As always, I'm only playing with JK Rowling's toys.

The text in italics is taken directly from the Goblet of Fire; I couldn't find a better way of writing what appeared in the book. All credit goes to JK Rowling, her publisher and all the other people involved in bringing her work to life.

#

After all, the students had made their way from the train to the school and had taken their places at their house tables. The sorting could begin.

Professor McGonagall brought forward the new first years, all of them looked frightened and in awe of their new surroundings.

'When I call your name; come forward to be sorted into your house.' Announced the professor, she picked up the scroll of name from the stool and called out the first name on the list.

'Ackerley, Stewart.'

The young boy in question made his way forward, his eyes wide with fright.

As he sat on the stool, the professor placed the aged sorting had on his head; his eyes darted about the hall as though he was looking for the closest door to escape.

'RAVENCLAW!' called the tattered old hat, almost immediately young Stewart relaxed and trotted off towards the Ravenclaw table, to be greeted by the house Prefect.

As was customary, each house applauded the sorting of each new student into the other houses, while giving their new members a rousing welcome.

After the remaining first years had been sorted and Harry managed to placate Hermione into eating, Dumbledore stood to make the standard pre-term announcements;

Where the list of banned items was, all four hundred and thirty-seven of them; that the forbidden forest was as always, forbidden as well as Hogsmead Village to all students below the third year.

The Corners of Dumbledore's mouth twitched 'It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year.'

The ensuing furore engulfed the great hall. Every second year and above student from every house was on their feet decrying this ridiculous and frankly insulting decision. Every student except two; Hermione Granger and Harry Potter'

'You don't seem bothered by this Harry.' remarked Hermione.

'I'm not, I've been thinking about quitting the team. After the hassle with the Firebolt last year and how Ron treated you, it's left a bad taste in my mouth.' Harry admitted.

'You don't know what you're doing' Called out Fred or George

Hermione softly held his hand and said 'You don't have to quit on my account Harry, I know how much it means to you.'

'You mean more to me Hermione; I would give up Quidditch in a heartbeat if it meant I could spend more time with you and besides it's the flying I enjoy not the game.'

Eventually, the students calmed enough for the headmaster to continue;

'This is due to an event that will be starting on October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy – but I am sure that you will enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year Hogwarts –'

Before Dumbledore could finish his proclamation the doors to the great hall burst open, a peel of thunder echoed around the hall, and the enchanted ceiling flashed with lightning. In the doorway stood a man in a black travelling cloak, rainwater dripping off him and pooling at his feet. His left hand clung to a crudely formed staff, as he walked; every second step clunked with a metallic sound. All eyes were fixed on the figure as he made his way towards the staff table.

The gnarled face of this mystery man was thrown into sharp relief, causing one girl to scream in shock while Hermione gasped and grasped hold of Harry for protection. Harry pulled her towards him, putting his arms around her to give comfort; in doing so, he caught the aroma of Vanilla and Patchouli. He watched as the man limped past and took note of a strange whirring electric blue eye. It ceaselessly moved independently of his normal eye, turning this way and that before it rolled right over showing only whiteness.

This mysterious man made his way towards Dumbledore, who greeted him as an old friend while uttering something that the students could not hear. The headmaster extended his hand and gestured for the man to take his place at the vacant seat at the staff table. Dumbledore made his way back to his golden lectern and addressed the student body.

'I trust that we have all had a good scare; Let me introduce our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Alastor Moody'

Whispers echoed around the hall, all the while Moody's magical eye scanned every face in the hall. Stopping on the only face not to be looking at him; Harry Potter.

'As I was saying' Carried on the Headmaster, 'we have the honour of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event that has not been held for over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year.'

'You have got to be KIDDING' said the Weasley Twins in unison, very loudly.

This exclamation caused the tension that had built up since the arrival of Moody to dissipate rapidly; almost everyone in the hall began to laugh, including the Headmaster.

'Now that you mention it Messer's Weasley No I am not. However, I am partial to a good joke; only this summer, I was told a jolly good one about three turban-wearing gentlemen going into a bar. As I understand it, the muggle-born amongst us would be rather tickled by it.'

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat rather loudly.

'Yes, well, perhaps another time. A brief history of the tournament has been posted on the notice boards on your common rooms so please excuse the lack of introduction.' Albus stopped to take a drink from his goblet before continuing 'The two other competing schools will be Beauxbatons Academy of Magic who hails from France and Durmstrang Institute. Both schools and their shortlisted contenders will be arriving in October. The selection of the three champions will take place on Halloween by an impartial judge. The eventual winner of the tournament will receive a thousand Galleons as a personal prize as well as bringing glory to his or her school.'

The great hall was abuzz with whispers, in fits of bravado certain boys puffed out their chests, and the girls giggled at the sight. While Harry still had his arm around Hermione's shoulder, offering her the comfort he had since the thunder, one of the only things that Hermione was terrified of, he began to shake. Hermione felt the trembling and instinctively snaked her arm around his waist to give him a measure of comfort that matched the one he had given her.

She whispered 'Are you all right, Harry?'

'All I wanted was a quiet year for once, and now I've got this hanging over me. You know that somehow I'll end up being roped into this, don't you?' His voice sounded small and resigned to his fate.

'We'll come up with something Harry.' said Hermione.

'I don't want to get you hurt Mia. I'll manage on my own.'

Hermione looked into his eyes and said 'You don't have to do it on your own, cause I'm with you till the end of the line' before smiling at him, Harry nodded in submission. He knew that he would never be able to deny her; her loyalty was as unshakable as her determination.

She furrowed her brow and fixed Harry with a piercing glare 'Hey Mister, did you just shorten my name to Mia?'

Harry gave her a rather cheeky smile and said 'why yes, yes I did Mia.' Then winked at her 'you...you don't mind, do you?' he then asked rather sheepishly.

'Since it's you, I'll let it slide bucko, only because you looked so cute when realised I might be upset. I kind of like it, but you are the only one that gets to call me that ok? If Ron shortens my name again, I'll cut his balls off. I can't abide women beaters.'

Harry chuckled 'you know that was only in my dream, right?'

'Guilty by association Harry, Dream Ron did it so Real Ron takes the punishment' snigger Hermione

While Harry and Hermione were chatting, the headmaster outlined the ministry approved restrictions on the entry procedures, much to the chagrin of the Weasley twins and many other older fifth-year students that held hopes that they could be selected. The consensus of the organisers was that pupils below the sixth year would lack the maturity and both the magical power and academic ability to compete in such a demanding tournament.

Eventually, the pupils headed to bed; Fred and George were vehemently proclaiming that the age restrictions wouldn't prevent them from entering; Ron looked misty-eyed at the prospect of a thousand Galleons and all the fame that would come from winning the tournament. Neville bid his goodnights to his house before heading off to make sure that Luna got to her dorm, this was a sentiment that Hannah Abbot also held and before long both older students were seen shadowing the young Ravenclaw.

Ginny was suspiciously quiet as she watched Harry and Hermione; they were still seated at the table with their arms around each other, talking quietly. Harry's blatant and public dismissal had hurt her; and while he was as honest and as kind as he could be about it, it still rankled.

Professor McGonagall was shepherding her house out of the great hall, 'Mr Potter, Ms Granger; it is time that you made your way to your dorms.' She said in her usual uncompromising manner.

'Yes, Ma'am' said Hermione.

Harry said 'Excuse me, Professor, would you be willing to give Hermione and me a half an hour extension on our curfew? Only I've had a horrible day thanks to the Dursley's; I got into a huge fight with my uncle and well he got physical. I would rather not have anyone in the room know.'

Harry looked downcast as he lied to his head of House. He knew that she felt extremely guilty for not fighting the headmaster on leaving him with his aunt and uncle.

After a couple of moments of internal debate, the Professor said 'Ok Mr Potter, you and Ms Granger can stay here for a further half an hour, but no later. I will inform the prefects and Mr Filch. Do not make me regret this.'

'We promise, Professor.' They said in unison.

When the hall cleared, Hermione asked 'What was that all about Harry? You lied to the Professor.'

'I just wanted to spend a little bit of time with my best friend before the reality of school. I err, I've missed you Mia, and I know what I said on the train was completely unexpected, but I wanted to make sure that you weren't freaked out by it.' admitted Harry.

She smiled at his sincerity 'Harry you could never freak me out, it's just a lot to take in all at one time you know? it's almost like being told that I'm a Witch all over again; it's just a little surreal, what is it that made Harry Potter, Wizarding Britain's most eligible bachelor, fall in love with muggle-born, bushy-haired know-it-all Hermione Granger?'

'Mia, without you in my life the world is a little less bright and a little less beautiful; nothing would make sense and to be honest I doubt I could muster enough courage to do the things I have to do. Everything I have done has been to protect you. The Troll, the Basilisk, Professor Lupin even facing down all those Dementors. I would take on God himself if he were aiming to hurt you.'

She sat silently, listening to his words. Knowing him as she does, she knew that every word he spoke was the truth, and that was what was scaring her. How could she live up to such lofty expectations; why was he putting her on such a pedestal? Would their friendship survive when she failed to meet his expectations? She wasn't sure if her heart could survive getting broken like that.

'I will always love you, Mia, regardless of your fears or my stupidity and like I said on the train, I just wanted you to know how I feel about you. I'm not expecting you to reciprocate my feelings and that's ok because I know that I'll never be good enough to win your heart.' Harry stood up and held out his hand. 'Come on; we had best get up to the tower before McGonagall comes looking for us.'

Hermione was feeling torn; on the one hand, he had set her in an ivory tower, above everyone else and on the other hand, he had told her that he wasn't good enough for her. He sounded just like the hero in her mother's trashy romance novels that she had read from time to time. She would have to figure out her feelings first.