Chapter 10 – The Tournament Begins

Dumbledore continued his speech as everyone gave him their undivided attention after the announcement of the panel who would be judging the competition. Their interest was even further sparked when Dumbledore called for the casket to be brought in.

"The casket, then, if you please, Mr. Filch." Filch came walking in with a wooden chest that put Hermione very much in mind of one she had read about in a Muggle fairy tale called Peter Pan. It was encrusted with jewels of all colors and Hermione felt excitement grow contagious among the many anticipating students. "The instructions for the tasks the champions will face this year have already been examined by Mr. Crouch and Mr. Bagman," Dumbledore continued, "and they have made the necessary arrangements for each challenge."

"Sit down, Dennis," Hermione hissed as the little boy stood up on his seat to see the casket that was now sitting on the table in front of Dumbledore.

"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 deductions – and, of course, their ability to cope with danger."

"Danger?" Hermione's shocked breath seemed to stop as she repeated this word silently to herself.

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

"The what?" Hermione hadn't read about this when she read about the Triwizard Tournament. She watched with growing anxiety as Dumbledore tapped the casket with his wand three times which caused the lid to open slowly with a loud, ominous creak. Hermione bit down on her bottom lip as Dumbledore reached into the casket and pulled out a considerably large goblet that was made of wood just like the casket, but the goblet wasn't covered in jewels. It was in fact unmarked and to Hermione's surprise, it had a blue and white flame dancing from the opening of the goblet.

"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. 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," Dumbledore informed. "To ensure that no underage students yields to temptation, I will be drawing an Age Line around the Goblet of Fire once it has been placed in the entrance hall."

"Let's see you get past that, Fred and George," Hermione giggled as she watched the twins exchange looks out of the corner of their eyes. She became apprehensive though as she saw an identical smirk dance onto both of their faces as they turned back to Dumbledore. "Now what are they up to?" Hermione turned her attention back to Dumbledore as well as she realized he was still speaking.

"Finally, I wish to impress upon any of you wishing to compete that this tournament is not to be entered lightly. Once the 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 changing of heart once you have become 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," he finished.

"An Age Line! Well, that should be fooled by an Aging Potion, shouldn't it? And once our name's in the goblet, you're laughing – it can't tell whether you're seventeen or not," Fred Weasley exclaimed, explaining to Hermione why he and George had smiled at each other in such a mischievous way.

"But I don't think anyone under seventeen will stand a chance. We just haven't learned enough...," Hermione interrupted.

"Speak for yourself," George shot arrogantly. "You'll try and get in, won't you, Harry?"

"Did they not just listen to Dumbledore? How dense are they? They're going to get killed," Hermione mumbled to herself as she shook her head and crossed her arms. She was about to reprimand them aloud, but Karkaroff caught her attention as he came rushing over to his students.

"Back to the ship, then. Viktor, how are you feeling? Did you eat enough? Should I send for some mulled wine from the kitchens?" 'Mulled wine? C'mon now' Hermione thought as she shook her head slightly and watched Karkaroff turn on one of his students who had said something about wanting some wine himself. Karkaroff then began leading his students back to their ship when he came storming past them, Harry stopping and letting him pass. "Thank you," Karkaroff said as though he didn't really mean it. Hermione watched Karkaroff's reaction, he was almost fearful as he and his students stared at Harry in awe.

"Yeah, that's Harry Potter," Moody growled as he came limping toward them. Karkaroff spun around and Hermione watched fear grow ever more obvious on his paling face.

"You!" Hermione was surprised by this reaction from Karkaroff. It was almost like he knew Moody from somewhere, but couldn't believe that Moody was there, at that moment in time.

"Me. And unless you've got anything to say to Potter, Karkaroff, you might want to move. You're blocking the doorway," Moody said. Hermione didn't know what had happened in these two's past, but it had to be something bad because they looked at each other with extreme dislike and then Karkaroff left with his students. Hermione watched Moody, his face unchanging as everyone left, his magical eye spinning madly in his head until it landed on her.

"Oh!" She jumped as she was caught staring at him, but Moody's lip twitched as though he was trying to smile, but this wasn't a normal, 'how do you do, have a nice day' smile, there was something hidden in it. She shivered and lowered her gaze as she followed Harry, Ron, and the twins from the Great Hall as they continued to talk about the Age Line and an Aging Potion.

"I think I'm going to go to bed," Hermione muttered to the four boys as they entered the Gryffindor common room.

"Are you okay, Hermione?"

"Fine, Harry, I'm just tired," she replied with a weak smile.

"She's wearing herself out with that ridiculous spew stuff," Ron said simply. Hermione rolled her eyes and shook her head while heading for the girls' staircase. Once Hermione was in her dorm, she laid down on her bed, thinking about how Moody and Karkaroff had glared at each other, Karkaroff seemingly fearing Moody.

"Who wouldn't, though?" Hermione sighed heavily while she got up off the bed and went to put on a T-shirt and shorts and crawl back into bed.

Hermione had tossed and turned all night, and on the one day that she could sleep in, she woke up early instead.

"Might as well get dressed and go try to get some recruits," Hermione groaned as she rolled out of bed and stretched, falling back down onto her bed as she did. She could tell today was going to be one like any other, same as always, or would it? She pulled out a pair of blue jeans and a light-weight white sweater. She pulled on her shoes as she sat in the bathroom, her tooth brush hanging out of the corner of her mouth. She finished brushing her teeth and ran a brush through her hair, pulling it back into a high ponytail on her head. She smiled and ran her tongue over her teeth in a last check in the mirror and then went to the common room.

"Hey, Hermione," Harry and Ron greeted in unison as they sat over a chess board, Ron winning as usual.

"Morning," Hermione greeted back as Harry began to say 'Knight to E-6', but she interrupted him. "I wouldn't do that. Try Queen's side castle to B-4." Harry did as she said and his castle began chasing Ron's Queen, much to Ron's displeasure.

"If you aren't playing, don't give out orders," Ron huffed as he stared at her in anger while his Queen ran about the board, the castle closing in on her as she ran into Harry's Knight which picked her up and tossed her to the top of the castle. The castle carried her to the side of the board and tossed her onto the table with the broken pieces where she sat sulking. Hermione flashed Ron an arrogant smirk before plopping down into a chair and watching the rest of the game.

"Looks like I win," Harry exhaled as he leaned back in his chair and watched his Knight and King dance around the board with a pawn.

"You wouldn't have won if Hermione hadn't been giving you hints, though," Ron grouched as he crossed his arms and glared at Hermione while his Queen cried over the fallen body of Ron's King.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Hermione said in mock innocence as she rose from her chair and stretched. "Shall we go to breakfast?"

"Yeah, I'm starved," Harry said as he stood up as well. Ron didn't say anything, but he followed nonetheless. He soon forgot about being mad though as they came around the corner and began descending the marble staircase, the goblet coming into sight. Ron stopped an excited little third-year girl and asked her if anyone had entered yet.

"All the Durmstrang lot, but I haven't seen anyone from Hogwarts," she replied.

"Bet some of them put it in last night after we'd all gone to bed," Harry suggested. "I would've if it had been me... wouldn't have wanted everyone watching. What if the goblet just gobbed you right back out again?" Hermione was about to say that she was sure someone would put their name in today when the twins and their best friend, Lee Jordan, laughed from behind the Golden Trio.

"Done it! Just taken it," one of the twins exclaimed, Hermione could actually tell them apart now, because both of them had large grins on their faces and she recognized the one speaking as Fred.

"What?"

"The Aging Potion, dung brains," Fred chortled to Ron.

"One drop each. We only need to be a few months older," George explained happily.

"We're going to split the thousand Galleons between the three of us if one of us wins," Lee further explained.

"I'm not sure this is going to work, you know. I'm sure Dumbledore will have thought of this," Hermione said pointedly as she thought how stupid it was the things money would make people do. 'They don't know what they're getting into, but they don't care because there's prize money.'

"Ready? C'mon, then – I'll go first-" Hermione watched as Fred Weasley pulled the name of his school along with his name on a piece of parchment out of his pocket and went up to the line. Hermione waited on baited breath as Fred paused to a moment and then stepped over the line, nothing happening. 'I don't believe it' she thought as George leaped after his twin. Hermione gasped though as the twins were hurled from the circle in the next second, both landing on their butts about ten feet away.

"Oh dear," Hermione said as a loud pop issued and she bit down on her lip, trying hard not to laugh as she noticed that Fred and George now had matching white beards. She lost control though as they themselves began laughing at the sight, pointing at each other and doubling over in laughter.

"I did warn you," chuckled Dumbledore from behind the amused crowd of students. "I suggest you go up to Madam Pomfrey. She is already tending to Miss Fawcett, of Ravenclaw, and Mr. Summers, of Hufflepuff, bot of whom decided to age themselves up a little too. Though I must say, neither of their beards is anything as fine as yours." Hermione lost all control on this as she realized that the twin's beards were also identical to Dumbledore's. The twins did as they were told, Lee in tow, as everyone went back about their business, the Golden Trio entering the Great Hall for breakfast. Hermione was sitting there listening to Seamus, Dean, Harry, and Ron talk about Hogwarts students who had entered, when something reached her ears.

"Listen!" Next minute, their fellow Gryffindor and house Quidditch team Chaser, Angelina Johnson came into the hall. She was grinning as she called out that she had just put her name in the goblet, astonishment registering on all the Gryffindor's faces.

"You're kidding," Ron exclaimed.

"Are you seventeen, then?" Harry smiled at her as she stopped next to them and beamed.

"'Course she is, can't see a beard, can you?"

"I had my birthday last week," Angelina replied cheerfully.

"Well, I'm glad someone from Gryffindor's entering. I really hope you get it, Angelina," Hermione encouraged.

"Thanks, Hermione."

"Yeah, better you than Pretty-Boy Diggory," Seamus said with dislike to Cedric. Hermione thought about this and for some reason, she felt bad for Cedric. Everyone judged him and didn't take a chance to get to know him for the kind person he really was.

"What're we going to do today, then?" Ron's question snapped Hermione from her sad thoughts as she looked to Harry who was now speaking.

"We haven't been down to visit Hagrid yet."

"Okay, just as long as he doesn't ask us to donate a finger to the skrewts," Ron joked. That's when something his Hermione, she had forgot all about Hagrid.

"I just realized – I haven't asked Hagrid to join S.P.E.W. yet! Wait for me, will you, while I nip upstairs and get the badges?" Hermione didn't give them time to answer though as she jumped up from the table and ran off for the common room. She almost ran into the girl from Beauxbatons that Ron had said was part veela, but she didn't care as she moved stealthily past her and up the marble staircase. She continued running through the halls and to the entrance of the common room.

"Password?"

"Hi-hippo-"

"Slow down, child," the Fat Lady commanded as Hermione bent over with her hands on her knees and panted.

"Hippo-"

"Hello, Hermione," Cedric Diggory called from behind her as he came up the corridor.

"Hello, Cedric," Hermione sighed as she turned around and smiled at him breathlessly.

"Little out of breath?" He smiled, but this smile was an apparent attempt to keep from laughing.

"I was running," Hermione spoke softly as she held her breath a bit, trying to gain control of it.

"That's good. I like a girl that's athletic."

"Really?" Hermione forced a smile, but she was frowning on the inside. 'You're far from athletic' she told herself in the back of her mind.

"But then again, brains are even better," Cedric remarked. "I like it better when I can have an intelligent and interesting conversation with a girl." Hermione's smile grew considerably as she blushed and then she came back to reality as an awkward silence set in.

"Um-," her voice stumbled. "I uh- I head that you put your name in the goblet."

"Yeah, I did," Cedric answered. "I figured it would be a nice opportunity to meet new people, prove myself or really test myself, make my father proud, and most importantly, bring home the win for Hogwarts."

"I think you will," Hermione assured him.

"Thanks," Cedric sighed. Another silence went over them, Hermione rocking on the balls of her feet as Cedric looked around them. "So, what were you going to do?"

"Well, I was going to go down with Harry and Ron to visit Hag- oh no! They're still waiting on me," Hermione groaned as she realized that she was wasting time talking to him. 'Wasting time? I'd waste the whole day on him really, but Ron and Harry will be furious with me' Hermione thought as she looked down at her feet.

"I'll let you go, then," Cedric said politely as he nodded.

"Thanks," Hermione said as she turned to the portrait of the Fat Lady. "Hippogriff."

"What?" Cedric had only just turned to walk away when Hermione said this, and shock dawned on her face as she turned slowly around. "Hippogriff?"

"Please pretend you didn't hear that," Hermione pleaded as the portrait swung open and Cedric saw the entrance to the Gryffindor common room.

"Your secret's safe with me," Cedric laughed as Hermione let out a sigh of relief before waving and dashing into the common room, the portrait swinging shut behind her. Cedric shook his head and sighed himself before turning and leaving while Hermione searched frantically in her room for the box of badges.

"Where are they?" Hermione had pulled everything out from under her bed, searched her wardrobe, and ever her trunk, but there was no sign of the badges. "Maybe in the common room," she thought aloud as she kicked everything back under her bed and ran down to the common room.

"Hello, Hermione," greeted Neville Longbottom as he, too, came into the common room.

"Hello, Neville," Hermione said distractedly.

"What are you looking for?" Hermione was scouring the common room for the box of badges.

"My-," Hermione began as she flipped over the cushions on the couch.

"Badges?" Neville shook the box and the badges rattled. Hermione stood up and turned around to look at him with a slightly thankful yet surprised expression.

"Where did you find them?" Neville smiled bashfully and handed her the box.

"On the mantle," he said as he jerked his thumb over his shoulder at the mantle above the fireplace.

"Thanks, Neville," Hermione said as she turned and dashed from the common room, running clear to the entrance hall where she saw Harry and Ron waiting, both staring at the students from Beauxbatons as they walked across the lawn toward their quarters.

"Oh good, hurry up," Ron told her as he practically leaped out the front door and across the lawn to see where the Beauxbatons students were staying. They saw that the carriage they had arrived in was in fact the place where they were staying and that it was only a short way away from Hagrid's. When they got to Hagrid's and he answered the door, he invited greeted them while Ron and Harry goggled at him, Hermione having yet to notice as she opened the box of badges to show him.

"'Bout time! Thought you lot'd forgotten where I live," he boomed as Fang barked behind him and tried to get through to jump on the trio out of excitement at seeing them.

"We've been really busy, Hag-," Hermione had begun, but she finally looked up from the box and saw Hagrid who was in a horridly brown and furry suit with his hair slicked back. She suddenly felt bad though as she realized all three of them were staring at him in awe and that he was looking rather flustered. "Erm – where are the skrewts?"

"Out by the pumpkin patch," Hagrid answered merrily. "They're gettin' massive, mus' be nearly three foot long now. On'y trouble is, they've started killin' each other."

"Oh no, really?" Hermione looked to Ron and Harry for support, but she glared at Ron who was still staring strangely at Hagrid, his mouth open, making her realize he might say something stupid.

"Yeah," Hagrid replied mournfully. "'S' okay, though, I've got 'em in separate boxes, now. Still got abou' twenty."

"Well, that's lucky," Ron said sarcastically, but Hagrid didn't notice it. Their conversation turned slowly from the skrewts to the Triwizard Tournament, and ended with the trio trying to get out of Hagrid what the first task was.

"Go on, Hagrid!"

"I don' want ter spoil it fer yeh. But it's gonna be spectacular, I'll tell yeh that. Them champions're going ter have their work cut out. Never thought I'd live ter see the Triwizard Tournament played again!" Their conversation continued over lunch and finally, much to Hermione's pleasure, it turned to her asking Hagrid to join S.P.E.W.

"Please, Hagrid!"

"It'd be doin' 'em an unkindness, Hermione. It's in their nature ter look after humans, that's what they like, see? Yeh'd be makin' 'em unhappy ter take away their work, an' insultin' 'em if yeh tried ter pay 'em."

"But Harry set Dobby free, and he was over the moon about it! And we heard he's asking for wages now!"

"Yeah, well, yeh get weirdos in every breed. I'm not sayin' there isn't the odd elf who'd take freedom, but yeh'll never persuade most of 'em ter do it – no, nothing' doin', Hermione," he said finally as she offered him a badge one more time. Hermione finally gave up though as Hagrid shook his head and she reluctantly put the badges away while Harry and Ron snickered.

"We'd better be going," Harry pointed out as he looked outside and saw that it was getting dark which meant dinner and the announcement of the champions was drawing nearer. Hagrid had intended to accompany them up to the castle, but instead left them for Madame Maxime. They just shook their heads and went up for dinner without another word about it. Dinner went smoothly, many of the same dishes from the night before on the tables once more, and excited buzz about the champions thick in the air. Once dinner was over, Dumbledore stood up to make his announcement.

"Well, the goblet is almost ready to make its decision. I estimate that it requires one more minute. Now, when the champions' names are called, I would ask them please to come up to the top of the Hall, walk along the staff table, and go through into the next chamber where they will be receiving their first instructions," Dumbledore called out to the anticipatively silent students and staff.

"Any second," Hermione heard Lee Jordan whisper three seats down from her. Hermione held her breath as the flames of the goblet went from blue to red and sparks issued as a piece of parchment was sent forward into Dumbledore's hands.

"The champion for Durmstrang will be Viktor Krum," Dumbledore announced.

"No surprises there," Ron yelled as everyone, especially Karkaroff applauded him while he rose from Slytherin table, walked along the staff table, and into the adjacent room. Once again, the goblet turn red and spit out sparks and a piece of parchment, Dumbledore catching it again.

"The champion for Beauxbatons is Fluer Delacour!"

"It's her, Ron!" Hermione huffed as Harry shook Ron who gaped for a moment and then gave a thunderous applause as she did just as Viktor had after rising from the Ravenclaw table.

"Oh look, they're all disappointed," Hermione said as she nodded to where Fluer had risen from, the other Beauxbatons students glowering. Once again, the goblet changed from blue to red and spit out a piece of parchment, Dumbledore doing just as he had two times before and catching it.

"The Hogwarts champion is Cedric Diggory!" There was a roar of applause from the Hufflepuff table as Cedric rose. Hermione beamed and clapped as Ron voiced his protest beside her.

"No!" But Hermione didn't mind, he would make a fine champion for Hogwarts, he would help them win.

"Excellent! Well, we now have our three champions. I an sure I can count upon all of you, including the remaining students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, to give your champions every ounce of support you can muster," Dumbledore called after Cedric disappeared into the next room and everyone calmed once again. "By cheering you champion on, you will contribute in a very real-" He stopped abruptly though as the goblet changed again.

"What's going on?" Hermione leaned forward in her seat as she whispered this and watched the goblet spit forth another piece of parchment which Dumbledore caught and read from after staring at it for a moment.

"Harry Potter." Hermione sat there shocked as Harry as he turned to them.

"I didn't put my name in," he said to them as though pleading for help. "You know I didn't."

"Harry Potter! Harry! Up here, if you please," Dumbledore called again.

"Go on," Hermione urged as she pushed gently on his back. He got up looking fearful, Hermione feeling the same way, but feeling confident that Dumbledore would straighten things out... hopefully.