"Harry potter."
The voice of Hogwart's headmaster, despite having not been raised, rang through the great all and all four houses were seemingly all staring at the Boy who lived. "Harry Potter!" Dumbledore repeated, a singed piece of paper in his hand.
Today was a special day for not only Hogwarts but 3 other wizard schools, a competition known as the Triwizard Tournament was to take place this year with a champion from each school being chosen. Cedric Diggory from Hogwarts, Fleur Delacour from Beauxbatons, and Viktor Krum from Durmstrang. But then the Goblet, a magical artifact that chose the champions, had roared back to life and spit out a fourth name- a fact that shouldn't have happened.
"You've got to be kidding me." Green eyes met blue before the fourth year stood.
"Please follow the other champions."
"How'd you do it Potter?" Came an annoyed shout from across the great hall, at the Gryffindor table, and Ron Weasley was currently staring daggers at him.
"Jealous Weasley? Everyone knows you wouldn't make it past the first task." Draco sneered back before the headmaster cleared his throat and Harry silently made his way into the back with the rest of the champions.
Severus Snape had stared as the goblet roared to life for a fourth time, and of course it had picked one of his own. The Potion master had conflicted feelings towards Potter; on one hand he was a Slytherin which the head of House felt responsible for, on the other hand every time those green eyes stared up at him all he could think about was the mistakes of the past.
With an annoyed sigh the head of Slytherin house stood up and went to join Dumbledore and the Triwizard champions.
Harry brushed a hand through his dark and messy hair while he waited, the fourth year Slytherin suddenly felt overwhelmed. This wasn't the first spot of danger that he had been in while at this school but that didn't mean he'd liked it, last year with the Dementors had been bad enough. No one knew he was the one responsible for letting Sirius escape, at least as far as he knew, and he still had nightmares about those creatures.
The year before that had been the chamber, another adventure he hadn't been intending to get involved with, even when Ginny Weasley had went missing… It hadn't been his problem and damn Hermione Granger for getting him involved.
Damn Hermione Granger in general, really.
She was in his year but in Ravenclaw and, if there was anyone he considered an academic rival, it was the Ravenclaw. Draco always scoffed at him for taking his studies so seriously, but the blond had never known what it was like to be without the wizarding world, to be powerless and at the hands of someone else… From the moment his first class had started Harry had absorbed every single piece of knowledge he could, only for Hermione Granger to effortlessly stay one step ahead of him; it was infuriating! The School, of course, had made a big deal out of it- naming it the rivalry of their generation.
Not that he cared…
Hermione had finally convinced him, the only Parseltongue in the school (a fact that had won him a lot of popularity in Slytherin and no where else that year) that he was the only one who could open the chamber. Draco had told him not to do it, and it was one of the few times the two argued since Harry didn't put much stock in blood purity.
In the end he had been the one to put a stop to the Basilisk; convincing it to destroy the journal and go back into its slumber, almost like a true heir of Slytherin...
"Did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire?" The calm, almost soothing voice of Albus Dumbledore asked. That snapped Harry back to reality.
"No."
The entire room seemed to explode in an uproar at that, and Harry soon lost track of anything that was being discussed. Glancing over he found Fleur's gaze and for a moment he was tempted to say something...anything really, he just wanted her attention. Shaking his head clear of those thoughts he stepped backwards to put some distance between them; he had heard she was part Veela, maybe she was subconsciously alluring him? Either way distance sounded good.
The arguments kept going until finally the man from the Ministry- Barty Crouch if Harry remembered right (and he was confident he did) announced there was nothing to be done, and the fourth year would be forced to compete whether he wanted too or not.
Harry just couldn't catch a break.
Hermione exited the Ravenclaw common room with a huff, all Flitwick would tell her was that Dumbledore wanted to see her. Her head of house wouldn't be more up front than that, but she was sure that it had something to do with what had happened earlier today with the choosing of the champions. Leave it to Potter to make a complete mess of things.
Harry was the closest to an academic rival she had in school but he was just so...frustrating. As a muggleborn she had to work twice as hard as anyone else just to be noticed Harry just made everything look so easy. A natural seeker, top of his class (just under her- of course), and popular! It wasn't fair, she'd made a single friend in Ginny Weasley but even that was strained at times, they were just so different.
Sometimes it felt like Harry was the only one who understood her.
They were both driven and, while she would never admit it, the Slytherin kept her on her toes; kept pushing Hermione to be better when she might have stagnated, which just served to irritate her more. It was irrational, but she hated that he had become somewhat important; even if she would never admit it.
"Ah Ms. Granger."
Hermione was shaken out of her thoughts by the sound of Dumbledore's voice. The headmaster was accompanied by Flitwick and Snape; the head of Slytherin who was currently staring at her with a look of mild annoyance and the four of them entered the headmaster's office- Hermione buzzing
Harry stared up at Snape, "I told you- I didn't put my name in the goblet of fire!" The fourth year couldn't quite get a read on Snape. Sometimes he was a supportive head of house and sometimes it was like the Potions master couldn't stand him. "Dumbledore believes me."
"I am not Dumbledore." Snape sneered, "I thought being in my house might cure you of this need for fame."
"I don't want more fame, I don't even want the fame I have."
"Careful, Potter. You wouldn't want to set your house back with a loss of points or detention."
Harry glared, but forced himself to keep his temper in check, something that had been difficult, but he was getting there. "May I be dismissed sir?"
"Go… The Headmaster wants to see you, this… issue will need to be addressed. It will be an embarrassment to the school if you are killed in this tournament."
So glad you're worried about my well being. Harry thought dryly and left, heading back to the common room to talk to Draco.
Leave it to Potter to steal more fame! Ron walked into the Gryffindor common room and collapsed onto nearest couch. How had he done it? Harry was one of the best students of their year, next to that know it all Hermione, but even he shouldn't have been able to fool the Goblet!
Staring into the fire Ron's blue eyes shone with anger, ignoring the stares of his brothers as he contemplated the events of today and cursed (not for the first time) that it couldn't be him.
"Not bad Potter," Draco said, clapping his friend on the back, "Like a proper Slytherin."
Harry grimaced, "But I didn't put my name in-"
"Don't worry about it, you're better than anyone else in the tournament- you're gonna crush them" Draco clapped his friend on the back before heading off to find either Pansy or Daphne, he didn't care which so they could start plotting Harry's victory in the tournament.
Harry had just entered the common room after his conversation with Snape, dreading the conversation with Dumbledore later on, and was a little caught off guard Draco's reaction. The fourth year shouldn't be surprised, admittedly, since it was a very cunning thing to do...except Harry hadn't done it. With a sigh he sat in the common room, deciding to waste some time on this latest potions essay before it was time to meet with the headmaster.
"I'm what?!" Hermione said in utter disbelief, staring at the Headmaster and the two heads of house.
"This tournament puts Harry at a severe disadvantage. The panel has all agreed he should have extra training between classes and you two are some of the brightest students of your age." Dumbledore paused, glancing over at the Slytherin, trying to get a read on the young Potter's reaction.
"Wouldn't an older student make more-"
"Consider this a chance for both of you to advance your studies." Dumbledore said, "You two push each other. This will be best for both of you, your house heads agree."
Hermione suspected they only agreed because Dumbledore wouldn't hear otherwise, the Ravenclaw glared at Harry for a moment before simply sighing. It was obvious she had no choice in the matter. Typical, Potter had gotten himself into trouble and now she was supposed to bail him out.
"Tomorrow the two of you will meet after classes." Snape said, careful to keep his voice emotionless, "And Granger will test your abilities, Potter. "
The duo glanced at each other and then back at the three staff members before resigning themselves to the fact that this was unavoidable, and hoping that this year wouldn't end up being as miserable as it seemed.