A/N: Hi everyone! Thank you all for the story favorites and alerts, it was really encouraging to see them all. The time I had planned on writing got eaten up with other things, and I had some issues writing this chapter. I hope you enjoy it!

The Great Hall looked larger to Harry as he walked in. The house tables had been extended to accommodate the visiting students and extra tables covered in light blue or blood red had been attached to the end of the four house tables. Harry, Ron and Hermione sat down at the edge of where the scarlet Gryffindor tablecloth transformed into the light blue of Beauxbatons. Across the hall, Harry saw Malfoy sit on the edge of the Slytherin and Durmstrang tables. Ravenclaw also hosted Durmstrang with Hufflepuff taking the remainder of the Beauxbatons.

As the last of the plates cleared, Dumbledore stood, flanked by Maxime and Karkaroff. The sounds of talking died down as attention was drawn towards the front.

"Now, as we come to the end of yet another delicious feast, we come to the highlight of the night. Ladies and gentleman. Sitting amongst us all here are three students. Who over the course of this year will compete in a series of tasks in the Triwizard Tournament. Sitting amongst you all are the Triwizard Champions." Dumbledore paused as there was muttering between the students.

"This honour is not given lightly. The choice will be made by this magical device, the Goblet of Fire." With a gesture, the light in the hall dulled and the cloth covering the object at the base of the stage flew up, revealing the jewel encrusted, golden goblet. The volume of murmuring in the hall rose again but went quiet immediately as a fire exploded to life in the goblet.

"Any student over the age of seventeen may enter. Those underage will be unable to enter due to protections we the heads of school will put in place." There were cries of outrage at this however the look in Dumbledore's eyes was firm. Harry looked at the others around him. Hermione was looking with interest, presumably about what the protections would be, while Ron was looking with a strange, ghostly look in his eyes Harry couldn't quite recognise. The twins could be heard to Harry's other side muttering about how to beat the restrictions. Harry just smiled to himself quietly. The prospect of being a spectator for once couldn't appeal to him more. Dumbledore announced that the champions would be chosen in three days and sent the students to bed.

The next three days were ones of excitement around the Great Hall where the goblet was left. The Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students had been led into the hall by their heads and submitted their names as a group, albeit in very different manners. The Durmstrang students had been quiet, knowing themselves that their champions had been decided by their head of school but being sworn to secrecy had resigned themselves to their fate and a small bit of gambling over which of Karkaroff's favourites would have the paper with a name. To the watching Hogwarts students, they just looked blank faced and bored. Had they watched closer, they may have seen Karkaroff replace one boy's piece of paper at the goblet with a stern look. The crowd had been significantly louder when Krum had placed his entry, barely noticing the dark eyes boy behind Krum throwing his name in before striding out of the hall, much to Karkaroff's irritation. Greggory never did care about school solidarity.

The Beauxbatons girls all made a show of putting their names in the goblet, acting with total confidence they would be the champion, another thing Maxime had drilled them for. Fleur had thrown her parchment in the goblet in the same movement as flicking her hair. For the Hogwarts students it was a different matter as they hadn't already prepared for their champion selection and had been kept in the dark unless their parents worked within the Ministry. Groups of older students could be seen walking around together, discussing entering the tournament, if they were going to enter and telling each other they should enter. Many younger students and tried to enter on the second day after the visiting schools but so far only the Weasley twins had beaten the age line. After stepping past it with an ageing potion, they had been thrown back growing long white beards, much to the laughter of the Hogwarts students lingering in the Great Hall. After they had beaten the first protection however, the new defence against the dark arts teach, Professor Moody, had kept a close watch on the goblet. A rush of blackmarket betting had blown up as well as people put in bets for their house champions. Harry had gotten involved, throwing a bet on some of the Gryffindor seventh years and joining in the Great Hall watching, to the mixed reaction of Hermione.

"Harry, you really shouldn't risk your money like that, what if Professor McGonnagal finds out?" She whispered as the trio sat around the library.

"Hermione, when do we ever get to just sit back and watch stuff happen here? I'm just enjoying someone else taking the glory for once." Harry answered with a smug smile. Thanks to the tournament, Harry had even been lucky enough to dodge the usual wave of first years pointing at his scar, and the visiting students hadn't been seen around the school much yet as they still didn't know the castle well enough. Despite this, Ron had been quieter than normal the previous days and even he hadn't gotten much enjoyment watching people enter their names.

"Ron, pay attention!" Hermione cut across. Ron had again left his quill sitting pressed on the parchment and again blotted ink all across his essay. Hermione waved her wand in a now practiced motion and for the fifth time cleared ink blots off Ron's paper. He mumbled an apology and returned to writing. Harry and Hermione glanced at each other with a frown before looking back down at their papers and continuing Snape's essay in uneasy silence.

When the evening of the choosing of the champions finally came around, the castle was even more abuzz than it had been the day the visiting schools had arrived. The house tables were still extended and it looked like it was going to be a long term set up for the year. Harry did wish that Durmstrang was on their table so he could meet Krum, the famous quidditch seeker, but couldn't honestly say he disliked sitting near the Beauxbatons girls. Mostly however, it was the blonde haired veela girl which had interested Harry. She seemed distant from the other schools and like Harry not entirely caught up in everything happening around her, as if she was intentionally keeping some distance. Harry thought it was a bit like him growing his hair to try cover his scar. The meal, like the first night, had dishes from across the globe but when it came time for the dishes to clear Harry noticed that there was significantly less leftovers and wondered if the Hogwarts kitchens had really figured out how much food was needed so quickly. He had to say he was impressed. The light in the hall dimmed as the heads of schools stood and walked down towards the Goblet of Fire, which shone as the brightest light in the Great Hall. Silence filled the room and tensions rose. Almost every student had some sort of stake in what was coming. Bets on champions, desires to compete and win and even some students who just wanted to see something new and exciting.

"The Goblet will now choose each school's champion. If you are selected, you are to come to the front of the stage, and into the rear chamber, near Professor McGonagall there." McGonagall rose her wand arm from near an exit Harry had not noticed before. After his announcement, Dumbledore, Karkaroff and Maxime each tapped the Goblet with their wands. The fire began to change colour and after several seconds a flame erupted out and a piece of paper landed in Dumbledore's hands.

"The champion for Beauxbatons…is Fleur Delacour!" Clapping erupted around the hall from the other schools excitement of the first champion. Some of the Beauxbatons girls joined in, while others were too stunned or saddened at not being chosen to react. Fleur did neither of these things, standing elegantly with a bright smile on her face and walking up the end of the stage and into the rear room. Once inside, she saw a mirror in the room which reflected the great hall. Her grin erupted from the safety of the back room and she couldn't help but do a small jig and shake to get her excitement out before refocusing on the eruption of fire from the Goblet, announcing the second champion.

"The champion for Durmstrang…is Viktor Krum!" The great hall cheered and banged even louder for the seeker, who stood and walked - very awkwardly Harry thought - towards the back room. Karkaroff glanced down at his other prized student and inwardly winced at the look he was getting. He began wondering how he would subdue Greggory this time. Subdue was the wrong word. Negotiate or survive felt better to Igor who was now wondering if his risk may have been a bad one. The Goblet erupted a third and final time, and Dumbledore snatched this one out of the air. This was the Hogwarts champion, and the masses of black robed students waited with bated breathe.

"The Hogwarts champion…is Cedric Diggory!" The Hufflepuff table exploded and overrode groans from every other Hogwarts table. Their champion, and indeed their first chance at any glory in many years stood, smiling around the room before walking to the exit near McGonagall. The other houses had mostly joined in by then, much to Cedric's relief. It would have been hard to be Hogwart's champion without the school's support. Harry reflected on what he knew of the other seeker and decided it was a good choice. He turned to ask Ron what he thought but noticed the disappointment in his eyes. Before Harry could say anything Dumbledore was speaking again. In the rear room, the three champions had just finished introducing themselves to each other and turned back to the mirror.

"Excellent! We now have our three champions, and soon, we and they shall have the first task. The tasks are decided based upon-"

"Albus!" McGonagall cut across. Dumbledore turned to McGonagall who pointed to his right. Albus Dumbledore turned just in time to see the Goblet again erupt in flame, and a piece of parchment begin floating down. Dumbledore frowned and looked at the page.

"Orianna Moreau from Beauxbatons." Dumbledore's voice echoed out across the silent hall. A dark haired girl stood hesitantly from near the Hufflepuff table. Before anyone could speak the Goblet erupted again. Dumbledore only caught this piece of parchment out of reflex.

"Greggory G-Grindlewald. Durmstrang." Dumbledore called out again, his voice only just catching as he read the name. His great mind was racing as he tried to understand why these names were coming out of the Goblet and why someone with that name was here. A dark eyes man stood up from the Ravenclaw table silently. Karkaroff breathed a soft sigh of relief, hoping this might solve his immediate problems with Greggory. The Goblet shot forth another piece of parchment. Dumbledore caught the parchment and looked. The silence in the hall was deafening and Harry felt uneasy as bile built up in his throat. It couldn't be, but he knew what was coming. What had to be coming.

"Harry Potter." There was no need to announce the school. Harry's head flung around, looking at Ron and Hermione. Ron was shaking and shuddering. Hermione gestured he had to stand. Harry braced himself and stood. As he did, a hum of whispers filled the hall from the other students. The champions walked up the hall and into the back room as directed. The first three champions were standing silently. Cedric was the first to move, walking over to Harry, the youngest of the six champions, and Cedric's self-decided rival seeker.

"Did you?" he asked. Harry shook his head and Cedric nodded. There was silence through the room past that. Neither Fleur nor Orianna seemed to want to acknowledge each other, pointedly looking away while Greggory had walked to a wall and now lent on it, eyes closer and tapping his finger. After several minutes where the champions could see the heads of the schools standing around the goblet, McGonagall walked in.

"We need you in the hall please. With your parchments." The champions walked out and stood in a line in front of the schools. Harry felt like he was going to pass out but his experience having eyes on him kept him from doing so. Dumbledore stood and began to speak to the hall.

"Ladies and Gentleman. This tournament was originally designed to encourage teamwork between the schools. As such, the triwizard tournament was originally comprised of three team members competing against two other teams. Each team would have one representative from each school. The Tournament changed however during darker times and this fell out of practice into the traditional tournament of one champion per school battling for glory. The Goblet has called forth six champions, who it shall be competing in teams of two in tasks decided upon by the Goblet of Fire. These teams are decided by the Goblet and will be chosen as of right now. Champions. Please place your parchments into the fire, and your ally for the coming year shall be decided." One by one, the champions placed their parchments in the Goblet. Harry was at the end and could hear the muttering. It made him dread the thought of what was to come the next day and he could already imagine the stories that would be flying around the school at that time. As Harry reached the Goblet to enter his name for the first time, he could he could not step forward. He tried before looking over at Dumbledore confused. He saw a moment of realisation in Dumbledore's eyes before he drew and waved his wand. The age line appeared in front of Harry and dissipated. The hissing of the hall grew in volume and Harry, feeling slightly humiliated at having to do so, stepped past the former age line and entered his name into the Goblet before stepping back into line with the champions. He saw out of the corner of his eye the looks of the other champions. Cedric had winced, while Krum and Orianna just looked confused. Fleur's face was unreadable and Greggory didn't seem to care. His eyes were far too focused on the white haired wizard who was now standing near the Goblet. The Goblet of Fire erupted, and three hybrid pieces of parchment flew out to be caught by Dumbledore. The parchments appeared to have been combined in the Goblet. Harry would have wondered at the magic under different circumstances. Dumbledore cleared his throat before speaking.

"The first team shall be…Orianna Moreau of Beauxbatons and Greggory Grindelwald of Durmstrang!" The hall cheered and the two champions stepped out of line and walked to the far edge of the stage.

"The second team….Viktor Krum of Durmstrang and from Hogwarts…" The hall grew silent. Either Harry or Cedric would pair with the famous seeker, while the other would be with the beautiful blonde girl. All eyes were on Dumbledore.

"Cedric Diggory of Hogwarts! And the final team, Fleur Delacour of Beauxbatons and Harry Potter of Hogwarts!" The only sound Harry could hear was his own heavy heartbeat. Dumbledore had said it. He was competing. If there was any way out, Harry was sure Dumbledore would have done so by now to free Harry from being a champion, but it was far too late. He looked out the corner of his eye against the beautiful blonde girl he had seen arrive. Her eyes were a mixture of emotions Harry couldn't read, but her jaw was set. Harry didn't want to ruin her chances of winning, but at this point, he knew he would be lucky to survive.

"The first task will commence in one month. Your champions and their partners will participate in a series of duels against their competitors. It is a task to encourage teamwork between the schools. To our champions, we wish you luck in your preparation for the first task." With that, Dumbledore dismissed the schools and Harry was finally able to step down from the stage. Voices began to fill the hall, talking about the champions, the task and, of course, Harry Potter managing to beat Dumbledore's age line and enter the tournament. Harry kept his head low as he walked quickly out of the Great Hall. He'd nearly made it to the steps and was about to start sprinting up them before anyone could catch up to and question him when he felt a pair of strong hands grip his shoulders and pull him to the side. and into a nearby classroom. Harry caught a glimpse of platinum blonde hair as the door shut and recognised his attacker as Fleur. The two stared at each other across the room, finally taking the chance alone to take their unexpected team mate in. Harry was again amazed by Fleur's sapphire blue eyes. He felt himself almost falling into them for a moment before he pulled himself together. Fleur had seen the flicker in his eyes when he had been hit with her allure, and had to admit some surprise when he had pushed it off. Finally, she spoke.

"Did you enter?" she asked. Harry just shook his head. "Will you compete?" Harry shrugged at that question.

"What choice do I have? You heard Dumbledore, we have to compete once we're chosen."

"No, you have to participate when you're chosen. You don't have to compete." It then dawned on Harry that Fleur had chosen to enter. She had wanted this, and she probably wanted to win. Even Harry could see the brightness in her eyes when she spoke of competing.

"I just want to survive." He finally answered after several long seconds.

"I want to win." Fleur deadpanned. She saw him wince before simply nodding and walking past her towards the door. "Leetle boy…" she murmured quietly under her breathe as he left. She heard him pause at the door before leaving. Sighing to herself, Fleur began to wonder if she would be able to win the tournament considering the odds. Not only was she going to have to deal with two champions at a time but also drag along Harry Potter. Resigning herself to a harder competition than she had expected, Fleur turned on her heel and walked back towards the carriage.

As soon as Harry said the password to the Gryffindor common room an explosion of noise hit him and he saw a party in full swing. Fred and George were at the centre of the party as always showing off their latest products and dishing out food which had presumably come as a result to a trip to the kitchens. Ron was no where to be seen and Hermione was over in the corner talking to Ginny, and smiled at his when she noticed him at the door. She waved at him from her spot and he gave her a small nod back. No one else had noticed his arrival so he quickly skirted the edges of the party and snuck up the stairs to his room. Harry let go of the breathe he had been holding and saw Ron sitting on his trunk.

"Well that was a rough one." Harry said. Ron didn't move to look at him.

"You're telling me. How did you do it?" Ron's voice was almost monotonous like it had been the past few days whenever he seemed to zone out. It made Harry uneasy as he looked at his best friend.

"Do what?"

"Beat the goblet. How did you get your name in? And how did you trick the goblet into letting the schools have 2 champions?" Harry was yet again that night left speechless.

"Ron, you know I didn't enter. You know I didn't want to be a part of the tournament!" Ron just shrugged.

"Yeah alright. Thought you might tell me at least after you'd done it. Didn't want someone else getting in I guess." The bitterness in Ron's voice was thick in the air and Harry could barely stand to be in the same room.

"If you seriously think I wanted to be in this stupid tournament than you're even crazier than it is!" Harry shouted. Ron just stated at Harry for a moment before standing up and getting into bed. He looked at Harry.

"Piss off you liar." Ron pulled the covers shut and disappeared from Harry's view. Furious, Harry opened his trunk and grabbed his father's invisibility cloak and the Marauders Map, threw the cloak on and walked out of the dorm. Harry managed to weave through the crowd he exited the tower and made his way towards the Owlery to write to Sirius.

A/N: I'll be honest, I wasn't completely happy with this chapter, but it's been grinding on me that I can't get it to where I was happy, and I found myself writing bits and pieces of future chapters rather than sitting down and working through this one. Based on that, I decided to upload this chapter. One day I might come back and fix it up a bit. In the meantime, I am thinking I'll be searching for someone to beta read this since after a while I have trouble being critical in a fair way on what I write. Hopefully another chapter will be up soon though, seeing as it's partly written already! Until then, please review and let me know what you thought =)

~Sylfyre