Hermione was worried, Daphne was worried as were the entire group of friends that crammed themselves in the compartment but what were we to do, all we could do was listen and see what happened. I thanked Neville and told him if he needed any help to give us a call. Neville left to rejoin his normal group and about ten minutes later Draco appeared.
As he stepped over Ron to deliver his annual insult he got the ladies ire and with a shower of sparks, several curses. When his body guards bent over to pick him up they received a plethora of curses, ladies are really nasty beings when they wish to be. Finally the Prefects and the professor on the train removed the trash blocking the isles. That brought the Weasley twins and their comedic routine. I had to admire their attempts to prank the school, individuals and the ghosts. I finally got their attention and breaking their routine with a few minor spells and we agreed on a couple of things. The bet was if they pranked Dumbledork, that I would give them the two thousand galleons for their joke shop. Boy did they ever ger Dumbledork about a week later in the Great Hall. He flashed, smoked and had steam coming out of his hears. I had Gringotts give them the money.
/Scene Break/
Upon arrival at Hogwarts via the carriages who should be waiting for us is but Mr. Greasy. "What do you mean by cursing students on the train you miserable brat?"
"Sorry Snape but I have not used magic on the train this year." That of course was useless words as usual.
"You will…"
"I think not Professor as I am not the problem."
He was either directed too, or wanted too, but over a small problem on the train which was none of Hogwarts business, he decided to cause a reaction from me. As he verbally cursed at me in a very unprofessional manner, he drew his wand. That was his error multiple times over. All my friends from the compartment sent spells at Snape and of course my special spell made Snape a hospital patent of the strangest kind. Madam Pomfrey requested help from St. Mungo.
That brought the Great Arrival Feast in the Great Hall by the Great Albus Dumbledore.
"And I am proud to announce that Hogwarts will host the TriWizard Tournament…Yada, Yada,Yada.
"Well it's not like we haven't been given enough warning that the insane will lead the sheep to their slaughter." Hannah stated. That surprised us as she was usually a wall flower and not that expressive.
At least no one was complaining that members of all of the houses were currently sitting at Gryffindor's table. Only a few idiots at the Griffendore table were staring at our group. Most just ignored everyones presents including most of the teachers.
/Scene Break/
We were less that a week into the new term when I turn a corner on the fourth floor and find Avery and a couple of Slytherins giving a first year grief. They had him cornered and unable to leave. That's one thing Hogwarts does right, the house ties. You can tell at a glance what house people are from by their tie. The first year was a Hufflepuff. The three Slytherins got stunned from the back and the Hufflepuff made a run for it.
Not three days later I run across Nott and three Slytherins roughing up a Ravenclaw. All four got a stunner although one Slytherin almost got turned around before he fell. I was beginning to wonder if anyone was trying to kept these jerks in line.
Hermione and I were looking for an unoccupied classroom off the normal pathways for a little snogging. Instead we find Draco and his book ends beating up a Hufflepuff. Hermione wanted Draco so I stunned the book ends. I'm not sure what Hermione used as a spell but Draco spent three days in the Hospital. Girls can be down right mean when they want to.
Now it wasn't just Slytherin that got caught breaking the rules but it was the Slytherins that got out of being punished or served it under Snape. A Hufflepuff caught in the broom closet kissing his girlfriend got the week detention with Filch the caretaker.
"Mr. Granger you are report to the Headmaster's office immediately." Snape sneered.
So I head to Professors McGonagall's office to get her to accompany me, this is bound to be trouble as I haven't been caught doing anything wrong.
"Minerva there is no reason for you to be here." Dumbledore started as we entered his office. Professor McGonagall turned to leave and so did I.
"Where are you going Mr. Granger?" Snape sneered.
"No Head of House no meeting, the rules you know." I retorted.
Well after a short exchange everyone stayed and we found out the reason for the meeting.
"Mr. Weasley was found petrified at your trunk by Mr. Finnegan just now. I can not stand having students with dangerous trunks in this school, so you will remove the trunk immediately! Dumdledork directed.
I figured that Ron had seen me pull out a couple of Galleons at some time or other and decided to help himself. "Oh so it's not alright for me to protect my belongings but it is alright for someone to break into my trunk. I would think that breaking into my trunk would be to take something like a thief. So if the trunk goes so does Mr. Weasley to the DMLE for theft."
I actually got to watch the three so called adults argue over the merits of trunks, spells, and theft. The arguments then branched off how I got off from punishment for stopping other from hurting other students and how the Slytherins were being picked on. I kept my trunk.
I was of course not happy with a few select people and I know it was a bit childish but it was a great prank. I snuck into Snape's classroom to slip a little of the twins powder into something Snape would eat or drink. I was under my invisibility spell and I froze when I slipped in through a partly opened door. Dumdledork and Snape were plotting. Plotting to insure the Goblet of Fire would spit out Neville's name. I slipped the powder into the tea-pot and got out of there as fast as I could.
While the spell was in effect I decided to pay Ron's bed a little visit. The twins had provided another powder specifically for Ron. I entered the empty dorm room and approached Ron's bed and got another shock. Ron's rat suddenly starts to morph into a dumpy balding man. Well I don't care to have a dirty old man in my dorm room so I stunned him and levitated him to Professor McGonagall's office. She screams and has the DMLE head along with Aurors in her office faster than I can explain how I got the pervert.
Snape tried to hide but it was not in the cards and he and Dumbledore were sporting Weasley red hair. I didn't feel so childish when Dumbledore announced the capture of Peter Pettigrew by Neville Longbottom and how Neville was responsible for a trial to be given to an innocent man called Sirius Black. I remembered what Neville had said and just shook my head. I definitely did not want any notoriety. There were many students scratching their heads over Black being innocent and getting a trial. Didn't he get a trial when he was sent to Azkaban?
/Scene Break/
The other schools were arriving for the tournament so they herded all of us outside in our best dress to meet and greet. When the Beauxbaton's students dismounted from their carriage you could almost imagine if they had just a little more snootyness they would be royalty. actually they should have brought court jesters with long trumpets to announce their arrival.
Durmstang was about the same except maybe some gorillas juggling axes or flaming Clubs would have fit in nicely.
We all clomped into the Great Hall and everyone got some place to sit. Durmstang sat with Slytherin and Beauxbaton with Hufflepuff. There was a telling of the rules for the tournament and no one under seventeen would be allowed to participate. I figure it would be like the third floor fiasco, no you can't students and everyone does or tries. Me? No way was I interested in eternal glory. I settled in to a steak and mashed potatoes when a small hand fell on my shoulder. I jumped up in surprise, Fleur said hello by kissing me on both cheeks as she went to do the same with Hermione I saw Ron on the other end of the table looking like a red beacon, he appeared to be angry. A nice touch would be for Ron to have steam coming out of his ears. After dinner we joined Fleur and chatted until it was time to head to our common room.
"Can't you see he is a traitor, he is cavorting with that Beauxbaton floozy?" Ron was having a tirade, I couldn't wait till he found out she was part Veela.
Hermione and I just headed to our trunks and I flo'ed over to Hermione's trunk. We spent the night studying and finishing up some of our homework. Of course I didn't complain about the welcoming kisses nor the leaving kisses.
/Scene Break/
The Great and Magnificent Albus Dumbledore announced the beginning of the Triwizard tournament at dinner. There in attendance was Cornelius Fudge the Prime minister, Madam Umbridge the Under Secretary, Persy Weatherbe, and numerous Wizengemot members, a dozen Aurors, all the ghosts and the cleaning crew. The Weird Sisters couldn't make it due to a previous engagement.
A larger production they could have thought up but this was their production and their show. All of the house tables had been removed and bleachers were on three sides of the Goblet. The head table on the other side of the Goblet was extended and in a multi tier configuration. The Goblet flared to life with flames and multicolored sparks and a piece of parchment flew out of the fire. The paper was caught by Dumbledore to announce the first champion.
"And the champion for Durmstrang is Victor Krum" and the Durmstrang student were clapping and yelling. Krum is directed to a room behind the teachers table.
"And the Beauxbatons champion is Fleur Delacour" and the Beauxbatons students politely clap and the champion is directed to a room behind the teachers table.
"And the Hogwarts champion is Neville Longbottom" and Hogwarts students try to bring the house down and the champion is directed to the small cloak room.
"So now that we have our champions…" the Goblet again lights and the Goblet spits out my name Harry Granger.
I am dragged there by Hermione as I was in shock but about to get angry. As we enter, there are people that are irate and a lot of yelling and screaming is taking place. I shot off a cannon blast from my wand to silence the idiots. "I did not enter your stupid little tournament and I will not play in your little games. You may continue where you left off." I turned and dragged Hermione out of the room and into the Great Hall.
As I entered the Great Hall it fell silent, "I am going to say this once so listen close. I did not enter nor ask anyone to enter my name. I will not participate in there little game nor be manipulated into playing in the tournament. Longbottom was chosen as the Hogwarts champion and he has my total support as Hogwarts only champion." Hermione and I left and headed to the trunks.
"Do you have any idea what is going on with your name coming from the Goblet?"
"None, someone is manipulating things and after hearing Dumbledork insuring Neville's entry into this contest I think Dumdledork is the culprit."
"You don't think he has figured out who you really are, do you?"
"That would make a good answer as to why I was entered. I just hope you are wrong." I sighed.
"They are going to be looking for you in the morning if they are not already searching. You best sleep in the trunk tonight so you can get some sleep and not a bunch of "you had better" threats or manipulation." Hermione usually had good advice.
"You had better do the same because when they can't find me they will be looking for you." I added.
Mipsy provided a wonderful meal that night but Hermione provided a better suggestion. "There is no reason for you to leave; I can make this couch a nice bed. Stay with me tonight, I could use some company before the storm hits." Hermione suggestion was every males dream and I accepted.
While it took me some time to sleep cuddled up to Hermione warm female body, that's all I got besides some nice kisses and an ocasional swat of her hand when my hand wandered.