31 October 1994
With the arrival of Durmstrang and Beauxbaton's students, it seemed like every corridor was filled with students happily taking bets on who their champion would be. Of course, most of Gryffindor stood behind Angelina Johnson, even if a few other 7th years put their names forward. Which meant that she was the target of Slytherin ire since their chosen champion, Lucian Bole put his name in. Malfoy loudly told the Durmstrang students about how it took the deliberation of the whole house to decide who would be the only Slytherin to put his name forward. Hermione didn't really understand their choice, he wasn't known for being the brightest, just the largest.
The quidditch fans lost their minds when they saw Viktor Krum step off the giant ship docked on the shore of Black Lake. Malfoy was happy to latch onto the teen sensation. The world famous quidditch player had a perpetual scowl on his face, looking like he didn't enjoy the attention. Ron was beside himself when the Durmstrang students chose to sit with Slytherins but it didn't stop him from trying to work up the courage to talk to him. The red head kept a folded picture of the famous seeker in his bag at all times in the hopes that he could find him alone. Eloise grew tired of her quidditch obsessed friends, Luna still ignored her in a favor of trying to monopolize Neville's time. Even Hermione who was half in love with Lynch let her brother ramble for hours about the surly Bulgarian.
"He's just a student!" Eloise shrieked from behind her book. Her friends stopped their conversation of potential champions to stare at the girl incredulously. They were all sitting on the stands, watching students place their names in the cup. Hermione snickered as she sat beside Eloise, leaning against her boyfriends legs behind her. Ron and Harry stared at her as though she grew a second head while Luna just huffed before turning back to Neville to ask about fumigating mistletoe safely.
"He's Krum!" Ron blurted as though that was enough of an explanation. Hermione just shook her head, turning back to her book.
"Yes, but he's also a student and you're acting like a love sick loon." Eloise groaned impatiently, glaring pointedly at Hermione for some kind of support. Luna stiffened at the term but only turned her back to the girl.
"I am not! I'm just an avid fan and showing my loyalty!" Ron blustered, his face turning red in embarrassment.
"You didn't see him at the cup, you wouldn't understand." Harry shrugged dismissively. They all knew Eloise hated quidditch, first for endangering her best friend, then for making her sit through countless games in miserable weather, and lastly for forcing her to listen to Ron's nonstop statistics ramblings. She tried to get her friends to try football, a real sport as she called it, but it never held their attention, not enough balls according to Luna.
"Eli, you know you'll never win this argument." Hermione chuckled as she pulled out her wand to copy the wand movement of an interesting variation of the banishing charm. She smiled brightly as Harry placed a hand on her side. It took the shy boy a few weeks before he was comfortable enough to initiate contact with her. Harry was still hesitant, afraid of pushing her too far but Hermione relished being close to him.
"You could-" Eloise started but Ron choking on a sweet made her pause. Harry quickly slapped him on the back but the redhead couldn't take his eyes off the blonde beauty that just glided into the room.
"It's her!" Ron gasped when he was able to dislodge the sticky sweet from his wind pipe. His friends all turned to look at the Beauxbaton girls that just came into the hall. Ron's eyes were glued on a tall, willowy blonde that seemed to glow, making her classmates seem dull in comparison. As Hermione looked around, she saw many of the boys seemed to have a glazed expression as they watched the mysterious beauty, even her boyfriend. She grabbed his hand, which brought his attention back to her. The boy shook his head slowly before looking down to give her a lopsided smile.
"You alright?" Harry asked, his green eyes grew concerned as he saw the frown on her face. Hermione only raised a brow before turning her back on him. Feeling slightly jealous and a little insecure she picked her book up to continue reviewing the banishing charm.
"She's a veela." Luna said in a wistful voice. When Hermione looked up, she saw Luna looking back at her with a pointed stare and realized what happened. She squeezed Harry's hand and gave her confused boyfriend a reassuring smile. His face lit up and he relaxed, turning back to his friend.
"Ron!" Harry exclaimed, Ron was drooling and his eyes were glazed over. Harry panicked, shaking him roughly. The red head almost fell off the bench as he came out of his stupor slowly.
"Wha?" Ron demanded as he wiped the drool from his chin, his ears were red as he ducked his head. Hermione and Luna chuckled as Eloise looked on frustrated.
"What's a veela?" Eloise demanded, Ron gasped and he turned around to look for the blonde in the crowds again. His shoulders slumped when he realized she already left.
"Veela are some of the most beautiful woman in the world, they have an allure that kind of makes anyone attracted to them go a bit stupid around them." Hermione smirked as she watched Harry blush furiously.
"You forgot about the beak, Mina!" Luna chided with a small smile. Hermione chuckled but Eloise huffed impatiently, feeling like she was being mocked. Harry looked to Ron, hoping he could avoid the argument but Ron was busy sulking.
"If provoked, veela came take on an avian form...like a harpy that throws fire balls." Hermione smirked at Eloise's incredulous face, she craned her neck trying to get another look at the veela.
"It's done!" George cried happily as sat down heavily beside Hermione.
"Oh, you figured out a way to enter?" Hermione groaned, looking a the small phial in his grip, wondering what the chances of snatching it from his hands and actually making it out of the hall. Ron sat up eagerly, all thoughts of the veela gone from his mind.
"You did?" Ron exclaimed eagerly, nearly vibrating with excitement. George rolled his eyes at his brothers exuberance.
"Yes, dear Ronnikins... However, the potion is tricky and we've made careful calculations to not over do it." George said in a regretful voice, his shimmering blue eyes filled with mirth gave him away.
"So, you have none for your favorite little brother?" Ron asked indignantly, looking truly insulted. Harry chuckled at their banter, he looked down to see his girlfriend looking at him with concern and worry.
"I promise I won't enter." Harry said solemnly, Hermione's mood lifted instantly as she leaned back against Harry's legs to watch her brothers argue back and forth.
"It's not going to work." Eloise grunted, Hermione smirked, nodding her head in agreement.
"I bet you two galleons we get past the age line." George said smugly as he watched Eloise hide behind her book. Hermione tried to subtly shake her head, never bet against her twin brothers, but Eloise didn't see her.
"Deal!" Eloise exclaimed, smiling smugly. Feeling fully confidant that no one could beat the magic surrounding the cup.
Fred was waving his twin over, Angelina at his side looking incredibly pleased with herself. While the twins would try any scheme to enter their names in the goblet, their support was fully behind Fred's girlfriend. Fred and George linked their arms together as students paused to watch them. With a grand gesture they downed their potions and hopped into the glowing blue circle together. There was a beat of silence before the crowd started to applaud, Fred and George made a quick lap of victory within the age line before adding their names. The hall echoed with a resounding CLANG, the twins paused a moment before the cup exploded in flames. Fred and George were thrown across the hall, when they sat up they sported matching long white beards.
"Oh, those are much more impressive than Miss. Edgecombe's." Dumbledore chuckled as he stood over the now elderly twins. Fred and George stared at the headmaster as if they never seen him before. "Poppy should be able to fix you right up." Albus twirled his beard in his fingers, looking at the frozen twins critically as if comparing their facial hairs before turning on his heel and walking out of the great hall.
"Ha!" Eloise exclaimed in the silent hall, every student turned to look at the the smug expression on her face as she stared down Fred and George.
"Ah ah ah. Eli, my dear. The bet was we could get past the age line." George smirked, Fred hopped up with a bright smile. Eloise flushed, looking down before making a frustrated noise in the back of her throat and storming from the hall. Viktor Krum dove out of her way, a foreign emotion flickered on the famous seekers face as he watched the tall girl storm away.
-0-
Winky had been hard at work for the last week, after her Mistress asked her to make a cozy place for her to be alone. She redecorated the old classroom in less than a day so she moved on to some of the other empty rooms. While Winky was not bonded to the castle, it's magic was most compatible to elf magic. She could easily alter the rooms and hallways to flow into each other. After some deliberation and talking it over with the other house elves, Winky decided to surprise her mistress with a home away from home in the castle. The remodeling took a lot out of single elf but with the help of Dobby and a few castle elves they easily sealed off the corridor and hid it from anyone but Winky's mistress and her guests. A total of eleven unused classrooms were easily converted into bed chambers, washrooms, sitting rooms, a kitchen, and even a miniature library. The castle elves showed up with hundreds of old titles that were abandoned in the come and go room and decided to put them to good use.
"Mistress!" Winky cried, the small elf was vibrating with excitement to show her mistress her new home that Winky could care for.
"What is it, Winky?" Hermione asked curiously, closing her book. Harry was asleep, with his head on her shoulder. Eloise had not been seen since she ran off from the great hall that morning and Ron was begging the twins for tips to enter his name. Luna and Neville sat at the table beside her, deeply immersed in an old journal.
"Winky be finished, Mistress!" Winky cried happily and grabbed onto Hermione's hand. The red head grinned and shook her boyfriend to wake him.
"Come on, Harry. Winky has a surprise." Hermione smiled wickedly, Harry sat up and stretched, unconcerned. When his house elf had a surprise it was socks or a blanket, not that he didn't love them all but he just couldn't get excited over lumpy socks.
"Take Winky's hand, Mistress, Mr. Harry." Winky said sternly as she held out her hands to the teenagers. As soon as their hands were in hers they disappeared from the library. The house elf brought them to hall way right in front of Hermione's abandoned corridor but Hermione frowned as she saw a door instead of an open archway.
"Hermione?" Harry suddenly reached out for her in a panic as Hermione went to open the door. Her fingers closed around the knob and it opened silently.
"What Harry?" Hermione looked at him over her shoulder quizzically. Harry was frozen to the spot, staring at her hand.
"Hermione! Are you okay?" Harry reached out to pull her back but as soon as he made contact with her, he was able to see a large oak door where just a moment ago had been a smooth stone wall. "Bloody hell."
"Are you okay?" Hermione let go of the door to turn on her boyfriend and feel his forehead. Harry impatiently bat her hands away and moved in front of her to open the door.
"No! Mistress see first!" Winky jumped in front of Harry, a stern look on her face. Hermione shrugged apologetically and stepped through the door, her mouth dropped open as she saw the once dim corridor turned into a large bright room with vaulted ceilings.
"How, Winky?" Hermione gasped as she looked around, there was comfortable looking furniture, most it very worn but covered in crochet blankets. Hermione raised a brow as she opened the first door. "Holy shite!"
"Mistress pleased?" Winky smiled hopefully, sticking close to Hermione's side. The red head opened and closed her mouth a few times, trying to find the words. Her elf managed to imitate the burrow, even though the rooms were large and spacious, the walls were lined with shelves full of random magical items. All of the furniture was old and none of it matched, she smiled as she noticed the lumpy pillows that were obviously made by Dobby.
"Oh, Winky! It's amazing but I didn't need all this. It was only to slip away for a few hours or maybe sleep if I had nightmares." Hermione gushed as she pulled the elf into a tight hug.
"Winky be needing someplace to cares for Mistress. Castle elves not be like Winky and Dobby doing work in the tower." Winky said solemnly. Harry was currently smiling as he inspected the shelves lined with random objects, sneakascopes, quills, potion ingredients, and even old framed photos of strangers.
"Where did you get all this, Winky?" Harry asked curiously as he picked up a photo, a tall Gryffindor with unruly black hair was waving at the him, his arm around a beautiful Slytherin with curly black hair, she was smirking haughtily at his side. He couldn't tell how old the photo was but he could definitely see the family resemblance.
"Castle elves be bringing lost things." Winky shrugged nonchalantly. "Mistress be staying home now?"
"Winky, I'm not allowed to just move out of the tower...although, if I could I would never go back." Hermione smiled sadly as she opened another door and her breath caught in her throat. "No bloody way. You built a library?" While it was much smaller than the Hogwarts library some of the books seemed much older than most she would commonly find. Curiously, she ran her hands along the old spines of the books, finding things like alchemy, enchanting, evocation, and illusion. She remembered reading that these subjects were once taught at Hogwarts but without suitable professors they fell from the curriculum.
"I love magic." Harry breathed as he looked around a kitchen curiously. Pots and pans were suspended in air, a clear panel opened to show many dishes under cooling and stasis charms. "Ron's going to love it."
"We'll bring him tomorrow, I suppose. Although, originally...I did plan to use this corridor to get some alone time with my boyfriend..." Hermione smiled mischievously as she wrapped her arms around Harry's waist. He looked down at her with a broad smile on his face, leaning down he kissed her softly but Hermione had other ideas and wrapped her arms around his neck. Harry's eyes opened in alarm when she pressed herself into him, he could see the blush on her cheeks and count her eyelashes. Hermione sighed, attempting clumsily to deepen the kiss, Harry wrapped his arms around her waist to reciprocate in kind. After a few awkward and clumsy moments, Harry relaxed into her, thinking that kissing Hermione may be the best thing in the world.
-0-
Hermione and Harry left the corridor just in time to join their friends for the feast and the drawing of champions. Luna sat with her friends in Gryffindor at dinner, Eloise was quiet through the entire meal, opting to read a book instead of joining the excited conversations. After a thorough interrogation, Hermione sat back with a relaxed smile on her face. None of her brothers found a way to enter, she didn't have to worry about them risking their lives in a dangerous tournament and they would be sitting beside her hopefully cheering on Angelina. The headmaster stood from his seat and raised his arms for silence, the hall fell into a tense silence as the students anxiously awaited for the drawing.
"If you would all please stand." The headmaster said calmly. Students jumped from their seats to comply, with a simple wave of his wand the tables disappeared and another flick, two walls were lined with high bleachers. The students scrambled excitedly to get seated as an ministry official brought out the flaming cup. There was an excited buzz in the hall as people gave their friends last minutes 'good lucks' and waited on baited breath. The headmaster smiled jovially as he stepped next to the cup in the center of the hall, a flare of fire and a piece of paper flew up and floated into his hand.
"The Beauxbaton's champion is Fleur Delacour." Albus called out and the beautiful blonde veela stood gracefully. Madam Maxime, the headmistress ushered her to the antechamber as the hall exploded with applause.
"It's the veela!" Ron blurted out loudly, he was ignorant of the students snickering around him. His eyes followed the blonde until the door to the ante chamber closed behind her.
"Thanks, Ronnie!" George clapped him on the back with a lecherous grin.
"Yeah, never would have guessed, otherwise." Fred clapped sarcastically from beside his twin. Ron's ears turned red from embarrassment but most of the students attention was already back on the goblet which flared to life again.
"The Durmstrang champion, Viktor Krum!" Albus called out. The applause thundered as students stomped their feet to celebrate the famous seeker being chosen champion. Krum rose from him seat and glared at anyone who met his gaze. His headmaster, Igor Karkaroff, rushed forward to steer his star pupil to the antechamber. Fred and George frowned as they looked at their book to see the odds on Krum being chosen.
"The Hogwarts champion is Cassius Warrington." Albus said clearly, there was silence in the hall as the Slytherin chaser rose with a smug smile. Even his house mates paused to applaud their champion, their eyes drifting to Bole their chosen champion, in confusion. After a moment the applause picked up, Gryffindor remained pointedly silent. Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw applauded, albeit grudgingly, he was now their champion after all. Albus maintained a calm exterior as Professor Snape lead their champion out of the hall.
"He bloody cheated!" Someone whispered venomously as soon as the door closed.
"How did he do it?" George whispered from behind Hermione, he didn't sound nearly as angry as some of the other students. He actually sounded impressed, even if grudgingly so.
"Now, it's almost time for students to-" Albus began but the cup flared to life again, fear showed in his blue eyes for the first time as the flames lashed out violently. The hall fell silent as ministry officials rushed forward to aid their headmaster to tamper the flames when a fourth piece of paper was emitted. Dumbledore snatched it from the air and stared at it for a long moment, as if not understanding what he read.
"No." Luna whispered softly as she grabbed Hermione's hand. The redhead turned to look at her best friend but the Ravenclaw was staring over her shoulder, her blue eyes full of sadness. Hermione turned to look but only saw her boyfriend and brothers watching the headmaster.
"Harry Potter." Dumbledore's voice rang through the silent hall as every student turned to look at the shocked boy in question.
-0-
Hermione stared at the antechamber door long after her boyfriend stumbled through it. Whispers and shouts rang through the hall, the loudest being from the visiting schools. Someone pulled her to her feet and she was dragged up to the Gryffindor tower, the buzzing in her ears grew louder as the Gryffindors shouted at each other about something. She was roughly pushed down onto the couch and she found herself pinned as two very angry blue eyes glared at her.
"Did you know?" Ron demanded, her brothers as well as most of Gryffindors stood behind him.
"Know?" Hermione repeated dumbly looking around at her house mates, even Eloise and Neville stood behind her brothers.
"Yeah, that Harry put his name in. Somehow got himself chosen no matter what. Did you help?" Ron asked after he took a deep breath.
"Harry promised." Hermione said softly, she met her brothers gaze defiantly. Over his shoulder Angelina's accusing stare softened for a moment but it only fueled her brothers' anger more.
"He didn't even tell his girlfriend?" Someone shouted in outrage.
"He's made us out to be like those snakes!" A blonde girl grumbled, her friends nodding along. Hermione turned to Neville for support but he was in a heated argument with Eloise.
"Wait!" George shouted, the Gryffindors fell silent and turned to the twins.
"I know we said we would support you, love." Fred said gently as he put an arm around Angelina, the girl huffed impatiently, rolling her eyes.
"But we have a Gryffindor champion!" George quickly said, murmurs of dissent quickly filled the the common room. As it steadily grew louder Hermione finally stood and raised her wand, sending off a loud BANG. The common room was silenced as they looked to her, some with apparent anger, while others looked on curiously. A few seventh years were just disappointed and wanted the matter to be done with.
"Harry promised me that he wouldn't enter his name. We should hear what he has to say." Hermione said firmly, glaring at her housemates. The Gryffindors all bristled indignantly at being spoken to like a first year caught in the kitchens. Fred quickly stepped in front of his sister.
"Wait! Just think we have a Gryffindor champion! If we want to Hogwarts to win, are we really going to stand behind a Slytherin?" Fred asked incredulously.
"Yeah! They cheated! If it's wasn't for Harry then that twit would be our only hope!" George yelled over the murmurs. The Gryffindors deflated at once, nodding along with the twins.
"Let's not fanny about!" Lee Jordan jumped onto the couch with with rucksack in hand and a large grin. "Let's get the celebration sorted for the cheeky blighter!" Cheers filled the common room as Lee started to hand out butter beer to his fellow Gryffindors. Fred and George disappeared for a moment up the stairs. When they came down, their arms were filled with sweets and George had two large bottles of fire whiskey. Ron, Eloise, and Neville sat in the corner, deep in conversation. Ron's face was dangerously red, but he closed his eyes to take a few deep breaths to calm himself.
"What's got your knickers in a twist?" Hermione sat heavily beside Eloise with a butter beer. Eloise glared at her for a moment before sitting back and remaining silent. She looked to her brother and Neville for help but they were staring each other down. "Oi! What's wrong with you lot?"
"Your boyfriend!" Eloise snapped first, Neville glared at her while Hermione was shocked to see her brother nodding in agreement.
"Yes, my boyfriend?" Hermione said slowly, praying silently that they didn't really believe that Harry would enter himself in the death trap known as the Tri-Wizard Tournament.
"He's made all of Hogwarts out to be cheaters!" Eloise hissed, glaring angrily at the red head. Hermione's eyes widened comically and Eloise snorted derisively. "Slytherins cheated to get their champion chosen then Hogwarts gets a second champion who just so happens to be The-Sodding-Boy-Who-Lived!"
"Harry didn't enter himself!" Hermione growled, slamming her butter beer on the table. Ron and Eloise looked at her with pity while even Neville looked down at his feet uncomfortably.
"He's just out to make a name for himself!" Ron grunted, taking a long drink from his fire whiskey. "I'm sorry that he lied to you but you shouldn't have to put up with that. Then again, he doesn't tell his best mate how he entered when he knew I wanted to be champion."
"Ron, mate, Harry will need your support. The tasks are supposed to be really hard." Neville cut Hermione off, looking imploringly at the gangly red head.
"Eh, he defeated You-Know-Who as a baby!" Ron said sarcastically as he raised his glass before downing it. "I'm not celebrating a cheater who steps on his best mate to get to the top." With that Ron stormed up the stairs to his dorm, Hermione looked to her remaining friends for clarification.
"I don't know if Harry entered." Neville started but it was obvious he believed that Harry did in fact enter his name in the cup, he raised a hand to silence Hermione as continued on. "BUT I think we should support him either way. Your brother is right, he is the Gryffindor champion, unless I want to cheer on another school our only other option is a Slytherin."
"Obviously he entered himself." Eloise snorted as she took a long drink, Hermione glared at the girl impatiently. "Ron and I actually agree that Harry is being a selfish git, totally ruining the image of Hogwarts."
"Really? That doesn't concern you that you're agreeing with my hot headed brother when he's having a wobbler?" Hermione asked acidly. Neville shuddered as he looked between the girls, Eloise adopted a sympathetic and almost pitying look as she watched her friend.
"I know he's your first boyfriend but doesn't it concern you that you happily stand against your family and friends for a boy? I told you to get over him, he's nothing but trouble." Eloise said passionately as laid her hand over Hermione's.
"So it's okay for me to stand against my brothers and the entire school for you? The girl who spent the entire summer ignoring me over a press release?" Hermione snarled angrily as she ripped her hand away. Elise had the decency to flush and look away in the face of her own hypocrisy. The common room suddenly went silent as the portrait hole was slammed shut. Lee leapt across the tables to tie a Gryffindor flag around Harry's shoulders, the common room exploded in applause as Harry flushed in embarrassment.
"Cor, Harry!" Fred exclaimed as he clapped the younger boy on the back and handed him a drink. Gryffindors surrounded him asking excitedly how he entered his name, Harry's face turned beet red as he was unable to to get a word in. Even Angelina congratulated him on making sure a Slytherin wouldn't put Hogwarts to shame. Hermione tried to push herself through the crowds just as Harry exploded.
"I didn't enter my name! Believe what you want but I never wanted to be in this bloody tournament." Harry shouted over the cheering of his housemates, he ripped the flag from his shoulders and stormed up to the boys dorm room. Hermione almost reached the steps when someone pulled her roughly away by the arm.
"We need to talk." Eloise snapped as she dragged the red head up the stairs. Hermione glared at the girl but followed, thinking she could just talk to Harry in the morning. Eloise turned on her as soon as they were alone in the dorm room. "I thought you forgave me."
"I have forgiven you." Hermione grunted impatiently as she went to change for bed, feeling exhausted.
"Then why don't you listen to me? It's obvious Harry is lying." Eloise persisted, following Hermione into the washroom.
"Eloise, I believe that Harry wouldn't lie to me. If that's not enough for you then I'm not sure what you want me to tell you." Hermione shrugged off her uniform impatiently, just wanting to go to sleep.
"You know what I'm talking about, Hermione. It's obvious Luna hasn't forgiven me either but she was in the same position as me. Getting pushed ou-" Eloise shut her mouth quickly as Hermione turned to glare at the girl. She shook her head impatiently as she pushed past Eloise to get to her bed.