Chapter 74: Immigrant Song

"Alright everyone," Sirius called out to the trainees lined up in front of him. "Your stamina is up to par and you can duel. Now, it is time to test your field skills. Half of you will be red team, the other half will be blue. Each of you will enter the door corresponding to your team. This will be a 5-on-5 battle. Use your teamwork, work together and survive. Your only offensive spell will be the paint ball spell. As to this point, I have let you cast verbally, taking into account your fatigue but now if you cast audibly, you will be disqualified. Last team standing will be victorious. Come grab a tile from the bowl. That will be your team. Each tile has a sticking charm attached to it that will automatically color your paint so we can see who registered a hit."

Each member of Fire Squad lined up and grabbed a tile, each a shade of blue or red.

"Hey look!" Johnny-Ray pointed toward Steven holding a tile. "Steven got pink!"

"It's not pink!" Steven said. "It's lightish red."

"They have a name for that, Steven," Reagan said as she cockily flipped her deep blue tile through her fingers. "It's called fucking pink."

"That's enough," Sirius said. "Make your way to your team antechamber. You will have five minutes to strategize and then the doors will open."

Chelsea turned to the others, a strategy on her mind.

"So I think we should-" she was cut off before she could finish her sentence.

"I'll enter in first," Steven puffed up his chest. "Draw their fire. You all slip through and attack."

"That doesn't make much-" Chelsea was cut off yet again.

"Just be ready," Jo said as Steven stood near the door and stretched his legs.

"What's your plan, girl?" Doris and Sally leaned in. "Even if they're not going to listen, we will."

"Here's my plan," Chelsea quickly explained her strategy.

Doris and Sally nodded as Chelsea finished speaking right as an alarm klaxon sounded and the doors slid open. Steven sprinted through and was instantly covered in blue paint. As soon as the volley stopped, a cannon went off and Steven's face was shown on the ceiling.

"Morrisson, you're out," Sirius' voice resonated through. Jo had slipped through, worried what to do next. She looked back but couldn't find her teammates. Taking time to examine the room, she saw there were two levels. She couldn't tell if there was a separation between sides as she slowly walked up the ramp to the second level. Once her bushy head popped above she saw three wands trained on her from the corresponding upper level. She narrowly ducked the incoming shots. She heard footsteps confirming her fears the areas were connected. She knew she was surrounded and exposed. The footsteps approached closer and Jo tightened the grip on her wand. As the steps neared her position, she launched a volley of crimson paintballs which Reagan and Penny dodged. They cast a return volley and Jo knew she was caught. However, before the blue and purple paint got to her, a wood plank intercepted them and the two attackers were covered in red and orange paintballs. The cannon sounded twice with the pictures of Penelope and Reagan showed on the ceiling.

"Clearwater, Mixon," Sirius' voice rang out. "You are eliminated."

Reagan in particular looked furious but they made their way out of the room. Jo was flummoxed as to what happened. That's when Doris dropped her disillusionment charm.

"But Sirius said…" Jo argued.

"There was a loophole," Doris smiled but before she could continue, the snipers launched another volley. "We'll explain later. Ready to take the attack to the three snipers on the other side?"

"You know it," Jo smiled as she tapped her head to activate her own disillusionment spell. With her body disillusioned, she sprinted out from her cover.

"They're disillusioned!" Red said. "There you see a shimmering!"

The three snipers trained their wands and Jo was covered in different colors of blue paint. Again the cannon sounded, making the numbers even.

"Keep an eye out," Checker said. "They won't make that mistake again. They'll be moving slower."

"I've got an idea," Johnny-Ray said. "Fumos."

Smoke came from his wand but before it could go anywhere, the cannon sounded.

"You cast audibly," Sirius said. "You're out, Day."

Johnny-Ray huffed and slumped his shoulders as he moved out of the arena.

"That was a good idea, though," Checker said. "Time for Chubby to do his work."

Checker winked at Red, accepting the nickname Jeremiah had given him. Smoke billowed from Checker's wand and Red waited for it to wrap around a form. When it finally took the shape of a small woman, Red attacked with a single paint ball, hitting Sally dead-center.

"You have been eliminated, Ride," Sirius said after the cannon fired.

"We need to move," Red said. "We've stayed put far too long."

Checker nodded and gestured with his head to the right. Studebaker rolled and pushed up into a crouch. Checker followed with his wand trained behind them as they moved across the walkway between the two sides. When they were in the center of the walkway, Richard saw a spell coming for Red that he couldn't see. Without a second thought, he threw himself in front of the spell and threw a volley of paintballs on an arc, hoping to get lucky.

Two cannon blasts sounded.

"Checker and McCarthy," Sirius announced. "You have both been eliminated."

Richard smiled, knowing he got lucky.

"Go finish this," Richard clapped Jeremiah on the shoulder. "Show them why Red is better than red team."

"Just enjoy the finish," Red smiled cockily. Red then hit himself over the head to disillusion himself and pulled out his knife and got to carving. Once he was finished, he retreated back toward a corner and used a sticking charm to attach himself to one of the banisters while he waited.

Chelsea knew it was down to her and Studebaker. She moved slowly to keep her disillusionment from flickering the way Rosenberg's had. She was walking between balconies, her eyes aggressively searching for any movement. When she arrived at the other side, she put her foot down and light flooded from the walkway. Knowing it was a trap, she looked around for the attack she knew would come, Just over her right shoulder she saw the paint balls flying her way. Rolling out of the way, she sent her attack back the other way as a second volley came from the corner. Her attack hit just seconds before his hit her.

"Well done," Red said as he was covered in her candy apple red paint. "Nice job rolling out of the way."

"Great trap," Chelsea smiled back. "How did you set it?"

"I would be curious to know this as well," Sirius said.

"I carved a 'light' rune on the walkway," Red said. "I didn't know if it would work but Runes work on either pressure or magic being put through them. Figured it was the only way to gain the upper hand."

"Very ingenious," Sirius beamed. "A trick worthy of a Marauder. Great strategy Thomasson to disillusion yourselves though as Rosenberg discovered, if you run, your charm will flicker."

"But she cheated!" Mixon shouted. "You said to only use the paintball spell!"

"I said the paintball spell was the only offensive spell you could use," Mixon's jaw clacked together at the realization of the loophole. "Great strategy, Day, to get around it though you cast a verbal spell. Excellent reaction, Checker to see the spell coming and return fire.

"Great job to defend your teammate from a 2-on-1, McCarthy and Ride, and I trust you know your mistake, Morrisson?"

Steven nodded, still covered in paint.

"Good," Sirius said. "Stepping into the open to draw fire will get you killed. I trust you won't ever do that again?"

Steven nodded.

"Alright that will do it for today. You're all working wonderfully. Tomorrow we will work on stealth and concealment."

Hogwarts

Harry and Hermione relaxed in the Charms room, trying to bring their heart rates down. Flitwick had just put them through the ringer to prepare them for their examinations.

"Well done," Flitwick told them. "You both will do great, I know it. You've been working at the sixth or seventh year level for much of the past year. We'll keep tweaking and honing but I know you will do well enough to pass. Remember that your Patronus is worth extra points in OWL and NEWT tests since so few magicals can cast them."

"Thank you," Harry said.

"Are you sure we're ready?" Hermione said as she chewed her nails. "We've got so much to cover, so many things they could ask us. We're still three years behind."

"Miss Granger," Flitwick forestalled the teenager. "You are easily the most brilliant witch Hogwarts has seen in a generation. I have no doubt you could pass your OWLs in almost every subject at this exact moment. You have worked hard, harder than any other student, to get to this place and earn this opportunity. You know the theory, you can practice the spells and the test hasn't changed much over the years so I've prepared you for what you're likely to face. You'll be fine."

Hermione took a deep breath and forced herself to relax. As she did, Harry felt a spell coming from behind. Not knowing what it was, he pushed Hermione to the side and let the spell pass above them. The spell hit Flitwick and immobilized him. Harry rolled and came up with his arm shield. Hermione recovered just as quickly and sent her sand spell out, this time with hurricane-force winds. The sand wrapped around the invisible form that could only be Moody. Moody removed his invisibility cloak and smirked.

"Clever girl," he said as he launched a flurry of spells at Hermione.

Harry stepped forward to catch two of them on his shield, the second so powerful it shattered it. Hermione deflected two of the others into the wall, blowing out the window before hitting the ground to let the other pass over top. Harry conjured a wall to protect her and went on the offensive. He shot a stream of water, turned it into ice spears and launched them at Moody.

Moody's regular eye widened a little, but he recovered in time to cast a flame spell which melted the two most dangerous spears. Harry followed up with a bombarda at Moody's wooden leg. It hit true, tearing a chunk of the leg out.

"Good move, boy," Moody gruffed, sounding impressed. "But you'll have to do better than that."

"I'm just distracting you," Harry smiled and Moody looked scared for the first time. Hermione had conjured a stone block above his body and dropped it down. Moody thrust his wand up, turning the stone to sand that, while uncomfortable, would not cause him bodily harm. With his wand up, Harry hit him with an impedimenta and Hermione bound him with chords.

"Another move and I'll turn them to razor wire," Hermione formed up on Harry's shoulder, glaring at the defense professor. She expected many things but what she never expected was laughter.

"You weren't lying, Filius," Moody said.

"I told you so," Flitwick said, having long ago been freed thanks to the teens' attacks pulling Moody's focus from the spell he put on him.

"I had to see for myself," Moody said. "You both would be incredible Aurors. Your minds work the right way. Between the stories Albus told of the werewolf attack and the world cup, I knew they were powerful but they're also great working as a team. Can you let me loose, lass?"

"Maybe," Hermione crossed her arms. "That's the second time you've attacked us. I'm not about to let you up to do it again."

Moody laughed again, a disturbing sound coming from his crooked mouth.

"That's the spirit!" He praised her. "I'll keep you two in mind when the next battle comes."

"That's enough, Alastor," Dumbledore dropped his disillusionment charm. "You've seen what you came to see. Well done, Harry, Miss Granger. You both have come so far. Filius talks of you often but his words do not do you justice. I wanted to come to watch as much as to make sure my old friend did not go too far."

Dumbledore vanished the cords and repaired Moody's leg with a single wand movement.

"I'll be locking the door from now on," Flitwick said. "I can't have you disrupting my sessions anymore. Is that understood?"

"Aye," Moody took a swig from his flask brushed off his cloak and exited the room.

"By your leave, Filius," Dumbledore bowed and followed Moody out.

"I'm sorry," Flitwick addressed the teens. "That said: you both did an incredible job holding your own against Moody. He held back but he learned that he should not. Excellent use of distractions to allow Miss Granger to execute her plan, Mr. Potter.

"You did all of that non-verbally, too," Flitwick gave them both a drink of water. "You will both do great at your tests. Now it's getting late. Off to your common room, the both of you."

Ministry of Magic

Sirius stood in the atrium of the Ministry, staring at the Goblet of Fire on display. The upcoming tournament seemed to be all anyone would talk about. He just stared at the cup and felt a knot tighten in his stomach. He could not shake the feeling that this goblet was more an omen than anything and that his godson would once again be at the center of it. As he pondered what he could possibly do to help, someone brushed by his shoulder hard enough to knock him off balance. Recovering, he turned to see who hit him.

"Oh Sorry," Samantha Brown grabbed Sirius' arm to steady herself. "I didn't even see you there."

"It's okay," Sirius smiled. "I guess I was standing in the middle of the atrium. I was bound to be run into; I am just glad it was you and not someone from sanitation."

"Nice to see you again," Samantha tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and returned his smile with a small blush.

"Same to you," Sirius said. "Wanted to compliment you about the article you wrote about Harry. It was truly exceptional."

"Oh thank you," Samantha beamed. "Rita's been glaring daggers at me ever since it came out; it's been truly incredible.

"So where are you off to?" She asked. "Heading back below to continue training the future Aurors?"

"No, the trainees have been given the night free," Sirius said. "I was just about to head home."

"Oh… okay," Samantha's smile drooped a little. "Well… I'll catch you later, I guess."

"Hey," Sirius called out to her as she started to walk away. "Would you want to grab a bite?"

Samantha's smile returned in full force.

"I would love that," Sammy said. "Come on, I know just the place."

Samantha grabbed his elbow and pulled them toward the exit.

Hogwarts

Harry stood outside with the rest of the student body and waited for the other schools to arrive. As he waited, fidgeted with the piece of parchment in his hands and thought back to their tests from the day previous.

"You both can drop your disillusionment," the witch administering the tests, an old woman named Griselda Marchbanks, said. "You both are good there, though yours still flickers, Mr. Potter."

The woman flicked over their theory test answers. They had been excused from the class the last two days to do their tests.

"I must say I was surprised with Filius asked me to allow a pair of fourth years to sit their O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s," she looked at them above her glasses. "I can't remember the last time a student this young took these tests. Filius said you two had advanced beyond what even he expected, called you prodigies, in fact, but I must say I was skeptical. There is one thing I want you to do before I pass you. At the Charms exams last year, I had a number of students cast an advanced spell and they told me they learned it from you, Mr. Potter. Can you two cast a Patronus for me?"

A second later, the stag and otter lit up the examination room.

"Solid form," Marchbanks took notes. "I can feel the power radiating off them both. I am impressed.

"Congratulations you two," she tore off two strips. On them was simply the letter O. "You both have achieved an Owl and Newt in Charms. I'll have to ask Filius to keep me updated on your progress as you go forth as apprentices."

The woman hobbled out of the room and as the door closed, Hermione threw her arms around Harry and kissed him fiercely.

"We did it!" she squealed in his ear.

"I told you we would," Harry said. "Let's call Richard and Helen and give them the good news."

Harry still carried the parchment, finding it hard to believe. He knew they were working ahead but this was still a shock. How long ago it seemed that he dimmed his studying habits to not incur the wrath of Vernon and Dudley? To achieve something a few adult wizards never achieved at 14 was certainly nice.

"It doesn't feel real, does it?" Hermione roused him from his memory.

"No," Harry said.

"Give it time," Hermione kissed his cheek. "I can't wait to start. I've already started working a few spells, I can't wait to start creating."

"I love you," Harry smiled at her insatiable search for knowledge.

"If I am not mistaken," Dumbledore called out from the back. "I do believe the representatives from Beaubatons have just crossed the ward line."

"I see them!" A Slytherin sixth year pointed.

"It's a bird!" Seamus said.

"It's a plane!" Dean shouted

"Well it certainly isn't Superman," Harry finished. Dean and Hermione both smacked him as a powder blue carriage descended, coming to a stop right next to Hagrid's hut. The carriage was pulled by six pure-white winged horses. The Abraxans stomped their hooved feet at the ground as the carriage settled to a stop. The doors swung open and a boy wearing a uniform in the same color as the carriage opened a huge door and stepped out. He pulled a set of stairs out from below the carriage and flicked his wand to attach them to the opening. A velvet rug spilled from the carriage and the interior lit with brilliant light. The light was almost completely blocked by the first person to exit. Were it not for their familiarity with Hagrid, the students would have probably reacted stronger. A woman just as big as Hagrid, if not bigger, descended the stairs with a single step.

"'Eadmaster Dumbly-dorr," the woman extended her hand for Dumbledore to kiss.

"Madam Maxime," Dumbledore beamed. "Welcome to Hogwarts."

"May I present my students," Maxime cast her wand, igniting fireworks. 16 students from Beaubatons, eight boys and eight girls, walked gracefully down the steps and barely restrained a shiver in the cold Scotland air. A few of them looked up at the castle with disappointment and derision. The girl in front with a tightly wrapped head scarf sneezed.

"Welcome to you all," Dumbledore said. "Feel free to come in and get warm. I'm sure Durmstrang will be along shortly."

As the French coalition walked through the courtyard, a mast appeared in the Black Lake.

"It's a ship!" Tracey pointed, excitedly as an old Viking-style ship, complete with a dragon at the head of the ship, rose from the depths of the lake. The ship dropped an anchor and a gangway extended from the side. Side-by-side the 16 students from Durmstrang in blood-red uniforms marched up from the lake toward the courtyard, into the Grand Atrium, a tall wizard with a goatee brought up the rear.

"Welcome, Igor," Dumbledore greeted the man with a warm handshake.

"Good to see you again, Albus," Igor replied. "Has Olympe' arrived yet?"

"Just before you, in fact," Albus let the Durmstrang students move toward the antechamber where the Beauxbatons students were assembled. As soon as the visitors filed through the doorway, Dumbledore led the Hogwarts students into the Great Hall. Standing at the head table, Dumbledore formally announced the visiting schools as each had a performance of sorts.

"May I introduce, the students from Beauxbatons," Dumbledore gestured toward the doors as they burst open.

The 16 students floated through the door in a well-choreographed ballet dance. It ended with a small blonde girl walking between the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw house tables on the tips of her toes, finishing with a leap and pirouette in front of Dumbledore's lectern. Dumbledore led the Hogwarts contingent in applause. As the applause died down, Dumbledore welcomed the Durmstrang students, the door burst open again and the red-clad students marched into the Great Hall. Every student held a staff which they banged on the stone floor. They parted into two columns and the biggest of their number stepped through and did an elaborate military-style twirling routine with his staff, scraping the staff across the stones to add sparks to his show. He ended with a flourish, throwing the staff high into the air, just barely missing the floating lanterns in the Great Hall. The performer rolled forward and reached back without looking to grab the staff as it descended to the height of his shoulder. The boy stood at the head of the two columns and saluted the two figures walking in. One was Karkaroff, his styled goatee and greying hair giving him a distinguished look. The other, every Quidditch fan knew as the Seeker for the Bulgarian Quidditch team. Viktor's eyes scanned the room as the students gave him a rousing ovation.

"Thank you," Professor Dumbledore smiled at all present in the room. "What a show, the both of you!"

As he finished, he nodded to Harry.

Earlier that week

Harry stepped off the spiral staircase and knocked on the door to Dumbledore's office. Beside him, Cedric looked just as uncomfortable as Harry.

"Good evening, Harry, Mr. Diggory," Dumbledore's voice bade him entry from the other side of the door.

"You wanted to see us, Headmaster?" Harry tried not to sound as on edge as he felt, not knowing why he was summoned to the Headmaster's office.

"Please come in," Dumbledore gestured to a plush chair sitting in front of his ornate desk. Harry gently sat down and was quickly greeted by Fawkes the Phoenix.

"Long time no see," Harry said he stroked underneath the Phoenix's chin. The bird chortled and shook his entire body, enjoying Harry's scratching.

"Careful," Dumbledore warned. "He's been known to flame in just to get attention. In any case, I bet you are wondering why I wanted to speak with you."

"Yes, sir," both boys admitted.

"Next week, the other schools will arrive," Dumbledore folded his hands in front of him on the desk. "As I am sure you no doubt witnessed at the World Cup, when magicals get together, we tend to like to show off. I am told that each of the schools will have some sort of performance and I was hoping you and the other members of the D.A. would acquiescence to putting on a display of our own.

Back in the Great Hall, Harry nodded to Cedric. Harry and Cedric stood with the rest of the members of the D.A..

"EXPECTO PATRONUM," the D.A. members shouted. Dumbledore, to make the show more dramatic, lowered the lighting to its lowest level as blue-white lights drifted from the wands. Harry's stag and Hermione's otter stood out as the most brilliant white of the Patroni out of all the animal protectors. Harry looked across the Hall and nodded to Vinny. Vinny smirked and cast his Patronus, making everyone gasp as Vinny's orca floated over their heads. A few of the Beauxbatons contingent reached up to touch the whale. Vinny had his Patronus do an approximation of a breach to turn around and head toward the other end of the hall.

When the Patroni faded, Dumbledore brought the lights back up and led the students in a third round of applause. With the displays done, Viktor led the prospective Durmstrang champions to the red table.

"Do you mind iff ve sit vith you?" Viktor clicked his feet together and bowed.

"Please," Harry gestured to the spots that opened up in front, whether by magic or the Gryffindors opening a space, he did not know. "Be our guest."

"Does that mean the dishes are about to perform?" Another Durmstrang boy, a slim blonde boy with grey-blue eyes and long, wavy hair, asked.

"Would not shock me," Hermione shrugged and looked down at the Weasley twins who shook their heads in disappointment. "But I don't think they'll be doing that trick tonight."

"Shame," the boy said as he extended his hand across the table. "Andrei Smirnov."

"Hermione Granger," Hermione said. "This is my boyfriend Harry Potter."

Once the greetings were made, the food dishes and goblets filled themselves and the feast began.

"So you're Potter and Granger?" Andrei asked once everyone loaded up their plates. "Viktor here won't shut up about you"

Harry rubbed Hermione's back as she blushed at the boy's compliments and pushed the Bouillabaisse toward her since he knew she liked it while she handed the bratwurst to him.

"Thankfully he is just as good with a wand as he is a broom," Harry nodded toward Krum who smiled sheepishly behind his bowl of baked potato soup. "We would have been in trouble without him."

Viktor introduced the rest of the people at his table to the Gryffindors. Harry noticed Ron mutter something to Seamus but quickly ignored the redhead in favor of conversing with Natascha Rozhenko, a stout-looking redhead. She eagerly asked Hermione to show her the library at their earliest opportunity.

"Excusez-moi," the Gryffindors turned and the girl who walked in with Maxime had finally removed her shawl. Her silvery-blonde hair flowed down her shoulders and her ice-blue eyes called everyone's attention. Harry sniggered at a few of the boys giving themselves whiplash as they turned to look at her. "Are you done with ze Bouillabaisse?"

She gestured to the dish sitting in front of Ron whose vapid expression was bordering on comical. He was halfway through at bite, drool coming out the side of his mouth.

"Heaven's sakes," Hermione rolled her eyes at the boys and addressed the girl. She lifted the dish sitting in front of her since Ron was helplessly ogling to girl to do anything with the one in front of him. "Yes we are done with it; it was exquisite, as good as when we had it in France."

"'ermione?" The girl's eyes widened in recognition. "I zhought I would see you. I see you and 'arry's relationship is progressing well. Your bond iz strong."

Hermione followed her speech despite her thick accent, wracking her brain for where she had encountered the blonde. Suddenly she remembered the family on the beach.

"Fleur!?" Hermione's eyes brightened in recognition. "Nice to see you again."

"Same to you," Fleur said as she hefted the dish in her hands. "Zhank you for ze dish."

Fleur sauntered back to the Ravenclaw table where the other Beauxbaton students sat. Half the heads at the table watched her go.

"Bloody hell," Ron said to Seamus, loud enough for the table to hear. "She's got to be a Veela!"

"Honestly," Ginny snapped at her brother. "You see a pretty woman and you become even more hopeless than usual."

"That's more than a pretty woman," Ron turned to stare at the blonde again as she engaged Padma in conversation. "They don't make them like that at Hogwarts."

Ron never realized the dark looks from every girl at the table.

"I dunno," Harry spared a look at the girls around the table, ending with Hermione. "They make 'em alright, I think."

"Smooth, Potter," Hermione kissed him on the cheek.

"Whipped," Neville ribbed Harry and Harry subsequently threw a dinner roll across the table, hitting him in the chest.

"Is every meal like this?" Krum asked, barely containing his laughter at Neville and Harry's repartee.

"Oh no," Lavender said as she laughed behind her hand. "Sometimes it even gets interesting. The Weasley twins haven't even gotten into the action yet."

"I can't wait to see what interesting looks like," a tall girl with braided blonde hair, who introduced herself as Brunhilda, said.

"Challenge accepted!" Fred stood up and pulled back his sleeves. Angelina pulled him back down while Alicia and Katie teamed up to keep George on the bench.

"Down boy," Angelina said. "Not on the first night. You promised."

"But…" Fred pleaded, his hands in front of him in a puppy dog expression.

"You promised," Angelina glared.

"Fine…" Fred slumped on the bench to which the other Gryffindors laughed.

"Excellent seating choice, Viktor," Brunhilda said. "This table is more entertaining than the one Karkaroff wanted us to sit at."

"Karkaroff wanted you with the Slytherins, didn't he?" Harry saw the Durmstrang headmaster chatting with Snape.

"He seemed to think it vould be best," Krum nodded. "I thought here looked better."

"You're welcome anytime," Harry said.

"Though you should sit with the other houses as well," Hermione said. "Allow yourself time with each house."

"I vill remember that," Krum looked over his shoulder. "It looks like ve're attracting a few stares."

"Sit next to Harry Potter, you'll always be subject to a few," Luna said as she pushed potatoes around her plate in a display that looked choreographed. Lavender and Parvati nodded aggressively.

"Very true," Neville said. "It's a good thing he's a good bloke. Makes it worth it to put up with it. Most of the time."

Harry glared at Neville, who smiled and winked at him, but Hermione discretely moved the rolls out of his reach. Whatever Harry was going to reply with was lost as Dumbledore stood up.

"Now that you all are fed and watered," he looked out across the Great Hall. "Before you are dismissed to your warm beds, there are a few introductions. Here from the Ministry of Magic are Bartemius Crouch and Ludo Bagman. They have been working tirelessly to put this event on."

Harry subtly looked at the parchment stretched on his lap and studied all the people at the head table. Standing at their positions were banners that read "Bartemius Crouch" and "Ludo Bagman," ruling out anyone impersonating them. He had done the same with all the professors earlier in the week.

Am I becoming paranoid? He thought to himself. Starting expect trouble at every corner?

"Now for our last guest," Dumbledore flicked his wand and an ornate flaming goblet descended from the ceiling. "The object that will decide who the champions would be. Everyone who is of age as of this moment may add their names and at this time tomorrow, the Goblet of Fire will choose the three champions who will be representing their respective schools.

"This is the Goblet of Fire," Crouch stood up and spoke. "Every student who is of age who wishes to compete shall write their name on a strip of parchment and drop it into the Goblet. Then, tomorrow night, the Goblet will announce who the contestants are."

"Thank you, Mr. Crouch. After tonight, it will be moved into the Entry Hall," Dumbledore said "An age line will be drawn around it, to keep below-age participants from submitting their names.

"That can all wait until tomorrow," Dumbledore said. "I have kept you all from your beds for far too long."

As the students filed out of the Great Hall, Harry looked over his shoulder, his worries mounting. He felt Hermione's hand slide into his at the same time Neville bumped his shoulder. They each gave him a knowing look, letting him know that whatever happened, they had his back. Their support buoyed his spirts but his worries never truly receded.

(A/N: The other schools have arrived, Harry is somewhat aware of what is coming though is afraid of what but he's also a newly-minted apprentice.

When the Fire Squad got separated into red and blue teams, I couldn't resist a Red Vs. Blue reference, to anyone who watched the Halo comedy series. Also had to put in a little Hunger Games with the cannon sounding and the picture of the eliminated contestant showing on the ceiling.

Moody saying "clever girl" is a Jurassic Park reference I couldn't resist making.

There was a fiction I read where Dumbledore asked Harry to show off his Patronus when the schools arrived. I can't remember the name but I liked it enough to reference it here.

Last, if you remember what Ron said when Krum sat with the Slytherins and Malfoy, you'll know what Ron whispered to Seamus.