A/N: Hi everyone, I'm so sorry for the four-month delay almost but I had this severe case of writer's block, I mean it was ridiculous as to how bad it was. I honestly didn't know how I was going to piece everything together for as you've all realized I have a lot of things scattered all over the place in this fic and I've only pieced together two or three things if even that many. I hope I haven't made anyone go crazy with anticipation for chapter 15 cause as a reader I know the feeling of frustration when a fic you enjoy is taking your whole life span to update. .
Anyway, I have read all the reviews and I loved them all, both the critical, the complimentary and the usual 'please update soon!', I appreciated them all. I also received a swamp of e-mails requesting updates, I truly am sorry it took me this long, but I also have been rather busy with life in general and things always manage to get in the way of some quiet writing time. Ok well enough of that, chapter 14 was left off in a very interesting situation and to be perfectly honest I don't know what exactly I'm going to do about it just yet . but I'll figure something out, don't I always?
Warning: OotP spoilers from now till the end of the fic!
Disclaimer: ::Mr. Sock peeps his head out of the hamper and looks at readers:: Hey you guys! Pssst! Over here! You see me? Can you hear me now? Great, ok, listen I need to set the record straight, cause me and the guys in the hamper have been talking and to be perfectly honest, Slytherinz_divaz is not worthy to own Harry Potter! That's why she doesn't! She doesn't even treat her own sock with respect, or any of the other guys in the hamper, shoving us and throwing us and-
::Slytherinz_divaz walks into the laundry room:: Talking about me Mr. Sock?
Mr. Sock: No, no, no, no, I was just explaining to all these wonderful people that uh, you…uh, well, you know…you're…
Slytherinz_divaz: That I'm? What?
Mr. Sock: Beautiful!
Slytherinz_divaz: ::narrows eyes at Mr. Sock:: You're a bad liar, and liars must be taught a lesson! I think…you need some quality time with Simba.
Mr. Sock: ::looking mortified:: No! Not that cat!
Slytherinz_divaz: ::grins evilly:: Oh yea! Simba! Hey, Simba! Come here, my precious little kitty!
Mr. Sock: Nooooooooooooooooooooo!
Credits: Credits are soooo boring, I say let's skip'em we all know who the credit belongs to anyway, right guys?
Thanks too: LiLbLueangeL1223, Jo, goddesskali, Nami1, LifeGiving Killer, random person again, Chyld of Black Fire, RivanKnight, sweet-77-thang, Ottawan Angel, Cute-Kitty, Trapt*ROCKS* My World, Earthako, Lyannix Rayne, Savvy706, faerie of the flame, Crazy4wood, Billy~Dracoluver, burgundyred, wildmage101, Icy Spicy Micey, Sellser, wuwuwulililili419, OnlyBeingMe, Jen, noisyamie, Kelli Granger, xxbabysparklesxx, ScRibBLrOfDrEaMs, Genevieve Jones, devotchka92, meggles, Arwen1011, Vu, ToOtHpIcK, Harrypottergirl, SmallTownWitch, aku-neko, Darkening Sky, SeoulSweets, *NeLLy*, me (vivace275@aol.com), Pannygirl, Dannii Malfoy, gryffindor gal, Voronda Wilwarin, Crazper, mesmer, Emerald Flame, Junsui Chikyuu, Natsufan, overXposed, Trixie, ICY*COOL, SodapopC, Mia, sweet-soph, pfannkuchen, Elizabeth, CaNaDiAn CuTiE1, ravenbeaut, Margaret, paprika90, average jane, CK, Kate, rach, Hermione Double, River Moon, someanoyedperson, snakewise, akiko, Xinh, Colleen, ToMLuVa06, Amber Lee 1, v son sayian, Cho Chang-Emotional Dark Hole, GlueStik, kole17, hunnie angel, Doreyblack, LilSlytherin, lynnz, Lover del Dragon and ANONYMOUS for your awesome reviews!
Chapter 15: In Dreamland
Hermione, Ron and Harry were standing together with their fellow Gryffindors as they watched their competition take their places standing beside them in front of Dumbledore. Hermione saw Slytherin house standing on her right and she slyly sneaked a glimpse in that direction and catching a quick glance at Draco who seemed to be looking slightly distracted as if he was thinking of something else besides the tournament…something he seemed to dislike.
Harry glanced over at Hermione, as he noticed her attention was drawn elsewhere he followed the direction of her glance, 'Malfoy? Why would she be looking at Malfoy?'
"Mione," Harry whispered.
Hermione broke her glance from Draco and looked over at Harry, "Yea, Harry?"
"You ok? You seemed a bit distracted."
Hermione put on a meaningless smile to get Harry off her back, "I'm fine Harry, don't worry about me alright?"
Harry nodded, "If you say so."
Dumbledore then raised his arms up and began to speak, "Welcome parents and students to our School Tournament. What we are about to do is have a selection, conducted by our Sorting Hat," Dumbledore began as McGonagall handed the Sorting Hat over to Dumbledore and placed a stool beside him, "One by one each student from each house will be called and the Sorting Hat will determine whether or not you have what it takes to compete in the tournament games. For you see as of right now the tournament has begun and this is the first game, this game is the game of 'Ability' the Sorting Hat sees what no one else can see within us not even ourselves. So let us begin shall we."
So then it began one by one Dumbledore and McGonagall called up the sixth and seventh years and they all went under the sorting hat, as that was happening Harry and Ron were conversing quietly.
"Harry, already three people for Gryffindor have been selected, and only six people from each house can play…you…you don't think I might not get to compete…do you?" Ron asked worriedly.
Harry looked at him and shrugged, "Why ask? Of course you'll make it Ron, why wouldn't you?"
Ron looked at Harry as if he was joking, "The odds Harry…the odds are against me…and you…but I don't think you count considering you always manage to go against all odds anyway."
Harry smirked, "Thanks Ron."
"Ronald Weasley!" called out Dumbledore.
"You're on mate…go!" Harry said nudging Ron to walk towards the Sorting Hat.
'How nice, like first year all over again,' he thought, as he sat on the stool and the Hat went on top of his head.
After five minutes the Sorting Hat then shouted, "Gryffindor number Four!"
Ron couldn't believe his pink ears, he was selected to compete…he never thought that was going to happen to him, not in a million years. Ron then sat in the fourth seat of the Gryffindor row on the stage that had been set up…he sat with the other three selected Gryffindors, Dean Thomas, Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil. Three other members from the other houses where sitting on stage with their house row as well, for Ravenclaw there was, Padma Patil, Luna Lovegood and Anthony Goldstein.
For Hufflepuff there was, Ernie Macmillan, Hannah Abbott and Justin Finch-Fletchley.
For Slytherin there was, Millicent Bullstrode, Blaise Zabini and Michelle Blackheart.
Three more people remained for each house and Dumbledore continued to call out names.
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Meanwhile back at Hogwarts Tonks and Hagrid were walking down the hall heading towards the tournament selection.
Tonks was holding a brown pouch and she kept on looking at it every so often as if she didn't like to hold it.
"Oh, Hagrid, must we use this for a tournament? On underage Witches and Wizards?" she asked sounding worried.
Hagrid sighed, "I don' like it any mo' then ye do Tonks, but wha' else can we do? Dumbledore gave us orders an' we got to follow 'em, even if it means usin' wha' yer holdin' righ' now."
Tonks frowned, "What sort of purpose will this play for? To test those that are selected in such a way and what if the one's he truly wishes to test are not even selected, what then?
Hagrid shook his head, "Wish I knew."
Tonks fidgeted with the pouch in her hand, "This could be dangerous, very dangerous."
"I know."
"I'm sorry Hagrid, I shouldn't expect you to give me answers, when you know nothing just like me. It's just that…well…can't there be a better way to test the power of a person?" She asked as they exited the castle and began walking over to the noisy pitch.
"Sounds like everyone's been picked," Hagrid said, "An' don' worry abou' them, they'll be alrigh', if Dumbledore thinks so…then so do I and so should ye."
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Back at the pitch all 24 participants had been selected, the final teams were as follows:
Gryffindor Team, Ronald Weasely, Dean Thomas, Harry Potter, Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil and Hermione Granger.
Ravenclaw Team, Padma Patil, Anthony Goldstein, Michael Corner, Luna Lovegood, Lisa Turpin and Stewart Ackerly.
Hufflepuff Team, Hannah Abbott, Ernie Macmillan, Susan Bones, Justin Finch-Fletchely, Gabriela Garcia and Owen Cauldwell.
Slytherin Team, Millicent Bullstrode, Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson, Malcolm Baddock, Draco Malfoy and Michelle Blackheart.
After they were announced Tonks and Hagrid arrived, "Ah, Professor Tonks, right on time."
Tonks nodded and handed the brown pouch over to Dumbledore, "This, will mark the beginning of the Tournament…one at a time the twenty four finalists shall put their hand inside this pouch and grab the stone inside after that is done, they will be put into a deep slumber where they shall begin the first event."
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One by one they all touched the stone and one by one they all fell into a deep slumber, there bodies were made to magically lay in the air.
Hermione felt her eyes flutter and she slowly opened them, at first her vision was extremely blurry, "What happened?" all she heard was silence and the chirping of birds and the sounds of forest animals, "Professor? Harry? Ron?"
Hermione began rubbing her eyes and began focusing her vision, when her vision was clear she looked puzzled at her surroundings, "Where am I?" she said as she saw that she was in some sort of enchanted forest. The trees where tall and green, their branches reached out to other trees and provided a massive lime green canopy above keeping cool shade over the inhabitants of the forest. She felt soft brown earth beneath her and rocks and plants everywhere which shown in the few golden rays of the sun which managed to seep through holes in the leafy canopy above. The air smelled of sweet roses and honey and she saw carpets of multi-colored flowers growing everywhere as she was taking everything in she heard the sound of a galloping creature as she looked up she saw a glowing white Unicorn run by her with its white mane glistening in the sun, running through the snowfall of flower petals of pink and white which constantly seemed to fall from the treetops. She noticed her clothes were changed as well, she was now wearing a beautiful white dress that flowed down to the floor with tints of gold glitter, short sleeves and a square neckline that went just above her breasts outlined in gold, it was a dress for a princess and her hair was straight with a few small braids in it tied with gold lace. She looked lovely.
"This, is a fantasy forest…nowhere does such a beautiful place exist…," she began as she continued awing at the beauty around her, "but why am I here? Is this part of the tournament…to be sent here…perhaps through a dream? Are the others here as well?"
"Do you always think aloud?" came a voice from behind her; Hermione turned around and then saw someone come out from behind a cherry blossom tree.
"I don't believe this…Malfoy!?" Hermione said trying to get a good look at the figure for a few sun rays where behind him making him appear like a shadow.
She saw the shadow stop suddenly, as if he had been startled or shocked by something…Hermione kept trying to see his face.
"Granger?" they said in a rather shocked tone.
"Malfoy? Come closer I can't see your face…wait on second thought stay where you are…I'd rather see nothing." Hermione said as she had her left side facing him.
She heard a dark chuckle come from him and she heard his approaching footsteps, she couldn't help but look his way and when she did it was her turn to freeze.
Draco stepped out of the light and she found him shirtless, wearing snug black leather like pants and nearly knee high black boots. He seemed almost immortal before her, his silver eyes shown like stars and his body shown like a god in the sun's rays strong and invincible. Hermione was left speechless.
You could cut the tension with a knife, Hermione secretly or perhaps not so secretly in awe of Draco and Draco secretly in complete awe of Hermione.
'She's-I can't believe…she's more beautiful then she was at the ball…she looks as fair as the immortal fairies,' he thought; yet suddenly he remembered why he was here, to win a tournament.
"Do you have a staring problem Garnger?" He asked acting as if her appearance had no effect on him.
Hermione suddenly snapped out of her thoughts and narrowed her beautiful brown eyes at him; "Out of twenty four other people most likely in this forest, I have to run into you! I can't even escape you when I'm dreaming."
Draco glared at her, "Enough…its not like I haven't heard that before, or anything closely related to it. All I want to know is why did I not get a shirt?"
Hermione tried not to blush or stare at Draco's fine toned chest, as he looked up at her he caught her in a stare and smirked, "See something you like do you?"
Hermione's eyes widened in embarrassment and humility and she quickly turned away and started walking.
"Where are you going? You don't know your way around here do you?" Draco yelled out to her.
Hermione stopped and turned to look at him, and yelled back in reply, "I don't care, as long as I can be away from you! Perhaps I'll run into someone I actually can tolerate!"
"I doubt it gets any better around here then me witch! or anywhere else for that matter. Your flushing cheeks proved that!" He yelled back with a satisfied grin.
"You're insufferable Malfoy you know that!?" Hermione yelled as she walked back over to him, till they were merely feet apart, "ever since this school year has started I have had to deal with you more then ever before and I'm tired of having to, right now obviously we're in some sort of dream world or fantasy realm and I do not feel like dealing with you here either!"
"So you think its wiser to go off into an unknown place to look for people who might not even be here?" Draco asked in a monotone voice.
Hermione frowned, "I don't know. But the others have to be here, we all touched that stone and Dumbledore said we would be put into a deep sleep. Right now we're all sleeping and if you and I are in the same dream than I'm sure everyone else is as well."
"Now the only question is, what are we supposed to be doing here?" Draco asked as he looked around at the beautiful forest around them and then back at the beautiful sight of Hermione.
'I could definitely think of a few things I could do here,' he thought with a smirk.
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It was now sunset in the real world and Dumbledore and McGonagall were watching over the sleeping students who were levitating in the air peacefully.
"Albus, do you think it is wise to pull off this sort of deception?" she asked worriedly.
Dumbledore sighed, "I can't say Minerva, all I know is that it is one of the last resorts we have. Lying to the parents and students about a Tournament that doesn't even exist all for the purpose of making our side stronger for the upcoming war needed to be done discretely. We have foes amongst the Slytherin parents and students and perhaps other places as well, we can't afford any leaks."
Minerva sighed, "I know Albus, its just such a risk. I mean these twenty four are the strongest students in all Hogwarts, the Sorting Hat knew that…and now we are…I feel like, we're exploiting their powers."
Albus shook his head, "Not at all my dear Professor, all but four of them will fight this war on our side…they need to be ready."
"So what are you having them do right now?" she asked looking at the students.
"I'm having them learn to bring out their true powers. For as you already know Minerva, our true magic comes from our emotions and from our heart when one is young one does not use the magic they naturally have but the magic that they can read, feel and see. The magic they're taught here is all like that, and very few can channel the magic from within…but those who can, can become terribly powerful…our very own Hogwart alumnus Voldemort knew how to channel the magic from his emotions. It made him so powerful, but he channeled the power of his hate and rage turning him evil."
"Who's to say some of these students won't do the same Albus? Especially the Slytherin students." Minerva said worriedly.
"Sometimes you must give a little to get a little," he began as he sat down, "I just wonder how long it'll take them to channel their true power…their real magic. Yet what I wonder more is…when the true test befalls them…will they pass?"
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A/N: Ok, I hope you guys aren't mad that I ended it there, but this chapter was a set up for the following chapter…you'll see in the next chapter lol. Ok so the whole Tournament is a big hoax *dum dum dum* lolz Dumbledore is a very very sneaky man. So we now know why it's a hoax, but the question now is…what lies ahead for everyone in the dream world? Especially for Draco and Hermione, jungle fever? Lolz who knows *evil grin* lovey dovey coming up sooooooo soon *squeals* much better then a bed I have planned lmao, ok so please write whatever comment you wish, I love to hear from you guys and hopefully I wont take so long to update next time! Ok bye bye!