Harry Potter peeked through the doors that lead to the Great Hall. It should have been early enough in the morning that only a few students would be down for breakfast. Though today was the exception. Honestly, it was earlier than Harry would have been up either. He usually went down with Ron, his best friend. But that never happened before eight o'clock.

His scan of the hall revealed that the person he was looking for was not there. With a sigh of relief, Harry entered the hall properly. The students that were there didn't seem to take notice as he slipped into his usual spot at the Gryffindor table. With the Triwizard tournament happening this year, Harry was no longer the most interesting thing at Hogwarts. Which suited him just fine. He hoped he could have a semi-normal year compared to the last three.

Harry started piling his plate with food hoping to finish before she showed up. He wanted to delay the inevitable as long as possible. Granted, he didn't think he could avoid what was to come. She would find him eventually. Frankly, it surprised him that she hadn't gotten to him last night when two schools had arrived.

"Harry?" A female voice startled Harry, causing him to jump in his seat. He turned around to find Hermione and Ron standing behind him with puzzled looks on their faces.

"What are you doing down here already mate?" Ron asked.

"I… um," Harry scrambled for something to say. "Just wanted to get in early. You know before everyone went crazy over this whole goblet thing."

Ron shrugged, "Fair enough." With that, he sat down next to Harry and started gathering his plate as well.

Hermione, however, didn't seem to buy his story. Her eyes had narrowed at Harry and she had pursed her lips as she scrutinized him. Harry tried to give her an innocent smile, though he didn't think she was quite convinced. She still sat down on the other side of Harry, though she didn't gather her breakfast just yet.

"So," Ron started talking after swallowing a mouthful of food. "You see anyone put their name in yet?"

Harry shook his head, "Nope, not yet anyway. There were probably a few who did it last night though. When nobody was watching. That's when I would've done it anyways."

A third-year girl leaned over closer to the three of them, "All the Durmstrang lot have. Did it just this morning."

"Damn," Ron said, his face falling. "Would've liked to see Krum again."

The loud sound of cheering and laughing from the entrance hall caused Harry to snap his head up. Fred and George Weasley entered bouncing down the tables to the front of the great hall where the Goblet of Fire sat. Harry relaxed upon seeing them, though he did another scan of the people around. As they drew closer to the trio, both Fred and George leaned over the table.

"Just finished it," Fred said, a wide grin on his face. "This morning, brewed to perfection."

"What?" Ron asked.

"Aging potion, dung brain," Fred said as he shook a small vial filled with a deep blue liquid.

George brandished his own vial, "Just enough for a few months. All we need really."

"It's not going to work," Hermione said with a roll of her eyes.

Fred and George shared a look before plopping themselves down opposite Hermione, "Really now?" Fred said.

"And why is that?" George asked.

Hermione pursed her lips before pointing over the goblet. More specifically the golden line that shimmered just above the ground and surrounded the goblet, "Because that's an age line. Dumbledore said he would put one up, and I'll bet you anything he put it up himself."

"So," Fred and George said together.

"So," Hermione's eyebrow raised as she crossed her arms. "Do you really think Dumbledore wouldn't have thought of something as pathetically dimwitted as an aging potion?"

"Oh, well, you see, that's why it's so brilliant," George said.

"Cause it's so pathetically dimwitted," Fred said.

With that, they jumped up from the table and turned to each other. "Bottoms up," They said before downing their potions. With identical grins, they strutted off to the goblet, stopping just before the age line They teetered on the edge of their toes, both of them pulling out a piece of parchment with something written on it. They shared one more grin before jumping over the line.

For a moment, it seemed like it had worked. The brothers congratulated themselves before taking another step towards the goblet. A great roar erupted from it and twin blasts of fire slammed into Fred and George. They went flying back, landing on the floor in front of the tables. Groans escaped their lips as they sat up, shaking their heads.

It was then when they noticed the beards they had grown. Long and grey, they draped down to the twin's chests. They stared at each other while the other students in the great hall burst into laughter, though Fred and George quickly joined in.

"I did warn you," Dumbledore's voice rang out, even able to be heard over the dying laughter. He did a quick scan of the twins, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "I dare say I better escort you to Madam Pomfrey. You two were not the only ones to try such a thing. Though, none of them have as magnificent beards as yourselves."

Fred and George followed Dumbledore out of the great hall, laughter still following them as they left. Both Harry and Ron were sharing a chuckle at the events, though Hermione had returned to scrutinizing Harry.

"Blimey, that was great," Ron said before returning to his breakfast.

"Yes well," Hemione apparently dropped whatever she had been thinking about a small smile fighting its way onto her face. "It was rather ridiculous."

There was another commotion at the entrance hall, which once again caused Harry to snap his head up. Angelina Johnson strode forward with purpose, much the same way Harry had seen her walking just before a quidditch game. Though the piece of parchment she was fiddling with in between her fingers betrayed her nervousness.

Hermione tugged at Harry's sleeve, "Harry… Are you alright?"

"What, yeah, I'm fine."

"Mate," Ron had turned away from food. "You usually aren't that jumpy till closer to the end of the year. Even then, you're better at hiding it."

"I have no idea what you two are talking about,"

Both Ron and Hermione were giving him incredulous looks now. Harry kept up the bravado for a moment before deflating with a sigh, "It's nothing, really. Just nerves."

"Does it have to do with your scar?" Hermione asked. It wasn't a bad assumption considering how often Harry's scar had hurt over the summer and the nightmares that seemed to come with it.

Harry shook his head, "No, it's not that. It's… You know the schools that came for this tournament business." Both Ron and Hermione nodded. "Well, I know one of the students from Beauxbatons."

Hermione gasped, her eyes sparkling, "You know someone from France?"

Harry shook his head again, "She lives in Britain. Near Privet Drive, actually."

"Then why is she going to a French school then?" Ron asked as he returned to his breakfast. Apparently this didn't register as an important situation for him anymore.

"Cause, their mother went there."

"Their?" Hermione asked, having noticed Harry's word usage.

Harry sighed, that had been more information than he had wanted to give out, but there was no going back now, "They're sisters. Ruby is my age. Yang is a couple of years older. I've known them since I was six."

The three of them were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't notice the Beauxbatons walk in and drop their names into the goblet. Nor did they notice when they left one student short. They did notice when Harry was suddenly lifted from his seat in a bear hug that had him scrambling for air.

A tall girl, with sunny blonde hair and wearing the Beauxbaton's blue silk robes, was the one currently attacking Harry with affection, "Oh! It's so good to see again."

"Yang," Harry said desperately.

"We missed you so much when you went off to the World Cup."

"Yang."

"And then we heard about what happened. Ruby was so worried. Well, we all were."

"Yang!"

Yang was smirking down at him, "Yes?"

"Air please," Harry said

She tilted her head as if in thought before shrugging, "Hm… I suppose." She let Harry fall back to his seat.

After gathering himself, Harry turned to look back at Yang with a lopsided smile, "Missed you too, by the way."

"Aw, you're still as sweet as ever," Yang ruffled his hair, ignoring his attempts to stop her. "Now I heard you talking about me. All good things I hope?"

"For now," Harry said, earning himself a playful shove as Yang glared at him. He gestured at his friends, "Yang, this is Ron and Hermione. Guys, this is Yang."

"So you are the two best friends Harry always talks about," Yang sat down beside Hermione, her back to the table. "Glad to put some faces to the names."

"Well, I mean, I don't know about best friends," Hermione mumbled a blush creeping up her face. Ron only gave Yang a half-wave from where he sat. He knew better than to talk with his mouth as full as it was.

"Considering half the conversations we have during the summer revolve around you two, yeah I'd say best friends," Yang said, which only caused Hermione to blush more.

"So, you're here for the tournament then?" Harry asked in an attempt to change the subject.

"Yep," Yang puffed herself up, making a show of flexing her arms. "Plan on winning too." Harry rolled his eyes at Yang's antics. He was more than used to her boasting. Though, unlike Malfoy, Yang could back up what she said. Dudley's sore stomach could attest to that.

"I'm surprised Ruby isn't here as well," Harry said.

Yang gave Harry a knowing grin, "She'll be here if I get chosen, so don't worry. You'll get to see your girlfriend too."

Hermione, who had started on her breakfast, nearly choked on her food. "Your.. what?" She said between coughs.

Harry's head made a dull thunk upon the table, "Yang, why?" The evil cackle from Yang told Harry all he needed to know. Out of the corner of his eyes, Harry saw Ron's scrutinizing gaze. He could practically hear the gears turning in his friend's head as he thought about what he just heard.

"Wait," More dots connected in Ron's head. "Is she who you were talking about last year?"

Harry groaned. This was exactly what he didn't want to happen. Everything was spiraling out of control. He had a plan, or at least he had a few loosely connected ideas he called a plan to ease his two sets of friends into meeting. As usual, Yang had thrown a wrench into the whole thing. An ability he appreciated when it was directed at his cousin Dudely, but not him.

"Oh, I see how it is, You told them about her and not me" Yang laid her head back on the table, taking extra care her hair didn't land in anything and pouted dramatically at Harry. "You like my sister more than me."

"That's not-"

"When did you get a girlfriend," Hemione had recovered from her coughing fit and started her line of questioning.

Harry's head shot from the table, "I don't have a girlfriend."

"Yet," Yang said with a smirk even as Harry glared at her.

"But you said last year there was a girl you fancied," Ron was looking more sure of himself.

"Yes, but I hadn't done anything about it,"

"Yet," Yang's smirk had grown into a full-blown grin.

Harry whirled on Yang, "Why are you so set on me dating your sister."

Yang propped her head on her hand, "Cause you two would be adorable. Heck, you two are adorable. Besides, you're already like one of the family. Now we just need to make it official."

"We're just friends," Harry insisted.

"For now," Yang sat up, stretching her back as she did so. "Anyway, you have any other plans today, Harry?"

Harry sighed, grateful that Yang had been the one to change the topic. Though the look Hermione was giving him spoke of further interrogation. He still jumped at the opportunity, "Was thinking about visiting Hagrid. Haven't really had the time yet this year."

Yang's eyes lit up, "Yes, I've always wanted to meet him." She jumped from the table and grabbed Harry, once again lifting him from his seat. "Let's go."

"Yang, wait," Harry's protests fell on deaf ears as Yang dragged him out of the Great Hall. Ron and Hermione scrambled after them. They caught up at the door to the grounds. Yang was still holding onto Harry, though she had loosened her grip enough to allow him to stand properly. Hermione split off from the group, disappearing into the castle after a quick conversation with Ron.

"She's going to get her S.P.E.W stuff," Ron said once he reached the pair. "Says she hasn't told Hagrid yet."

"Spew?" Yang raised an eyebrow at Ron.

"Don't ask," Harry said. "Fair warning, though she'll probably corner you at some point."

Yang shot Ron a look who simply shrugged and shook his head, "Something about house-elves. She's trying to free them or something."

Yang tilted her head in thought, "Sounds like I need to introduce her to Blake. She's really into activism and such. They'd probably get along great."

"Maybe later, I'd prefer to be out of the castle right about now," Harry said as he looked around at the attention they were gathering. Mostly because of the blonde Beauxbaton still attached to his arm. Yang was either oblivious to the attention or just didn't care. It was a feat Harry had been envious of since he started garnering attention for himself.

"Let's go then, Hermione can catch up," Yang said once again pulling Harry with her as they entered the castle grounds. Once they were outside, she let go, content to let him lead on the way to Hagrid's hut.

They meandered across the grounds, talking between themselves as they waited for Hermione. Most of the conversation was initiated by Yang. She was grilling Ron about Harry's last few years, trying to find out how much he had kept to himself. One trait Harry both loved and hated about Ron was his ability to tell a story. While he had a habit of exaggerating certain things. The basics of the tales would stay the same, especially when concerning Harry's exploits. Ron would still captivate his audience, no matter who they were.

Hermione caught up with them just before they reached Hagrid's hut. When he opened the door, all four of them stared dumbfounded at the half-giant. His hair had been slicked back with what looked like axle grease. He also had on a brown suit that looked furrier than Fang and a yellow and orange checkered tie.

"Was wonderin' when you lot'd show up," Hagrid said, seemingly oblivious to the looks he was getting. "Was beginnin' to think you'd forgotten 'bout me."

Harry elbowed Yang, who had opened her mouth to say something. Hermione had done the same to Ron, which allowed Harry to start the conversation, "Just got busy you know. Fourth year and all."

"I figured it was somethin' like that," Hagrid's gaze turned to Yang. "An' who is this? Already makin' friends with the new arrivals?"

"Kind of, not really," Harry gestured to Yang, who waved excitedly, "This is Yang. I know her from out of school and she goes to Beauxbatons."

"Hello," Yang stepped forward, extending her hand out to Hagrid. "Been waiting to meet you for a while now. Harry talks about you a lot."

Hagrid took her hand, making it disappear in his massive grip, "Well, don' know 'bout all that. Though it's always good to meet one of Harry's friends."

Yang's wide smile only faltered slightly as they shook hands. Having been on the receiving end of Hagrid's well-meaning strength multiple times, Harry couldn't help his empathetic wince. Though she looked little worse for wear once she had her hand back.

"Where are the skrewts?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, they're out back," Hagrid said, gesturing towards the back of his house. "Had ta separate them. Started killin' each other, only got 'bout twenty or so left."

"Shame," Ron said. Hagrid either didn't pick up on the sarcasm in the statement or didn't care.

"Tha' it is. Tha' it is. But we got enough to be gettin' by."

Harry still wondered why Hagrid was so gung-ho about the blast-ended skrewts. While they fit with the man's penchant for dangerous creatures, they seemed rather less useful than Hagrid's usual tastes. All of Hagrid's creatures so far had at least some other factor going for them. Fluffy had been an excellent guard dog, as long as music wasn't playing. Buckbeak followed some easy enough rules. And even Harry would admit, the baby dragon had been cool.

"Why do you have blast-ended skrewts," Yang asked.

"For classes and such. 'Fraid I can't say more than tha'," Hagrid had learned his lesson when it came to secrets. He still refused to say anything more about the skrewts besides that they made for good lessons. "Why don' you all come inside then. Got some tea on, we can catch up."

The four of them gratefully took Hagrid up on the offer. The October chill was starting to affect them all. Especially Yang in her silk robes. While she seemed to be better off than the rest of the Beauxbatons had been last night, he could still make out the goosebumps along her arms as she went to rub them.

Hagrid's hut was just how Harry remembered it. A large bed in one corner, an enormous fireplace against the back wall, and a table sitting in the middle of the floor. Despite its smaller size than most houses, even the Weasley's Burrow, it still fit the five of them semi-comfortably around the table. Harry did somehow find himself smashed up against Yang's side. Though he expected that had more to do with Yang than it did the size restrictions.

As the conversation moved along, Hermione had pulled out her box of S.P.E.W. badges. She had explained what the badges meant and what she was trying to do. Both Hagrid and Yang had worried looks on their faces.

"I don' thin' you quite know what you're gettin' into," Hagrid said after a moment. "You'd be doing them a disservice, in my opinion. They love to work they do."

"But they deserve to be paid, to choose where they work," Hermione was getting worked up now if the higher pitch in her voice was any sign. "They should be just as free as anyone else. Dobby's like that and he's happier for it."

"Well, you always get the odd one in a family," Hagrid waved his hand dismissively. "Just 'cause one likes that, don' mean all of them would."

Yang cleared her throat, "If I could offer some advice? You're starting too big."

"What?" Hermione asked.

"You're trying to shove all those ideas out at once," Yang picked up one badge and was turning it over in her hand. "Start smaller. Like one issue at a time. Maybe try to get more people aware of the issue first. And work on making so that the house-elves have more ability to leave if their masters are hurting them. That sort of thing." She gave the badge another look, "And change the name. Spew is just… bad."

"It's not-"

"Yeah, it kinda is," Yang tossed the badge back into the pile. "Maybe drop the protection or the society. Fewer words and they don't spell out someone blowing chunks."

Hermione huffed and started shoving the badges back into her bag. As she did Yang pulled out a small notebook and a pencil. She scribbled something down on the paper before passing it to Hermione, "That's the current address of my friend Blake. She's part of a few activist groups. Runs at least one of them with her parents. If you really want some expert advice about this stuff ask her." That seemed to calm down Hermione's temper.

"Blake," Harry's memory was tickled when Yang kept mentioning that name. "Isn't she the… What you'd say? Faunus?"

Ron nearly spit out his tea, and goggled at Yang, "Blimey you know a faunus?"

Yang's eyes narrowed and flashed red. Her voice lowered into a tone Harry recognized from when Dudley would try to mess with her, Ruby or Harry, "I do. Is that going to be an issue?"

Ron's face paled, and he quickly shook his head, "No, no. Just surprised is all. Not many Faunus make it to Britain after all. My brothers Charlie and Bill have worked with some though. They liked them well enough. Especially Charlie."

"Well, remember I don't go to school here," Yang said with a smirk. Ron blushed at his oversight, having apparently forgotten that Yang went to a different school.

"I'm sorry, but what are faunus?" Hermione asked. Both Harry and Ron turned to her in surprise. It wasn't like her not to know about something.

"Humans with animal-like traits," Yang said in answer. "Blake has these cute little cat ears. Though the traits can be anything. From a dog tail to scales on their skin. Stuff like that."

"Like Ron said, You don't see many of them here. A lot of the British purebloods don' like them," Hagrid added. "Codswallop, I say. Ain't no different than you or me. And their traits are downright useful in some cases."

The conversation wandered to different topics. Most of them either asking about Beauxbatons or the tournament. Hagrid seemed to be holding something back from the group. Saying he shouldn't tell them what he knew, just that the first task was going to be exciting. At some point, Hagrid had served them all stew, though when Ron found a fang in his, the four kids lost their appetite rather suddenly.

As the day turned to late afternoon, it started raining. Harry looked out the water-streaked window and noticed a large group of blue figures making their way to the castle, "Looks like the Beauxbatons are heading back."

Upon hearing that, Hagrid bolted up from his seat. He ran his hand through his hair as he mumbled to himself. He left before they could do more than look at him with confused expressions.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione stared at the closed door in befuddlement. Yang, however, turned to look out the window and started laughing, "Looks like your gamekeeper is going after my headmistress."

The three friends crowded around the window once Yang had backed up. Hagrid had caught up with Madam Maxine and the other Beauxbatons. Maxine seemed to smile, though it was hard to tell through the rain-streaked window and offer her arm to Hagrid. He took and the two of them led the students into the castle.

Hermione backed away from the window, "Well, I suppose we should head to the castle as well."

Yang nodded, "Yeah, probably wouldn't be a good look to have the Beauxbatons champion not be there when she's called now would it?"

Harry rolled his eyes at the goofy grin on Yang's face. "Still need to be chosen," He said as they made their way to the door.

"Please, you think the goblet would choose anyone else?" Yang opened the door, letting the four of them make their way back to the castle.

A/N: Got the idea for this one about a month ago. Redid the first chapter once during that time as I was trying to set things up. Realized I didn't like how that was reading so I said forget the setup, let's just jump right in. Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter! As always comments are appreciated and cherished. I'll see you all in the future!