We start high over the courtyard, where a bitter wind sweeps crystal line sheets of rain from the roof.

Far below, Cedric Diggory comes into view, dashes towards the Great Hall. The goblet flickers eerily at the top of the hall.

A group of underclassmen, Harry and Ron among them stand by as their older classmates submit their name.

Hermione clutches a copy of Triwizard Tragedies.

Just then, Fred and George come striding forth, looking very pleased indeed. Cheering. "Thank you thank you, well lads we've done it".

"Cooked it up just this morning".

Fred and George hold up twin vials. Hermione snickering says. "It's not going to work". Everyone turns. Hermione flips a page in her book.

"Oh yeah? And why's that Granger".

"You see this?" Her finger point. "This is an age line. Dumbledore drew it himself".

"So?"

Hermione gasps. She dropped her book on her lap. "So a genius like Dumbledore couldn't possibly be fooled by something pathetically dimwitted such as an age potion".

"That's why it's so brilliant" Fred and George shake the vials. "Ready Fred?"

"Ready George?"

"Bottoms up!"

As one, they tip a gooey green liquid onto their tongue sand, with great drama, cross the golden line encircling the Goblet.

They jump inside the age line and cheer, they drop their names in the flame everyone waits. And wait. Fred and George grin, high five each other and they're...

... are ejected high in the air, out of the circle and flat onto their backs, whereupon little white beards sprout on their chins.

Everyone laughs, including Fred and George. They roll around fighting on the floor and the crowd cheers. The room suddenly becomes silent, Hermione looks up and sees what has silenced them.

Viktor Krum.

As Viktor Krum walks in and puts his name in the flame. He looks at Hermione and she smiles..

"Did he look at you, Hermione?" One of the students asked her. "I bet he is".

Hermione sighs. Resuming her reading.

Potions class. Snape teaching his first year students wasn't that bad. Sometimes they are annoying, blow up their cauldrons, use the wrong ingredients, or step on his foot.

He snarled when it happened, taking their point home with pride and satisfaction. But something might bother him... is Hermione.

He noticed that Durmstrang boy, Viktor Krum, was eyeing Hermione with interest. They will accidentally bump into each other while he is around.

Viktor Krum.

"Five points from Ravenclaw, Miss Steve".

Snape black eyes on a chubby girl with freckles on her cheek. She wears glasses and reminds him of the Moaning Myrtle ghost who stayed at the girl's bathroom.

Remember when Snape walked past the girl's bathroom and heard Moaning Myrtle sobbing inside. She knew Snape stood outside the door and heard her.

"Oh, Snape?" She giggled. "Care to join me here?" Snape rolled his eyes. "There's plenty, we can share our toilet together". Snape ignores her then walks.

"I'm so-sorry Professor Snape".

"Clean your mess and class dismissed". His eyes jerked out towards students. "And for you Miss Steve? You got yourself detention by cleaning all the cauldrons starting today".

The girl bit her lips. Snape cloak blows behind him as he walks.

Goblet room. Night. Dumbledore draws his wand and gives a great sweeping motion. Instantly, the torches lining the hall gutter then die. The only light comes from the blue white flames of the Goblet .

A hush descends. Dumbledore approaches the blue flame and it glows red. A charred bit of parchment flutters from the Goblet. A name comes out. Everyone looks on anxiously. Dumbledore plucks it out of the air.

"The Durmstrang champion is ... Viktor Krum!"

A storm of applause accompanies Krum from the Slytherin table to the top of the hall and into the adjoining chamber. The Durmstrang crowd cheered.

Once more, the Hall grows quiet, all eyes on the Goblet. The flames turn red. A second piece of parchment floats free.

Another name comes out.

"The champion from Beauxbatons... Fleur Delacour".

The Beauxbatons girls cheer as Fleur walks up. Another name comes out. "The Hogwarts champion... Cedric Diggory". People cheer as Cedric takes the stage.

"Excellent! We now have our three champions! But in the end only one will go down in history. Only one will hoist this chalice of champions, this vessel of victory the triwizard cup!"

A collective gasp cuts Dumbledore short, the flames in the Goblet of fire have, once more, turned red. A fourth shred of parchment flutters forth. For a moment, Dumbledore simply lets it float in the air regarding it suspiciously, Dumbledore takes it and reads...

"Harry Potter. Harry Potter?"

"No... No". Hagrid shakes his head in disbelief.

There is a moment of suspended silence. Then every eye in the Hall turns toward Harry. Incredulous, Ron searches Harry's face for some explanation.

"Harry Potter!"

Finally Hermione whispers and grabs his arm. "Go on Harry. Harry for goodness sake".

Harry slowly walks up. Dumbledore gives him the paper. Voices in the crowd shout out. He's a cheat! He's not even seventeen yet.

Lakeside. Day. Laughter sounds from the other side of the garden. Harry turns, sees Ginny and Hermione walking with a rather sullen looking Ron. Spying each other, Ron and Harry regard one another coolly.

She whispers to Ron. "We've already been through enough people, why don't you just go and do it yourself? Ughh. What do you want me to say again?"

Ron whispers some words to Hermione. It's clear Ron and Harry are not on speaking terms. Hermione walks up to Harry.

"Ronald would like me to tell you that Seamus told him that Dean was told by Parvati that Hagrid was looking for you".

"Is that right? Well... what?"

"Uhhh..." She walks back to Ron for more whispering and comes back. "Dean was told by Parvati that..." Shaking her head. "Please don't ask me to say it again. Hagrid's looking for you".

"Well you can tell Ronald..."

"I'm NOT an owl!" Hermione turns away, continues on with Ginny.

Library days later. Harry trails Hermione through the stacks, warily side stepping the books she summons from the shelves that tower over them.

"Your wand, your wits, your broom. That, in essence, is what Moody's saying you'll need. Correct?"

"Right.. Dunno why he couldn't just come and tell me".

"Yes, you'll actually have to engage your brain. How inconsiderate of him".

Harry scowls, briefly imitating Hermione behind her back, then spies Ron studying alone at a far table.

"Do you mind!" Harry turns, Hermione pushes through a clique of whispering girls who Harry discovers are spying Krum.

"Krum? In the library?"

"He's always here. Which means they're always here. Dead annoying!"

She sighs as she stares at Krum then back to Harry.

"Since that night in the goblet room, you two haven't spoken to each other. You two are best friends, I know it wasn't your fault, Harry. I know someone who did.. put your name inside the goblet. Remember at the world cup? His marks. Probably one of them did this".

"I don't know, Hermione". Harry's eyes look around until he spots Krum eyeing Hermione. "It just.. I don't wanna be a part of this tournament, I'll get what I Am.. and am annoyed".

Hermione sighs with a little smile. "It wasn't. Just because you chose one".

Later that. Harry left the library leaving Hermione behind. As she stacked the book back on the shelves, she felt someone standing behind her.

Though it was Snape, as she turns it was Krum who stands behind her. Hermione looks around the library where girls students whisper, giggling and sitting before.

The tables were empty, the girls had left that she didn't notice. Krum made his way towards her after they left.

"Can I help you?"

"Your Hermy-own-ninny?"

"I'm what?!"

"Hermy-own-ninny".

She nodded. Knowing Krum try to pronounce her name correctly. He speaks English but the tongue of Bulgarian, Hermione trying to figure out what he'd said.

"Hermy-own-ninny.."

Before she could say anything, Krum turned his feet and blushed. Hermione was confused seeing him like that.

"What is his problem? Do Bulgarian men always like that?"