Disclaimer: I don't own any of it. Thanks to the wonderful JK Rowlings.

DRACO MALFOY AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE

By Lady Lestrange

CHAPTER 3

PUREBLOOD, MUDBLOODS, AND BEETLES

When Draco got back to the Slytherin Common room, the party was in full swing. Vincent handed him a butterbeer and Pansy laid claim to his arm after kissing him full on the mouth. "You are awesome!" she crooned in his ear.

Warrington came over to congratulate him. "If it wasn't me who was chosen, at least we have a Slytherin to cheer for, I'd hate to waste the whole year cheering for Cedric Diggory or Harry Potter. Congratulations, Draco. If there's anything I can do—"

"There is," Draco interrupted. "And not just you." He raised his voice. "I have an announcement," he called. Slowly the Common room quieted, but some of the Slytherins were already having too much fun to quiet down. "A silencing charm, please," said Draco. Pansy, Vincent, Greg and Morten Warrington all took out their wands and chose a portion of the room.

"Mutus!" the five of them called and the common room dropped into relative silence.

"I have an announcement," said Draco and he removed his portion of the silencing charm. He didn't want to make anyone angry at him, when he needed their help. The others followed suit and even though the charm was removed, the room still stayed relatively quiet for Draco to speak.

"First of all," He grinned at them. "It feels really good to have a Slytherin Champion. You'd have hated to have to cheer for Potter or Diggory."

There were murmurs of agreement.

"After all Slytherin is the foundation of Hogwarts!"

"Who put your name in?" someone called

"Hufflepuff," replied Draco. "Three cheers for Hufflepuff—they're such good little house elves."

Cheers and laughter.

"Now, Dumb-as-a-door just told us, that the first task is to be secret. We have to see how we fair facing the unknown."

"You get enough practice at that just walking into Slytherin House," someone called, causing laughter to pulse through the group.

Draco grinned. "Our challenge is to find out if Dumb-as-a-door, can keep a secret from Slytherin house? Can he do it?"

"No!" called a few of the Slytherins who knew what Draco wanted.

"I'm not convinced."

"NO!"

"The first task is set for, November 24, and as I understand it, the Tri Wizard Tournament has a long history of cheating. It's a tradition. And haven't your parents all told you the importance of Tradition!

Cheers

"The others schools will obviously cheat, even if Dumb-as-a-door doesn't have the guts. So wherever there is a Beauxbatons or Drumstrang student sneaking around, I expect a Slytherin to be there sneaking along side them, right?"

Cheers.

"Remember," Draco said. "I can't ask for help from my teachers—but you can. And if I happen to overhear your conversation—well—that's not my fault."

Sniggers and giggles.

"No one beats Slytherin House," proclaimed Draco. "And for those who help me—I always remember—my friends."

"Hey, Draco," someone yelled. "What are we going to do with the prize money?"

"Well, let's just say, I won't have to Owl home for party supplies for awhile."

The clapping and cheering escalated as Draco settled back with his butterbeer and Pansy. He realized that all he had to do was show up. As usual, his house would do most of the work for him. He loved Slytherin House. He wondered if Potter was having a good time at his party or if he was still trying to convince everyone that he didn't put his name in the Goblet. No doubt Cedric Diggory was already in bed asleep.

.

Slytherins kept coming up to congratulate Draco. A few more girls gathered around him, much to Pansy's dismay and Draco's delight.

Some Slytherins asked Draco for the exact words of the rules so they could find the loopholes.

Some others were making a schedule to follow the champions 24/7. Others were arguing over who got to follow which Champion. Obviously, Fleur was the number one pick. Several duels broke out to decide the winner.

Draco hadn't let his friends in on one secret: he was exempt from end of the year exams because he was a Champion.

Life was good, and about to get better.

==

Draco awoke late the next morning and was rushed, but he still managed to startle even himself with his good looks. After all, the first class was Care of Magical Creatures and the blast ended skrewts were messy creatures, especially since that idiot Hagrid decided they needed to be walked. Much as he pretended to hate them, the thought of 'pets' that could burn, sting, bite and suck blood all at once, appealed to his dark side. Maybe he could get one for Camilla instead of a ferret. The thought brought a smirk to his lips.

The day proceeded well from there, since some of the Slytherins had made badges with his name and face on them. He wondered where they got the picture. It was a surprisingly good one, with a genuine smile. All of the Slytherins had the badges and his housemates were working on getting some of the Ravenclaws to wear them. He even offered one to the Mudblood. Ha!

By the time Draco walked into Potions class, he thought he couldn't feel any better. He was wrong. Potter, being his usual annoying self, thought that he could best Draco in a duel. Nothing could have pleased Draco more than a little wand practice with Scarface. He wondered if he could possibly curse both Potter and the Mudblood. He thought he could do it, but he wasn't SURE if he was THAT fast. Knowing that hurting the Mudblood would hurt Harry more than if the curse was on him, Draco ducked and aimed right for Hermione. "Densaugeo—" The teeth were priceless! He wondered if her Mudblood dentist parents could fix those! If only Greg would learn to duck, the moment would have been perfect.

Even Professor Snape enjoyed the little show. Draco could have flew circles without a broom when Snape looked at the Mudblood's teeth and said he saw 'no difference.'

After the Gryffindor's had entered the Potions classroom, Draco caught a hint of a smile on Snape's lips. Yes, even if his father wasn't proud of him, Draco knew that his potions teacher, his mentor and his friend was proud. Some things just didn't need to be discussed. You just knew.

Something else that Draco, just knew, was that the friendly relationship between Potter and the Weasel was strained. He didn't butt in with his usual ferocity when Potter decided to duel him. He knew it wasn't because Weasley had suddenly obtained some good sense. Perhaps it was because the Weasel didn't believe Potter when he said that he didn't put his own name in the Goblet of Fire. Oh, well, thought Draco without sympathy, it must be rough to have to live up to all that Gryffindor purity.

It was just his luck too that Creevy came to get the Champions for pictures in Professor Snape's class.

"Sir," Draco protested. "I've been in these robes all day. I need to change them before I get any pictures."

Snape nodded his approval, but as Draco left the room, he heard Snape telling Potter to finish some part of his potion before he left. Potter ran his fingers through his already messy hair.

Draco hurried to his room and refreshed his robes, combed his hair and reapplied his hair gel. Once he was satisfied with his appearance, he went up to find the other Champions and the press. Potter was sitting in a broom closet with Rita Skeeter while she was taking notes with her quick quotes quill. She started to ask Draco a few questions—just to contrast with Potter—she explained.

Draco gave her just the contrasting points that he wanted her to write, and then with one of his most angelic smiles he said, "Remember to get this exactly right, or my father will squash you—like a bug."

She was not pleased, but he was certain that the article would be to his liking.

==

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