It was the day before the weighing of the wands, and Harry landed on a cushion. Professor McGonagall gave Hermione and Harry permission to use her classroom to practice in, when they didn't have any classes. "Oy Hermione, I know we're both practicing Banishing Charms, but can you at least take it a bit easy?" Harry said as he picked himself up. Hermione looked a little scandalized as she replied "Take it easy? I can't believe you would say that! Unlike you, I don't have perfect mastery over a charm after I've practiced it a few days!"
Harry rolled his eyes at her, as he thought to himself "Always serious with everything, she is." Harry walked to the other side of the room, pointed his wand at the cushion, and said "Accio!" and the cushion came straight to him. "Great, now I can use the two charms during the first task. That took way shorter than I thought it would." They cleaned up the mess they made, and left the room. When they turned a corner though, Harry saw Sirius once again in Hogwarts. "Sirius, what are you doing here this time?" Sirius turned around, walked to Harry, handed him something wrapped in brown paper, then said "Just thought I'd give you this book so you can learn some things about defense." Sirius then patted Harry on the shoulder.
Sirius then said, as Harry flipped through the pages "Also, I've come to have another word with Dumbledore. I need to ask him some things. If you two want to come, then feel free." Harry and Hermione followed Sirius to the Headmaster's office, and on the way Harry told Hermione "Look at this spell right here, it swells the opponent's eyes shut. It's called the Conjunctivitis Curse, I wonder if that'll do something against dragons." Hermione shook that idea away, and said "It might cause the dragon to accidentally crush you. It's better not to use it."
They arrived to the entrance to the Headmaster's office, and Sirius once again gave the password, "Acid Pops", and they went on the stairs to the office. This time, Sirius knocked on the door, and waited for Professor Dumbledore to let him enter the office. When they got into the office, Harry noticed several strange silver instruments spinning on one of the tables. "Ah Sirius. What can I help you with today?" Dumbledore asked. Sirius walked to the chair opposite Dumbledore, and sat down. He waved his wand, and conjured two chintz chairs for Harry and Hermione. "Albus, I wanted to ask you, if I could take up post as the Defense Against the Dark Arts post next year. Also, I would like it if I could help Harry prepare for his tasks, when he finds out what they are."
Both Harry and Hermione's jaws dropped. Professor Dumbledore looked at Sirius with a surprised look, then said "I'm sure, despite the look on Mr. Potter's face right now, that he would like that. I can also see that you're serious about this, so I will allow both, if it's okay with Mr. Potter." Sirius looked at Harry, to which Harry energetically nodded his head yes. "Let me draw up a contract for you Sirius." Dumbledore magically summoned a contract for Sirius, that he signed immediately. "I'll expect to see you next year Professor Black." Sirius got up and walked to the door, but Harry stopped him and gave him a hug.
Harry looked up at his godfather, and said "Thank you Sirius. For everything. You've made my life better than it has been in years." Sirius returned the hug, nearly in tears and replied "Any time Harry, after all you're the only family I have left." Sirius then left, and Harry and Hermione returned to the Gryffindor Common Room, and started on their homework. Harry finished his History of Magic essay, and started on another essay Snape assigned. It was half past 9, when Harry turned in, and he had the same nightmare again.
The next day, Harry woke up early. Not because of his nightmare, but because it was a Hogsmeade weekend. He got dressed, and laid down on the couch by the fire, while waiting for Hermione. He was almost asleep by the time she came to the Common Room. "Harry? HARRY!" Hermione yelled. Harry jerked right up, and said "what's wrong? who's been attacked?" when he saw that it was just Hermione, he yawned and said "Blimey Hermione, you didn't have to yell." Hermione scoffed at him as they went to have breakfast in the Great Hall. Hermione had Brown Sugar Cinnamon oatmeal, and Harry had some Frosted Flakes.
When they finished eating, they went to the Entrance Courtyard, where everybody else was. Harry and Hermione both saw Ron hanging with Seamus and Dean. As much as Harry wanted to make up with Ron, he was not going to, since Ron was being pig-headed about the whole Triwizard Tournament thing. "Hermione," Harry started saying "I have to be back before five for the weighing of the wands." She nodded as they headed to Honeydukes Sweet Shop. Harry thought to himself "I might as well send Dudley some sweets, so he can know what he's missing out on. It'll be the perfect teaser for him."
Harry ended up buying some: Toothflossing Stringmints, Sugar Quills, Ice Mice, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocoballs, Honeydukes Best Chocolate, and Chocolate Cauldrons. While walking out of Honeydukes, Hermione asked Harry "what did you buy all of that candy for?" Harry replied with a smile "I'm teasing my cousin Dudley. I figure I might as well have him taste some wizard candy, which is way better than muggle candy." Hermione looked at Harry with a disapproving frown. "Harry…" she started, but Harry cut her off "Let's go to Zonko's Joke Shop. I heard they had a new order of Stink Pellets, and Luminous Balloons." Hermione sighed as they walked to Zonko's.
Harry browsed through the store, and ran into Fred and George. "Blimey Harry. I'd never thought I'd see you come in here." George said. Fred continued his brother's sentence "We all know how you like to be a little goody-two shoes." Harry said "Hahaha. Very funny you two. Now where are the Extendable Ears?" Fred pointed towards the back of the shop. Harry went back there, grabeed the Extendable Ears, and noticed Ron just a little ways away. He ignored him, then went to pay for the items. He found Hermione, and asked "Fancy a butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks?" She sighed as they walked to the Three Broomsticks.
Harry walked to the counter, and said "Two butterbeers please. One with ginger." he then handed Madam Rosmerta two Galleons. He went to a table by the fire with Hermione, and they started talking. "I can't believe Sirius wants to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. I'm kind of worried though." he said. Hermione asked "What is there to worry about Harry?" Harry then explained "the one-year curse on the Defense Against the Dark Arts post. So far, one of our teachers died, one of them accidentally wiped his memory, and last year, Professor Lupin had to quit because Snape told the students about his condition. I wonder what's going to happen to Professor Moody at the end of this year."
Hermione realized that Harry was absolutely right about the Defense Against the Dark Arts post. "Oh no, do you think we should tell Sirius about it?" Hermione asked. Harry agreed by the time their butterbeers. They drank the butterbeers, then walked back to Hogwarts. "I'll be in the library Harry." Hermione told him. "Alright. I'm off to the weighing of the wands. I'll see you later." They went their separate ways, and Harry went to the Fifth Floor. He walked into one of the unused classrooms, and when he entered he saw Mr. Ollivander, Fleur, Krum, Cedric, a blonde woman, and Mr. Bagman. Fleur looked at Harry in distaste, Krum looked at Harry and nodded, and Cedric said "Hey Harry. Life been good?" Harry nodded, and looked at Mr. Ollivander.
"What is this weighing of the wands ceremony?" Harry asked. Mr. Bagman said "We have to check that your wands are fully functional, no problems, you know, as they're your most important tools in the tasks ahead." Cedric pulled out his wand, and told Harry "Just polished it last night." Harry thought to himself "I should've been taking care of my wand." Mr. Ollivander said "Fleur, may I see your wand please?" She handed him her wand, and he said "9 ½ inches. Rosewood. Veela hair. Inflexible. Orchideus." He summoned a bouquet of roses, and handed them to Fleur along with her wand.
Next, Mr. Ollivander took Krum's wand, and said "10 ¼ inches. Hornbeam. Dragon heartstring. Rigid. Avis." He summoned birds out of thin air, and gave the wand back to Krum. "That's one of Gregorovitch's wands isn't it, Mr. Krum?" Ollivander asked. Krum answered in a thick Bulgarian accent "Yes. It's one of the last of the wands he made." Ollivander nodded, and Cedric gave him his wand. "12 ¼ inches. Ash. Unicorn hair. Pleasantly springy. Incarcerous." He summoned rope, then made it disappear with another flick of the wand, then gave it back to Cedric. "Hello, Mr. Potter. I had a feeling I'd be seeing you again. May I see your wand?" Harry handed Mr. Ollivander his wand, and Mr. Ollivander said "11 inches. Holly. Phoenix feather. Nice and supple. Serpensortia." A snake was summoned, and Ollivander made the snake disappears.
"It seems that all of your wands are in working order. You are good to go for the Triwizard Tournament." Mr. Ollivander said. As they all started to leave, the blonde woman said "Wait a moment. We are not finished here." They sat back down, and she started talking again "My name is Rita Skeeter. Journalist for the Daily Prophet, but of course you know this. It's you we don't know about. You're the juicy news. What quirks lie beneath those rosy cheeks? What mysteries do the muscles mask? Does courage lie beneath those curls? In short, what makes a champion tick? Myself and my readers want to know. Anybody feel like sharing?"
Nobody volunteered so Rita grabbed Harry's arm, and said "Shall we start with the youngest? Lovely." She took him into a broom cupboard. "Do you mind if I use the Quick-Quotes Quill" she asked Harry, and he shook his head. "So, Harry, here you are a mere boy of twelve-" Rita said, to which Harry interrupted "Fourteen." she ignored him and continued "about to go up against two more experienced wizards and a witch in a dangerous competition that could possibly end your life. Concerned?' Harry answered "Not really, but then again I never really thought about it." He saw the Quick-Quotes Quill scratching down words and tried to read them, but Rita stopped him from doing so.
"What made you put your name in the Goblet of Fire, Harry? Fame, fortune, or the fact that it is the thrill of the lifetime? How do you think your parents would react to this, if they were still alive? Proud or concerned?" Harry started saying "I didn't put my name in the goblet. I don't know who did, and whoever did do it, is no friend to me. Yes, I know people can die in this tournament, but I still wouldn't have signed up, even if I was of age. Also, I don't know how my parents would react, they were dead, before I could even remember them." Harry finally saw what the Quick-Quotes Quill wrote down, and said " Hey, 'My eyes aren't glistening with the ghosts of my past.'"
Harry didn't know how the interviews with Cedric, Fleur, and Krum went, because he left after his own interview. "I can't believe that annoying woman! Who does she think she is?! 'My eyes are glistening with the ghosts of my past' my backside." He was angry at the Skeeter woman, and didn't realize that he was in front of the Fat Lady's portrait. She said a bit angrily "Well are you going to stand there all day, or are you going to say the password?" Harry hastily said "Balderdash." and went into the Gryffindor Common Room. He walked inside of the Common Room, and was shocked at what happened immediately after.