off to find Harry and Ron.
Malfoy stood under the tree in disbelief. What the hell had just happened?
I'll tell you what happened Malfoy. You just found yourself in deep shit. And it's only going to go downhill from here. So don't expect too much triumph. Reviews are appreciated! Thanks :D