Chapter 2

We had only just survived that evening…

I

After the match we all were screaming in celebration. Ireland had won the world cup - though the Bulgarian Seeker, Krum, had caught the snitch.

"Did you see the way he flew!" exclaimed Ron dreamily, "wish I could fly like that.."

"Ron and Krum sitting in a tree…" sang Fred,

"K I S S I N G!" continued George.

"Shut up!" grumbled their younger brother, stomping off down the path.

We all continued to laugh before making our way back to the tents.

The partying went on late into the night. Everyone was celebrating the Irish win and even the foreigners were having a brilliant time.

"I'm going to bed," I told the tent's occupants, deciding that I really needed some sleep.

"Night," chorused everyone as I slipped through the tent flaps into the cool night air.

BANG!

My eyes flickered from my own tent to the rest of the field. The celebrations had become silent and, far off in the distance, screams had began to sound. I could just about make out the colour of fire from where I was stood…

/I

"They still haven't caught who did it," commented Hermione, placing the Daily Prophet back onto her lap.

"What?" I murmured, moving my head from its position on my brother's shoulder.

"The Quidditch match, they haven't caught the people yet," explained my friend again.

"They were Death Eaters Hermione," commented Ron lazily, "they've all got ministry members buried deep in their pockets, they're unlikely to be caught."

I looked outside the train window. This was my forth time making the pilgrimage to Hogwarts. My eyes followed the green English countryside flashing past my window.

"Lunch off the trolley dears?" asked a kindly voice from the carriage door.

We all turned to face the smiling lady who pushed the lunch trolley.

"Yes please!"

We all arrived at Hogwarts in one piece and I really hoped that we would get a quiet year. The sorting had been finished and, thank Merlin, the Headmaster Dumbledore - the man who had rescued me all those years ago - had decided to say the announcements after the feast.

"Hiya Blaze," I said, greeting the guy sitting further down our table, "good summer?"

My fellow forth year grinned back at me, "Yer was brilliant thanks. Yours?"

I nodded, "Yer was really good. We even…"

I was stopped from telling my friend all about the excitement of the Quidditch world cup when Dumbledore clapped his hands - signalling silence. I turned to him, having finished my last forkful of chocolate cake and waited to see what he would say.

"Firstly I would like to announce that, this year, Hogwarts will be hosting…."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The entirety of the student body and teaching staff turned in unison to face the double doors that lead into the entrance hall. There was someone at the door.

The doors smoothly opened to reveil an old man. He was like a patchwork gone wrong and, instead of pretty coloured squares, a wooden leg banged against the stone floor as he walked and a really weird eye flickered around the room - independent of the other. I wasn't sure why, but he made me want to puke.

"Welcome Professor Moody," greeted the Headmaster, "Students I would like you to meet your Defence against the Dark Arts teacher."

The hall broke into scattered applause,

"He's a good friend of my Father's," boosted Draco from beside me.

"Really Draco?" Pansy Parkinson simpered from beside him, "do you think he'll favour Slytherin then?"

"I hope so," Draco continued, "do you know anything about him Kirsty?"

I turned to my fellow Slytherin, "Arthur Weasley said he was a ex Auror, apparently his bins went a bit mental over the summer - caused the ministry a lot of trouble as they had to erase the minds of loads of Muggles. Why they're letting him teach at a school…."

"Are you going to enter?" asked Pansy from the sofa opposite me.

We were all sitting in the Slytherin common room, I was beside Draco on the sofa opposite the fire. A green rug in front of us was filled with third years eating sweets. The carpeted, far away, corners of room where full of excited second and first years and the whispers of older students…

"Kirsty," hissed Pansy, "stop being so rude and answer me, are you going to enter the tournament of not?"

And get myself killed? I don't think so, "No Pansy," I replied, "I have studying to do."

I knew Harry wouldn't want to enter either. The Triwizard tournament was a contest consisting of the three more well known schools in Wizarding Europe - Beuxbatons from France, Durmstrang from Bulgaria and Hogwarts, which is in Scotland. A whole group of students would come from the two foreign schools to enter their names to participate. Each one of the three challenges they would be set would certainly be difficult and could possibly get them killed. If it was anything like the challenges I had to face with my Griffindor friends while trying to rescue the immortality Stone from Voldermort, well I wished nothing to do with it. I had survived those as a first year with pure luck and no rules.

"What do you mean Potter?" asked a sixth year from behind me, "Thought this would be right up your street."

I turned and spotted a very handsome sixth year behind me, "Not really Montague, I want a quiet year."

He grinned, "that'll never happen to you, you attract trouble like a magnet."

I blushed, "It's not my fault!"

"Never said it was," he whispered before gently kissing the top of my head and turning off up the stairs.

My resolve for a quiet life continuing quite well as we approached Halloween. Though my stomach seemed to back flip every time I became within 10 yards of Montague, my life was relatively simple. With not a single peep out of anything related with Voldermort since the Quidditch world cup everyone was a lot happier.

When October 30th approached, the entire castle seemed to fill with the anticipation of the coming of the foreign students. Soon the Triwizard tournament business would begin and I was looking forward to watching someone else putting their lives at risk for a change.

At this moment I was sitting in my Potions class. It was a Friday and today, the day before Halloween, the students were coming to Hogwarts. I couldn't wait to meet them and, like everyone else, I was excited about the year's events.

"Two minutes…" I whispered to myself, staring at the clock.

"What was that Miss Potter?" hissed the slithery, but rather pleasant, man who was my head of house and Potions teacher.

"Two minutes and my Potion will be finished Professor Snape," I replied, smiling innocently.

He knew I was lying, but I was a Slytherin and he wasn't going to discipline me - that and I looked to much like my mother.

I had known about his past with my mother. His eyes lit up at the mention of my mother's name in the same way Mr Weasley's did when he was talking about Molly, his wife.

Looking into the blade of my potions knife I watched my reflection, yes, I had my fathers dark hair. But I, like my brother, had my mother's green eyes. From the photo's I had, I also knew that I had the same facial structure as her. In a few years I would be her in miniature - just with different hair. While I'm on the subject of my mother, I was also fortunate to have inherited her Potion skills - my brother, however, hadn't been so fortunate.

"Potter," growled Snape from the other side of the classroom, "what colour is you potion supposed to be?"

"Pale blue sir," replied my brother.

"What colour is it?"

"Red sir."

"You fail again Mr. Potter."

The bell rang minutes later. Those who had cleared away early streamed out of the classroom faster than you could say 'Quidditch tryouts'. I, however, carefully bottled my pale blue healing potion and handed it to the professor.

He looked at it, analysing it with a critical eye, "Very well done."

I smiled and made to return to my desk to clear away, but he stopped me.

"No, Madame Pomfrey is low on this one," he explained, "I shall bottle the rest and send it to her. Now pack up your belongings and hurry over to meet our guests."

I nodded, beaming at him, before gathering my bag and disappearing from the room just catching the words '50 points to Slytherin' as I sped off down the corridor.

"I would like to first welcome the ladies of Beuxbatons Academy of Magic!" announced Dumbledore from the front of the great hall.

A stream of pretty French girls entered through the door. All the boys in the hall seemed to follow all of them down the hall, especially the blonde one at the front of the group. I turned back to face my house table and saw, to my delight, Pansy glaring daggers at Draco who was also staring intently at the foreigners.

Once the girls had made themselves comfortable at the Ravenclaw house table and their huge headmistress had sat with the staff, the other school was allowed entry.

It was now the girls turn to stare. I was among them, my eyes fixed on Victor Krum - the Bulgarian Seeker no less!

"I had no idea he was still at school!" I whispered to Draco.

I didn't get an answer, however, as Draco seemed to be communicating something to the Bulgarian. I watched the foreign student nod before making his way over to our table. He was going to sit with us! Draco turned and winked at me before moving up slightly on the bench. I must say that a smile graced my face when Krum sat beside me.

"Hello," greeted Krum, "And who is this delightful young lady beside me Draco?"

I blushed deeply and, for the first time all term, Montague was completely forgotten.

"This, my friend, is my very good friend Kirsty Potter," replied Draco smugly.

"Potter?" queried Krum, seemingly impressed, "I would never have guessed that a Potter would join Slytherin."

"I'm the first in over a hundred years," I explained.

He grinned, "It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Potter, or may I call you Kirsty?"

"Kirsty would be fine…"

Pansy had been glaring daggers at me throughout the entire conversation that evening. This one was being held in the Slytherin fourth year girl's dormitory. The main talking point was Victor Krum.

"I can't believe he sat next to you," swooned Elliot, the daughter of one of the high ranking ministry officials, "you are so lucky."

I grinned again as a blush coloured my cheeks, why did I keep blushing? "I'm sorry girls, I'm going to have to get some sleep, it's going to be a late one tomorrow."

How right I was….

Students had been adding their names to the Goblet of Fire all day. This magical device was what was going to select the students that would participate in the tournament. One student from each school. However, at the welcoming feast yesterday, Dumbledore had explained the ministry rules that no student below 17 was allowed to compete. To be honest, I was thankful. People below that age wouldn't know enough magic.

"Hi Kirsty," greeted Hermione as she settled herself on the bench beside me, "how are you?"

"Brilliant thanks," I replied, "did you hear about Lee this morning?"

The Griffindor shook her head, "You know Lee Jordan, that friend of Fred and George?" I explained, "Well he brewed an aging potion - to try and cross the age line that Dumbledore placed around the cup - he crossed the line and was able to place his name in the goblet before getting thrown out of the area. He's in the hospital wing now, getting his beard removed…"

Hermione was freed from replying by the excited arrival of the Weasley twins. Each of the boys held a small vial of pink potion in one hand. Both announced to the crowd about what they were planning to do. Those who knew about the condition of their friend said nothing, eager to see the spectacle for themselves.

"Aren't you going to stop them?" hissed Hermione.

I looked at her, surprised, "No. Are you?"

She looked angry for a moment before shaking her head, "I want to see."

"You really should have been in Slytherin Hermione."

When, minutes later, the boys were lying on their backs, their faces covered in bright white beards that could rival Dumbledore's, the headmaster entered and escorted the two mischief makers to the hospital wing.

That evening the entire hall was full of excited students. The teachers all looked slightly worried about which students would be picked, hoping no student would indeed meet their end as others had done.

"Good luck," I whispered to Krum.

He smiled and thanked me before turning to the cup at the front of the hall. Its red flames had turned blue and every pair of eyes was following the single piece of paper that it had emitted. Dumbledore caught it, read it and announced,

"The student chosen from Beuxbatons is Miss Fleur Delecour."

The blonde girl that had been ogled at by the males since her arrival rose from her seat at the Ravenclaw table. Smiling brightly she walked to the front of the hall where Dumbledore shook her hand. Then she slipped though a small door at the back of the hall.

Silence fell upon the hall as we waited for the second name. Once again the flames turned blue,

"The Champion from Durmstrang is Mr Victor Krum."

"Well done!" I told him as he rose triumphantly from beside me.

Once he to had disappeared from the hall it fell into an anticipated silence, Hogwarts next.

For what we all thought would be the final time the cup erupted in blue flames. However, instead of the normal friendly smile that had graced the Headmaster's face before, he looked angry.

"Mr Potter has been chosen for Hogwarts."

I felt like an iron fist had clenched my heart, my brother? No. He said he wouldn't put in his name, he'd sworn to me….

To busy panicking about what would happen to Harry, I missed the fire turn blue for the final time that night. I was shocked to hear my name announced to the hall.

"Miss Potter."

"What?" I whispered to Draco.

"Miss Potter," called the Headmaster, louder this time.

"Your name just came out of the cup," hissed Draco, "go!"

I rose from my seat. What was happening? I definitely hadn't entered my name…

A/N: As you can probably guess this secton of the tale is based on book 4, Anything you reconise belongs to the wonderful J.K Rowling bows

Reviews would be very nice :D

TBC…..