Draco

After being assured by Albus Dumbledore that he needn't meddle too much with time, Draco decided to center his energies on enjoying his teenage years once again. As the time passed, he was becoming more and more comfortable with his current age and his focus returned shortly. He soon became good friends with Blaise Zabini, a fellow Slytherin and even a few Ravenclaws like Terry Boot and Lisa Turpin. At first, they were a bit apprehensive about Draco's intentions but he had won them over with his charms and also an improved interest in studies. Crabbe and Goyle continued to follow him around whenever he was not in the library or with his new friends, but that happened less often than before.

Since Draco already knew all about his current subjects, he requested Professor Snape to let him take some extra classes. To his surprise, Professor Snape was happy to assign him some new subjects that included Arithmancy, Ancient Runes and even Muggle Studies. Draco had preferred Divination over Muggle Studies, but Professor Snape had convinced him that Muggle Studies would prove a more useful subject to him than Divination. Not wanting to refuse his advice, Draco had half-heartedly agreed to this.

Taking extra subjects meant that Draco now had a full time-table, but he wasn't complaining. He even had to cover an extra year of work in the three new subjects he had taken, since new subjects had already started last year. He even had to take remedial classes for those subjects, but he was determined to learn everything the school had to offer.

Each of the three professors had assigned a student to fill Draco in with the study material already taught in the class. Blaise had offered Professor Babbling to teach him Ancient Runes, while Terry Boot was selected by Professor Burbage to teach him about Muggle Studies; and lastly, Professor Vector the Arithmancy teacher had chosen none other than Hermione Granger!

At first, Draco had wanted to protest; but Blaise had told him that the subject was very difficult and he would be better off with Hermione teaching him than any of the other students in the class; as she was the best at it. Finally, Draco's Slytherin side won as he reflected that learning Arithmancy was more important than worrying about having to spend time with Granger.

It did not come as a surprise for Draco when Hermione had marched to him right after the Arithmancy class, the very first day she was notified that she would be teaching him.

"Malfoy!" she called in a high voice.

"Granger!" Draco answered airily.

"Professor Vector has informed me that I have to teach you last year's syllabus. Meet me in the library at 6." she notified him bossily.

When he just nodded breezily, she continued in the same bossy voice, "And, do not be late." With that, she was gone.

"Yeah, do not be late. I shudder to think what will happen if you are." Blaise said in his ear, mockingly.

"Shut up, Zabini!" Draco hissed. "You were the one who convinced me that this was a good idea."

"Well, she is the best in our class. And you are not getting any better teacher than her, except Professor Vector, of course. Just be prepared to study sincerely and you will be fine. How bad can it be?" Blaise assured him.

Draco thought about it. He would know soon how much trouble he had landed himself in. At least she was talking to him. After the previous few encounters in the library, Draco had continued to ignore her because he had thought it best for both of them; and she had also followed suit. He realized that he could not continue to ignore her now that she was to become his Arithmancy tutor.

Draco reached the library in time to find Hermione already waiting for him.

"Look Granger, don't start about me being late now. You are the one who's early." he said while keeping his bag on the opposite side of the table.

"I haven't said anything about you being late, have I? Now, if you are comfortable with all your accusations, I want to start with the first chapter right about now." Hermione answered him curtly.

Draco kept his mouth wisely shut and listened to her explain about the ancient Greek isopsephy. Draco had learnt many languages in his later years, Greek and Latin among them; and he was pleased that they would be very useful for him in this subject.

Hermione paused between her topics every now and then, and quizzed Draco to check if he was paying attention. Draco managed to answer every question and was glad when Hermione announced that they were making good progress.

When the clock struck eight, Hermione finally ended the lesson, saying "Good work today, Malfoy! More than what I had expected. If we keep up this progress, soon you'll be able to catch up with the present class. We can meet alternate days at the same time."

"Alternate days? But, I have more classes to catch up to." Draco protested. Of course Hermione didn't know about his two other classes; but he did not elaborate. He did not want her to know that just yet.

"Well, but they won't be as difficult as Arithmancy, Malfoy! Besides, I really want to get this over with; and lucky for us, I get to decide the schedule. So, be here on time the day after tomorrow." Hermione had flung her bag over her shoulders and hurried to the Great Hall.

"With all this work, I'm going to need the time-turner again." Draco sighed.

October went quickly for Draco, who had to juggle his extra classes with his normal classes. Between them, he had almost no time to spare. And that meant he had no time to think about the horrible things from his future that were going to happen soon enough at Hogwarts; this was the reason he had immersed himself into his studies. His hard work was showing in all his subjects, and soon he had completed more than half of last year's work. Hermione was still showing him no mercy, teaching him every alternate day, and so Arithmancy was the subject he was getting very good at. Ancient Runes was easy enough once he had mastered the basics, but his main concern was Muggle Studies. Even though, Terry Boot tried his best, Draco could not get the hang of how the electricity worked or what was the need of a helicopter if you already have a broomstick!

It was soon time for the other schools to arrive for the Triwizard Tournament. Both Blaise and Boot were too excited to continue their lessons, but Hermione had refused to budge.

"So what, we will continue our lessons, as before. If you don't study at this pace, how are you going to catch up to the regular class? Now, no more arguments." With that, she had resumed her lesson.

Draco was pleased when it was announced that they were required to assemble in front of the castle that evening, to welcome the visiting students. Hermione being strict about following the rules, would not be breaking them just for him. Even though, he had already seen the two envoys arrive, he was filled with the same enthusiasm again as the Beauxbatons carriage and the Durmstrang ship arrived at Hogwarts.

Every student at Hogwarts was especially excited to see Viktor Krum, the Bulgarian national Quidditch team's seeker from Durmstrang. Draco himself was a big fan of his Quidditch skills, and hence was glad when Krum and his fellow Durmstrang students sat at the Slytherin table for the welcome feast.

Once the golden plates had been wiped clean, Dumbledore stood up. A pleasant sort of tension seemed to fill the Hall now. Every student was listening to the Headmaster, some even staring at him with great concentration.

"The moment has come," said Dumbledore, smiling around at the sea of upturned faces. "The Triwizard Tournament is about to start. I would like to say a few words of explanation before we bring in the casket, just to clarify the procedure that we will be following this year. But first, let me introduce, for those who do not know them, Mr. Bartemius Crouch, Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation"—there was a smattering of polite applause—"and Mr. Ludo Bagman, Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports."

There was a much louder round of applause for Bagman than for Crouch, perhaps because of his fame as a Beater, or simply because he looked so much more likable. He acknowledged it with a jovial wave of his hand. Bartemius Crouch did not smile or wave when his name was announced. His toothbrush mustache and severe parting looked very odd next to Dumbledore's long white hair and beard.

"Mr. Bagman and Mr. Crouch have worked tirelessly over the last few months on the arrangements for the Triwizard Tournament," Dumbledore continued, "and they will be joining myself, Professor Karkaroff, and Madame Maxime on the panel that will judge the champions' efforts." The last two being the heads of Durmstrang and Beauxbatons.

At the mention of the word "champions," the attentiveness of the listening students seemed to sharpen. Perhaps Dumbledore had noticed their sudden stillness, for he smiled as he said, "The casket, then, if you please, Mr. Filch."

Filch, who had been lurking unnoticed in a far corner of the Hall, now approached Dumbledore carrying a great wooden chest encrusted with jewels. It looked extremely old. A murmur of excited interest rose from the watching students.

"The instructions for the tasks the champions will face this year have already been examined by Mr. Crouch and Mr. Bagman," said Dumbledore as Filch placed the chest carefully on the table before him, "and they have made the necessary arrangements for each challenge. There will be three tasks, spaced throughout the school year, and they will test the champions in many different ways… their magical prowess—their daring—their powers of deduction—and, of course, their ability to cope with danger."

At this last word, the Hall was filled with a silence so absolute that nobody seemed to be breathing.

"As you know, three champions compete in the tournament," Dumbledore went on calmly, "one from each of the participating schools. They will be marked on how well they perform each of the Tournament tasks and the champion with the highest total after task three will win the Triwizard Cup. The champions will be chosen by an impartial selector: the Goblet of Fire."

Dumbledore now took out his wand and tapped three times upon the top of the casket. The lid creaked slowly open. Dumbledore reached inside it and pulled out a large, roughly hewn wooden cup. It would have been entirely unremarkable had it not been full to the brim with dancing blue white flames.

Dumbledore closed the casket and placed the goblet carefully on top of it, where it would be clearly visible to everyone in the Hall.

"Anybody wishing to submit themselves as champion must write their name and school clearly upon a slip of parchment and drop it into the goblet," said Dumbledore. "Aspiring champions have twenty four hours in which to put their names forward. Tomorrow night, Halloween, the goblet will return the names of the three it has judged most worthy to represent their schools. The goblet will be placed in the entrance hall tonight, where it will be freely accessible to all those wishing to compete.

"To ensure that no underage student yields to temptation," said Dumbledore, "I will be drawing an Age Line around the Goblet of Fire once it has been placed in the entrance hall. Nobody under the age of seventeen will be able to cross this line.

"Finally, I wish to impress upon any of you wishing to compete that this tournament is not to be entered into lightly. Once a champion has been selected by the Goblet of Fire, he or she is obliged to see the tournament through to the end. The placing of your name in the goblet constitutes a binding, magical contract. There can be no change of heart once you have become a champion. Please be very sure, therefore, that you are wholeheartedly prepared to play before you drop your name into the goblet. Now, I think it is time for bed. Good night to you all."

That night, as Draco lay in bed, he thought whether the Age Line would apply to him. Technically, he had lived for more than seventeen years. His memories and knowledge were proof of that. If he dropped his name into the goblet, would he be qualified to enter? He immediately pushed these thoughts aside. He did not want to enter and neither should he play with the already planned destiny. It was Harry Potter, not him who was going to compete in this tournament. He couldn't help thinking that tonight the Death Eater impersonating professor Moody was going to slip Harry's name into the Goblet!


Author's notes:

Thanks for writing reviews everyone. I truly appreciate you taking out your time and efforts to do so.

Chester99, sorry but Draco can't undo the ferret incident with Professor Moody. He has came back to the morning after that incident, and the story starts after that has already happened. As for the Yule Ball, you'll just have to wait and see.