By the time Friday rolled around almost all the 6th and 7th year students had signed up for the TWC. Everyone had decided who they were going to partner with and they were all discussing tactics and challenges. At 7 o'clock on Friday evening all the competing students made their way to the Great Hall. Harry and Ron were continuing the argument they had been having since they signed up.

"Why did I let you talk me into this?" said Ron. "I know I'll be complete rubbish."

"No you won't," Harry insisted. "You're going to be great"

The argument was the same every time so by now whenever they started it up again, Ginny and Hermione would mock them.

"I'm going to be awful," said Ginny laughing. "I knew that all along that's why I signed up"

"No," said Hermione laughing along with Ginny, "you're going to do so well they're going to ask you to be Minister of Magic"

"Hey," said Ron cutting in on Ginny and Hermione, "what does the Minster of Magic have to do with anything?"

"Well Ronald," said Ginny as they took their seats in the Great Hall, " you're acting as if this competition is going to effect the rest of your life."

"You shut up," said Ron, "You overreact all the time so don't now start in on me about how --"

Ron was cut off by Dumbledore striding in through the side door into the Great Hall.

"May I have everyone's attention please," said Dumbledore. Everyone became quiet at once. "I am pleased to see so many people here to participate." Some people sniggered at this but then became quiet once more when Dumbledore said, "So let me explain the competition."

"As I told you on Tuesday, everyone will have a partner and every week there will be a challenge. The challenges will vary from academics to physical challenges. Each team will be awarded points at the end of each challenge and at the end of all the challenges the team with the most points will be awarded a prize." Here Dumbledore paused for a minute then said, "Does everyone understand?" Everyone nodded or called out then Dumbledore said, "Well then let me assign teams and then I can tell you about the first challenge."

At this there was a great deal of yelling.

"Assign teams-"

"We've already chosen teams-"

"You can't do this-"

"SILENCE," bellowed Dumbledore." I never said you could pick your own teams so someone should have asked. But if anyone is not ok with this they can leave now. This is your last chance to leave because then I will assign teams and you can't pull out once teams are assigned." Dumbledore waited but no one got up to leave.

"Ok," said Dumbledore, "Then I will assign teams now. Everyone please stand up." Dumbledore took out his wand and all the House tables disappeared and in their place about 100 small tables appeared with two chairs at each. "When I call your name please choose a table and sit down with your partner." With this he pulled a list out of his pocket and began to read of pairs.

"Harry Potter…….Padma Patil, Ron Weasley……..Luna Lovegood, Ginny Weasley… Ernie Macmillan, Hermione Granger…….Draco Malfoy.

"You have got to be kidding me," Hermione exclaimed. "Malfoy out of everyone here I get stuck with Malfoy." Hermione continued to rant and rave to Ginny, who had stayed to comfort Hermione, until Dumbledore said, "Excuse me Miss. Weasley, Miss. Granger, please join your partners at a table."

"See you later Gin," said Hermione miserably to Ginny.

"It'll be okay Hermione," said Ginny as she walked toward the table that Ernie was sitting at.

"Yeah," Hermione thought to herself, "this is going to be just great." And with that Hermione turned and slowly walked to the table where Draco Malfoy was sitting, with a smirk on his face.