"This is exciting isn't it?" Ginny asked her arm hooked through Hermione's. It was a very girl move that Hermione wasn't used to, but she found she didn't so much mind. It was nice to walk with her friend like that it connected them in some way. Hermione could almost hear every thought that Ginny thought before actually speaking it. She could tell Ginny was doing the same thing because she would finish her own sentences for her. They would giggle and now Hermione understood why girls were linked like this so much, it was fun. "I mean any moment someone from maybe our house is going to be picked as the champion." Ginny said.
"Yes it's very exciting though to be honest I think Cedric will get it."
"So do I." Ginny said. "But it would be nice to think that a Gryffindor could be the champion."
"Just as long as it's not a slytherin." The two said at the same time.
"Hey no twin acts." Fred said eyeing the two.
"Yeah that's our thing." George said. The two girls smirked at them before breaking off. Ginny went to sit by the fellow third years while Hermione sat next to Harry and Ron.
"Bout time you came where have you been?" Ron asked.
"Helping your sister in the library with her potions Essay." Hermione said. It was half the truth, she had skipped dinner to choose something to wear but then came down to catch at least dessert to only have Ginny nearly jump her and beg for help.
"You nearly missed the champions ceremony." Harry said with a smile.
"Hey I had to help gin, Ronald's mother would kill me if she didn't pass her grades this term." Hermione said.
"Sit down please!" the headmaster called. Instantly all chattering ceased and students began to teak their seats. "Now the moment you have all been waiting for… The champion selection!"
"This is exciting." Ron said rubbing his hands together.
Dumbledore moved his hand around the room the bright torches that kept the great hall lit slowly began to dim, until the only light casted was from that of the goblet itself. Every one watched as the older wizard slowly began to near it his hands extended almost as if willing it to say the names of the champions. Suddenly a great spit of fire burst into the air bringing with it a small paper that floated down into the hands of Dumbledore. Hermione wasn't sure why but she felt her heart drop to the pit of her stomach.
"The Durmstrang champion is… Viktor Krum!" there was a great round of applause. Hermione smiled as she watched him throw his fist into the air in victory before heading down the bleachers to the champions quarters. On his way down she saw him looking around only to frown before disappearing into the trophy room.
I hope he's as prepared for this as he thinks… I'm glad he read the book that he knew what he was getting into at least… Still I can't help but worry. Every time this bloody tournament is held someone ends of dead or nearly…
When he was gone another spit of blue flames sent a smaller circular paper up into the air where it fluttered down quite delicately into the hands of Dumbledore. "The champion from Beauxbatons is Fleur Delacour!" Hermione didn't clap, only mostly the men did who whistled along with their applause. When Fleur had made it back into the trophy room everyone from Hogwarts was on the edge of their seats.
"Here it comes…" Ron said nearly bouncing as a piece of paper flew up into the air.
"The champion of Hogwarts is… Cedric Diggory!" everyone from Hogwarts burst into applause.
"We're a sure in now." Harry said leaning back in his chair to look at his friends who sat behind him on bleachers.
"No way even Krum could beat us now." Ron said with a smile.
"Excellent we now have our three champions!" Dumbledore called out right after Cedric had gone into the trophy room. "But in the end only one can truly go down in history. Only one champion can hoist the chalice of champions the vessel of victory the tri wizard cup!" Dumbledore spun around to point at a bright blue glowing chalice which had the tournaments name etched into it.
"Oh wow…" Ron said looking at it.
"That's got to be one of the most shiniest things I've ever seen." Fred said his eyes going wide.
"Let's knick it." the twins said in unison. Hermione slowly sat up to look not at the trophy but at the goblet of fire that had blue flames spitting out of it once more.
"What in the world…" she whispered. Applauding slowly stopped as Dumbledore turned to look at it with interested eyes.
"What's it doing?" Seamus asked.
"No idea…" Harry muttered.
"It's choosing…" Hermione softly.
Please not Harry's name… Please not Harry's name… She thought.
"Did you see that…" Dean said as Hermione slowly sat back down her eyes wide. A paper had just flown out of the cup and she had a sneaking suspicion she knew whose name was going to be on it.
"No, what?" Ron asked.
"A piece of paper just came flying out." He said.
"We already have three champions…" Hermione said softly, a horrible feeling creeping into her.
"It has to be a mistake." Neville said.
"The goblet of fire doesn't make mistakes…" Hermione muttered as she watched Dumbledore catch it.
Please, not this year. This year was supposed to be quiet. This year was supposed to be easy. Please don't let his luck be that terrible.
"He doesn't look pleased…" George said. Dumbledore was staring down at the small piece of paper with wide livid eyes.
"Harry Potter…" he muttered.
I knew it… Wonderful there goes my peaceful year! Hermione slowly looked to Harry who had stood up hearing his name.
"Harry potter!" Dumbledore called in an angry voice. Harry slowly sat down hearing his head masters tone. "HARRY POTTER!" he bellowed. Hermione moved forward and grabbed her friend hoisting him up.
"Come on Harry…" she muttered. He fought her slightly as he tried to sit back down. "For goodness sakes Harry stand up." she said pushing him forward. As her friend neared the livid looking headmaster Hermione turned to look at Ron only to find him looking just as angry as Dumbledore.
"He's a cheat!" a Slytherin called as Harry neared the trophy room.
"He's only fourteen!" someone else called.
-o-
"zis iz verly, exziding." Fleur said as she rubbed her hands together.
"Very." Cedric said. "To be honest I didn't think I'd get it."
"You were a sure in." Viktor said remembering what Hermione had told him.
"As were you." Diggory said with a star struck look. The great Viktor Krum had just told him he was a sure in to get the title of champion.
"Zounds like z teacherz are comiiing." Fluer said hearing the gates to the room open. They all gathered together only to see Harry Potter slowly making his way in.
"Harry…" Cedric muttered. "What are you-." He was cut off by the sounds of very angry voices.
"Quiet! Silence every one!" Dumbledore bellowed as he moved towards Harry and slightly pushed him into some stacks of trophies. "Harry Harry my boy, did you put your name in the goblet of fire?"
"N-no sir!"
"Did you get one of the older students to do it for you?"
"No sir I swear!"
"You are completely sure?"
"Of course sir!"
"He is lying!" the Madame giant said as she walked over with the others.
"The hell he is! It would have taken an extremely powerful confundus charm to hood wink a magical object such as the goblet of fire!" Mad eye said moving forward. "Way beyond the talents of a fourth year!"
"You seem to have given this much thought mad eye." Karkaroff spat as he got in the aurors face.
"It was once my duty to think as dark wizards did karkaroff, or have you already forgotten?" Viktor watched his head masters face twist in anger.
"That isn't helping Alastar." Dumbledore said.
-o-
"I can't believe he did this to me…" Ron muttered as he and Hermione headed back to the common room.
"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked.
"You know what I'm talking about." Ron said. "Harry putting his bloody name in the goblet of fire."
"You really think he did that?" Hermione asked as she looked at him with wide eyes.
"How else did his name get in there?" Ron asked glaring at her.
"I don't know maybe someone else put his name in." Hermione couldn't believe Ron would think Harry would do such a thing.
"I wish he would have told me, think he might let his best friend know."
"He didn't do it Ron its impossible." Hermione said.
"Harry's done a lot of things that are impossible." Ron said. "He just loves attention." Hermione froze making Ron stop and turn to look at her.
"The only reason you're angry is because he's getting that attention." Hermione said.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Think about it." Hermione said pushing past him and walking up to the portrait. "Lions amongst snakes…" Hermione said the password and waited for what seemed like forever. The portrait swung open and she rushed in and up the stairs. "There's no way in hell I'm letting this ruin my night…"
This might be the last night I'll get to have a fun quiet care free time…
-o-
"That was unexpected." Jamous said following his best friend into his private cabin.
"It really was." Viktor said as he walked over to his closet.
"So what happened down there exactly?"Jamous asked.
"He has to compete." Viktor said.
"But he is young."
"Does this shirt look good?" Viktor held it up over his chest while it still hung on the hanger.
"I guess…" Jamous said eyeing his friend as Viktor turned and looked at himself in the mirror. He groaned slightly before throwing the shirt on the bed and reaching for another.
"What of this one do you like this one? My mother always said I looked good in green."
"I think you look kind of dead in that shade actually." Jamous said. "You should wear red."
"Red? Red… Good idea." Viktor said moving back to the closet. "But she always sees me in red." Jamous smirked as he leaned against the door.
"She?" Viktor froze and slowly turned.
"Did I say she?"
"Well I sure hope you didn't say He." Viktor threw the green shirt at his friends face.
"It is a girl." Viktor said.
"Who?" Jamous asked with a knowing smile.
"It is a girl." Viktor repeated before Jamous jumped forward and squeezed his friend's cheek.
"Is it the girl Viktor?" he asked with a sweet smile.
"Jamous unhand my face." Viktor said through his squished face that was still held in his friend's grasp.
"You're no fun some times." Jamous said backing away at his friend's deadly glare. "Want help picking out what to wear?" Viktor slowly nodded. "Alright, but first you need to take a shower Viktor because damn. I mean you smell like the backside of a hippogriff." Viktor reached down and smelled himself with a small frown.