Goblet of Fire
George's Point of View
The worst part about being a person who wakes up constantly though the night is when the sun finally starts to show through the window. When you wake up and it's still dark out you thank Merlin and then go back to sleep. The sun was shining bright now, enough to where it was burning my eyes. I just give up on sleep, sitting up from my bed, I reach for my wand. Fred and the rest of my mates were still passed out but instead of playing pranks on them, I should just rush down to breakfast. Well, I guess I have time for one prank. I wave my wand and turn Fred's hair pink. I smile and then turn back to my luggage. I want to see if there's anymore news on the Twi-wizard tournament. I quickly get dressed and rush down to the common room. I was putting my wand into my pocket, not looking and run into someone.
"Ouch," Hermione said rubbing her head.
"Granger! I'm sorry, I wasn't looking."
"It's fine," she chuckled weakly, rubbing her head. "What on earth are you doing up this early anyway?"
"I couldn't sleep, and you?" I questioned, seeing tons of books in her hand, "Reading some dirty novels I see."
"No!" She exclaimed quickly, blushing, setting her books down on a table next to us. "I just needed to catch up on some reading, I passed out early last night."
"Told you all you needed was a nap."
"Shut it," she eyed me, annoyed.
"Want to join me for breakfast?" I said recovering quickly, smiling at her.
"Sure," she said smiling running over to grab her books.
"Here, let me," I offered, taking the books from her.
"Thanks," she said smiling.
"It's only because the mates are sleeping, can't have them seeing me do this, understand?"
"I understand," she said in a deep-tone, mocking voice. We walk through the portrait and head down to the Great Hall for breakfast. We walk over to the Gryffindor table and sit down with tons of breakfasts foods in front of us.
"One of my favorite parts about this school," I said putting some bacon and sausage on my plate. "Sausage Hermione?" I said winking at her.
"Again, how old are you and your brother? 11? Honestly."
"17 in April," I mumbled with bacon in my mouth, putting food on her plate.
"The odds of you two being born on April Fool's Day is uncanny," she said shaking her head, grabbing a piece of bacon.
"Oh Hermione, you're a fool too don't worry," I said giving her a half hug then return to my breakfast.
"Divination is a fucking joke!" I hear Ron say, slamming his bag on the table across from me, Harry following close behind.
"I'm trying to eat here, the one break I get to not hear your constant whining," I said trying to steal Hermione's Daily Prophet but she just swatted my hand away.
"I told you two last year to switch," Hermione said in a 'I told you so' manner.
"Arithmancy? You're mad, like we have a better chance in that class," Ron said laughing. "I guess we could copy your homework then?"
"She basically helps you loads with your homework now Ron. We will be fine in Divinations, I just wish the professor would stop telling me I'm going to die," Harry said rolling his eyes.
"Trelawney isn't that bad Hermione, cut her a break. She's a bit batty but it's quite amusing. Fred and I bluffed that class 100%," I said taking a drink from my goblet.
"Yeah, batty," Hermione muttered rolling her eyes. "Why are you two up so early?"
"We wanted to find out more about the tournament," Harry said putting food on his plate.
"Yeah, I'm sure everyone will be running in close behind you for the same reason," I said.
"George! Why didn't you wake me?" Fred came in quickly, sitting down next to me. I look at his pink hair and couldn't hold back a laugh.
"Is he your keeper, Princess Bubbleyum?" Hermione said looking up from the Daily Prophet.
"He is actually, unless you want the job?" Fred said winking. She choked on her juice and went back to reading.
"I think Hermione was referring to your hair mate," Harry said pointing at his head. Fred grabs a spoon and looks at his reflection in it.
"Hmm, still handsome, I must say. That's why everyone was smiling, I thought I just looked really good today. Any news yet?" Fred asked me eagerly, waving his wand fixing his pink.
"Not yet, I just sat down."
"We have Moody first class."
"Excellent."
"You have Moody this morning?" Ron said stuffing his face with food. I wave my hand ignoring him and look at the parchment Fred was pulling out his bag.
"So, the aging potion is going to be ready soon?
"Yes, Lee says he'll put the vials in his luggage chest in case people go snooping," Fred whispered, eyeing Hermione.
"She's fine Freddie, just worried is all. She threatened if we let Ron and Harry enter she'll have our heads or something. She sounded like McGonagall actually worse, like mum. Mum would have our heads as well and she's heated already about Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Molly and Hermione..we wouldn't stand a chance against them," I laugh nervously, shaking my head at the thought.
"Like we would really let Ron enter, he would die first task. I mean look at the thickhead," Fred said nodding his head over at Ron who has syrup running down his chin.
"Waht?" Ron questioned us after seeing us staring with food in his mouth.
"Nothing," I said disgusted, turning back to Fred.
"See?" Fred said laughing.
"Well, he's been through all the rubbish with Harry, we probably don't even know the half of it. He might surprise you and me both, he probably would have a chance," I said semi-confidently, looking back at Ron stuffing two full pancakes in his mouth. I cringe, look back at Fred and shrug.
"Never," we both said in unison.
"He would have a chance if it's involving wizard's chess," Hermione whispered poking in between us grabbing a green apple from the table. "Probably shouldn't underestimate your brother."
"Bloody hell woman if you're going to ease drop at least let us know!" Fred shouted as she walked away, exiting the hall.
"Moody?" I asked Fred.
"Moody," I agree standing up from the table. We wave to Harry and Ron and set off to Defense Against the Dark Arts. The excitement was pouring out of me, I felt like I was glowing. Fred and I head to class running into Lee Jordan who joined us. We get to the room and sit in back like we always do.
"So do you know who is picking the champions yet?" Lee questioned Fred and I, sitting down next to me.
"No idea, as long as it's not Dumbledore we might be golden," Fred said confidently.
"Are you sure we've thought this completely through? Maybe Hermione is right," I regretted saying instantly. I look over to Fred and Lee's mouths wide open.
"Are you feeling okay?" Fred said putting his hand on my head.
"Piss off!" I snapped slapping his hand away.
"He has the hots for Granger," Lee whispered to Fred causing them both to laugh.
"You're mental, I just think she had a point is all. Dumbledore is more cunning than both of us combined. He always has that sly twinkle in his eye. It's so eerie and he seems to know everything before it happens. I'm still doing it," I said quickly trying to save myself.
"You better," Fred said quickly, nodding that Moody had just walked it.
"His face is wicked, you think he would tell us stories?" I whisper to Fred.
"Not sure, you know how dad was talking. He acts like every noise is someone about to lay the killing curse on him."
"I wonder what's in his flask," I said curiously.
"Fire whiskey would be my bet."
"Try to swipe it one day," Lee suggested.
"Lay off the crack pipe Lee, I'm not risking my face for a flask. He probably skip the wand and snap my neck with his bare hands," Fred said.
"I don't know he kind of looks like a big ole' teddy bear, that's been mangled by a rapid dog," I said looking at his wandering eye.
"Weasley!" Moody yelled loudly, surprising us both.
"Yes?" Fred and I said in unison, looking at Moody.
"Since you're so talkative, mind telling the rest of the class one of the unforgivable curses?"
"Imperius," Fred said quickly.
"Your dad would know about that one huh? Total control, now you," he said pointing his wand at me.
"Cruciatus," I said.
"Torture curse, very well, I say the sooner this whole school knows what is out there and how to defend, the better. It's no sunshine and daisies when you're out there. Dumbledore is not always around for everyone to feel safe," Moody started to say walking away.
"Phew, that was close! Thank you dad," Fred whispered to me. Moody then demonstrated each curse to us and all I really thought about at first was Hermione. She is not going to enjoy this class at all especially him demonstrating on a spider. He's brilliant in my eyes and I think I'm going to enjoy Moody's class this year. The rest of the class was pretty intense and I never realized how serious the Dark Arts were. Dad always told us stories but, I never seen the spells demonstrated before. Hopefully this professor lasts this time, unlike the others. The bell rang and it felt like the lesson flew by.
"I don't know what to say," Fred said walking to our next lesson.
"That's a first," said Lee walking next to him. I see Hermione walking up to the common room and I decided to go talk with her.
"I'll meet you two in Charms," I screamed back, waving. I catch up to Hermione and tap her shoulder.
"George?" She said puzzled.
"Minerva," I bowed.
"What is it you need," she sighed walking quickly to the portrait.
"I just was wondering when you had Moody's class?"
"In two days I think is our first lesson, why do you ask?"
"Just be prepared, I just wanted to warn you that first lesson, there's a big chance he demonstrates the unforgivable curses."
"Does he, that's a bit barbaric? Why are you telling me this?" She said turning around to face me.
"I figured you would have a fit so I just was trying to prepare you."
"Well, thanks," she said irritated, turning back around.
"No, sorry, I just mean I didn't want you to go in unprepared. I figured I make it easier for you knowing what the lesson probably will be," I grabbed her hand, trying to reassure her I wasn't saying she has fits often, even though she does.
"Well, thank you," she said solemnly.
"See you at dinner?"
"Yes," she smiled letting go of my hand and turned around walking straight into the portrait.
"Ouch," she said rubbing her head.
"Balderdash, remember?" I said laughing.
"Yes, Balderdash," she blushed rushing through the now opened portrait.
xxx
Fred, Lee and I leave the common room to go to dinner. The Great Hall seemed more spruced up, way more than it usually did. Why is everything so shiny? We see Ron and Harry at the table and walk over sitting across from them.
"You were right about Moody, he's amazing and the lesson was brilliant! I want to be an Auror," Ron said proudly.
"Just say he... 'Avada Kedavra'ed it.."Lee said causing a dead silence.
"For fuck sake Lee," I said laughing to where it hurt my gut.
"Leave the jokes to us please?" Fred said, laughing with me.
"Fighting the Dark Arts must be a hell of a job. Ron, I don't know if you'll have the stomach for it. I mean did you see Moody or no? The guy with the eye and the face, you know?" I said honestly, pointing at my face.
"Never had a lesson like it and he's right Ron, be serious would you?" Fred smiled, taking a drink from his glass.
"Where's Hermione?" I asked noticing she wasn't here.
"The library," Harry sighed.
"Does she live there?" Fred exclaimed.
"Basically," Ron said waiting patiently for dinner to appear.
"Why is it so different in here?" Lee said noticing what I did earlier.
"The other two schools are coming today for the tournament," Hermione said, appearing suddenly, sitting down next to me.
"Oh, that's today? Time flies when you sleep all day," Fred said looking around the hall.
"I'm so glad Potions was cut short," Harry said blissfully.
"Yeah, Snape can suck the fun out of any room, a true Dementor that one," Fred said taping his fingers impatiently. "Where are they Hermione?"
"How should I know? They'll be here any minute I'm sure."
"I'm starving," said Ron whimpering. Someone walked by and mentioned Cedric Diggory.
"Heard he's entering the tournament," Harry said to Ron.
"Pfft, that idiot? No."
"Oh Ron, shut up Just because he's good at Quidditch and a Hufflepuff, doesn't mean he's an idiot. He's an extremely good student," Hermione said looking up from her book.
"A prefect like Percy! We can't have that as a champion. Also, don't you mean extremely good looking? Someone fancies Diggory…" Fred said mockingly.
"Yeah, you only like him because he's prince charming," Ron said mockingly.
"Merlin, I swear. He was nice at the Quidditch World Cup," Hermione said annoyed.
"Remember Lockhart?" Ron said laughing, ignoring her.
"You liked Lockhart?" I said going to a fit of laughter, holding my gut.
"So, have you two figured out how to enter the tournament yet?" Harry said changing the subject.
"Well, I tried to pressure McGonagall into telling me but, her bun is as uptight as ever trying to make everything perfect for our guests," I said annoyed. "The tasks will be wicked I'm sure. She said you get awarded points from judges for each," I said feeling excited again.
"Who will judge?" Harry asked.
"Heads of the schools for sure will be," Hermione said.
"How do you know?" Fred asked curiously.
"If you read Hogwarts: A History you would know."
"Well, that's what you're for huh there Hermione? Our little fact machine," Fred said smiling patting her on the back.
"I heard someone just say the first school is here!" Ron said standing up from the table. A huge horse-carriage house landed outside the school. A giant women and tons of students in blue followed her out of it into the Great Hall.
"The lake!" I heard Lee yell braking my trance from the huge Head Mistress. A huge ship appears out of the lake.
"They're huge," Ron said standing on the table to get a better look. They were extremely large students covered in fur coats, like polar bears.
"Get down Weasley," McGonagall snapped.
"Harry!" Ron whispered loudly, ignoring her.
"What?"
"It's Krum!"
"There's no way," I said looking in the direction Ron was.
"It's him," Fred said surprised.
"Why would a famous seeker still be studying at school?" Ron said.
"To learn?" Hermione said in an apparent tone.
"Rubbish," Ron said.
"Oh, sorry Ron looks like your man crush prefers Slytherins," I said when I noticed Krum sitting next to Malfoy.
"Their table just was closest," Ron said sitting back down since the food finally appeared.
"The tournament will open after the dinner," Fred whispered to me. I notice a thin blonde girl from Beauxbatons heading over to Ron. I think she asked for some dish that was by him but the prat froze up like he was petrified. She walks away with the dish and sets at the Ravenclaw table.
"You're such a thickhead," I said to Ron. "Wipe your chin man!"
"Harry, it's a veela… like from the World Cup," he said admiring her still from our table, ignoring me.
"Come off it, she's not a veela. Harry almost killed himself at the cup trying to drop out of the box we were in to get to one," Fred said laughing.
"Did not," Harry said blushing.
"It's cool Potter, we all were willing to die for them," Fred said reassuring him.
"She's an angel," Ron said resting his head on one of his hands.
"You just were giving me loads about Cedric and now look at you drooling puddles. You're pathetic," Hermione said laughing.
Everyone tried to finish eating fast so we could get on to more information about the tournament. The plate finally clears and Dumbledore goes on about the main points we already knew about the competition. That rat Ludo who still has not gave us our winnings from the World Cup, was there. I guess Crouch and Bagman were the other two judges. Aside from the giant woman and the hairy beast from the other two schools. After some blah blah blah, Dumbledore tells us who the selector of the champions is…a goblet.
"A goblet?" Ron said confused.
"A goblet of FIRE Ron," Fred said correcting him.
"We can surpass a goblet no problem," I whisper to Fred. Dumbledore put the Goblet of Fire, with it's blue, whitish flames of glory in the center of the head table. He tells us we have 24 hours to place our name in and all we have to do is write it on a piece of parchment. Mentioned something of a magical contract, blah blah age line, blah blah.
"Finally I thought he never shut up," Fred said standing from the table.
"Tomorrow then?" I asked Fred, standing next to him.
"Tomorrow," he smiled slyly. Fred walked ahead to let Lee know of the plan.
"You're really going to do it then?" Hermione asked, appearing next to me.
"Yes," I said trying to ignore eye contact.
"I see," she said softly. She rushed pass me through the exit. She'll be okay, the odds of us getting picked is slim even if the potion does work. I never will understand why girls get so serious over nothing? I walk through the portrait to the common room. I see Fred and Lee at the table whispering.
"George finally!" Fred yelled handing me the aging potion.
"I was right behind you prat. But, I'm going to get some sleep, see you in the morning," I said tucking the potion in my pocket.
"See you," Fred said beaming with excitement. I walk up the stairs to our room and jump onto my bed. She's mental I swear, why does she freak out about everything? She needs to relax. Aside from being mentally ill occasionally, she's actually pretty brilliant. I toss to my side and see the stars shining brighter than usual out the window. A thousand galleons and Fred and I will be set. If we can get what we need out of Ludo too, we'll definitely be set. Our wishes are so close to coming true, I can taste it. With or without this tournament, we will find a way for our joke shop to happen. I shut my eyes thinking of our future shop and fall asleep with a huge grin on my face.
"Weasley's...Wizard...Wheezz..."
Nox.