Chapter 4

When Harry told Hermione and Ron what he had wrote back to Sirius Hermione was mad at him. “But that was a lie. Your scar did hurt, and you know it.” She said with an accusingly look on her face.
“Yeah well at least now he’s not going back to Azkaban because of me.” Harry replied angrily.
Hermione wanted to argue some more but got interrupted by Ron who said. “Please drop it.”
Hermione decided to listen to him and dropped the topic.

A few days later there was a sign hanging in the Entrance Hall. There was a large crowd around the sign only Ron could read it as he was the tallest of the three. It included the information about the arrival of the delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang.
“Brilliant, that’s next Friday and will cut the potion lesson short. So, Snape will have no time to test our potions on us.” Harry said happily.

The effect this sign had on the whole school was noticeable. The whole castle was cleaned, and the teachers were extra hard on the students. It was clear the adults wanted to present the school from its best side.

On the thirtieth of October they found the Hall to be decorated in the House colours. As Hermione, Harry and Ron came down for breakfast they saw Fred and George sitting apart from their usual friend group.
What was odd but Hermione had noticed since the beginning of the school year Fred and George had done things apart from their friend group. It wasn’t unusual to see both sitting in a corner working on something. Hermione didn’t think they were doing homework but sadly her and George hadn’t really had time to talk to each other. Hermione was too busy starting S.P.E.W. along with the increased workload the fourth-year students faced this year.
Ron walked straight to his brothers.
“It’s a bummer all right.” Hermione heard George whisper to his twin brother.
“But he won’t talk to us in person, so he leaves us no choice. We have to make sure he receives our letter. He can’t ignore us forever” the other twin replied still talking in a low voice.
“Who’s ignoring you?” Ron asked as he sat down next to Fred.
“Wis you would.” His brother replied.
He looked irritated by the interruption.
“What’s a bummer?” Ron proceeded to ask George.
“To have a brother like you.” George replied.
Hermione nearly let out a loud laugh as she sat down next to George. The boys started to chat about the Triwizard Tournament. Hermione started to participate in the conversation as the History of Hogwarts was mentioned.
“It should be called ‘A Revised History of Hogwarts. That would be more accurate.” Hermione said.
The four boys looked confused, and Ron asked, “What are you on about?”.
“House-elves, in all the pages they are not even mentioned once.” The boys already looked annoyed as she said that.
Hermione knew that some people just paid the entry fee so she would shut up and sadly Harry and Ron are not so passionate about S.P.E.W as she was. She even tried to convince the twins, but they didn’t take her serious at all. What didn’t surprise her if she was honest with herself.
Hermione was about to start elaborating her concern when George leaned over to her and asked her, “Have you ever been in the Kitchen Hermione?”.
“No, of course not. I don’t think its appro”
“Well we’ve been me and Fred” George interrupted her. “And they are really happy there. They think they are the luckiest elves as they are allowed to work at Hogwarts. It’s an honour for them, really.” George explained further.
“That’s because they’re brainwashed and don’t know better.” Hermione tried to argue but she was once again stopped by the arrival of the owls.
Besides George had already leaned back and picked up the conversation with his twin brother again.

As announced all the students had to stand outside of the castle to wait for the arrival of the delegations. Hermione felt like they’ve been out there for at least 30 minutes as the first student noticed a Thing appearing in the already darkening late afternoon sky.
Even though Hermione had read a lot of books about other school she was surprised to see that the delegation from Beauxbatons travelled in a horse drawn carriage nearly as large as the house. The size of the carriage made more sense as the headmistress stepped out of it. She appeared to be even taller than Hagrid. Hermione saw that she was greeted by Dumbledore, but she couldn’t really hear what they were saying. After the Headmistress about a dozen boys and girls came out of the carriage. Only wearing what seemed to be a pretty light school uniform the French students started to shiver quickly. Therefore, they were quickly led into the Great Hall to wait there for the arrival of the other school. The Hogwarts students started to look out for any other changes in their surroundings.
“Are you hearing that?” Ron asked a few minutes later.
In fact, there was a far away sound. Yet Hermione couldn’t really tell where it was coming from.
“The Lake” Lee Jordan suddenly yelled.
He was right. The surface of the lake was no longer still, and Hermione already saw a mast appear. When the delegation from Durmstrang finally arrived at the Entrance of the Castle a loud mutter went through the crowd. It couldn’t be because of the Headmaster of Durmstrang he didn’t look that impressive nor intimidating. Hermione thought to herself. There was a boy standing next to the headmaster. Hermione had the feeling she had seen him somewhere, but she couldn’t remember where. Ron gave Harry, who was standing in between her and Ron, a soft punch on the arm and spoke, “Harry- it’s Krum”.
That’s when Hermione remembered, of course the quidditch World cup, the quick moment she thought he looked directly in her eyes.

The buzz was still going strong as the Hogwarts students followed the delegation from Durmstrang into the great hall.
“I can’t believe it Harry, It’s Krum – Viktor Krum. I didn’t know he still is a student.” Ron said still in disbelieve.
“Oh come on Ron he’s only a quidditch player.” Hermione said as it already annoyed her that all the students seemed to go crazy because of him. She even could hear some girls talking about wanting to get his autograph.
“Only a Quidditch player Hermione?” Ron asked appalled. “Hermione he’s one of the best seekers in the world.” He added.
Hermione really didn’t’ care. She was happy that the Durmstrang students decided to sit down at the Slytherin table so Ron would shut up about it. And she couldn’t stop a little snort as Ron was heartbroken that Viktor wouldn’t sit at their table.

There were some foreign dishes at this feast. Some Hermoine recognised from her vacation in France. Others she had no idea what they were. After the dinner Dumbledore and Mr. Crouch proceeded to explain the rules of the Triwizard Tournament. The ones who wanted to be a champion now had 24 hours to put their name into the goblet of fire. Which would be placed in the Entrance Hall. With a age Line, drawn by Dumbledor himself, around it. So, no one under seventeen could enter the Triwizard Tournament. On their way out they met Fred and George. They seemed overly delighted.
“A Age line!” Fred said happily.
“A ageing potion should do the trick, and once we’ve entered there’s no telling that we are not seventeen.” George added.
“I don’t think that a simple potion would do the trick. We aren’t skilled enough to pull off such a strong potion.” Hermione said.
“Speak for yourself” George shortly replied.
He went on talking to his twin how exactly they were going to do it. Hermione, Harry and Ron stopped to let through the students from Durmstrang through first. Then suddenly Karkaroff stopped to look at Harry. And so did his students. Hermione felt very uncomfortable. That’s why for once she was happy that Professor Moody appeared. He told Karkaroff to walk on as he was blocking the way. On their way up to the common room Ron was still sulking about the fact that the Durmstrang students slept on their ship and that he couldn’t get an autograph from Krum yet.

On Saturday morning the Entrance Hall was already filled with people. A third-year student filled them in on who had already put in their names yet, as Hermione, Harry and Ron arrived there. Soon after them Fred, George and Lee Jordan appeared.
“We’ve done it” Fred said.
 “Done what?” Ron asked.
“We all took some drops of the ageing potion. Just enough to age us a bit over seventeen.” George replied.
“It’s not going to work” Hermione said.
“And why is that?” George asked.
With a little scuff Hermione explained, “You see this? This is a age line drawn by Dumbledore. Don’t you think he thought about the possibility somebody could use something as pathetically dump witted as an ageing potion?”.
“That’s why its brilliant, because it’s so pathetically dump witted.” Fred answered.
The two proceeded to jump together into the Age line. All students around cheered along with the Twins as in the first moment it seemed like it really worked. But as Fred put his note into the goblet a loud sizzling noise appeared and Fred and George were thrown by a invisible force out of the Age line and with another loud popping noise both boys got a identical beard. Now instead of cheering everyone in the Hall was laughing. Dumbledore appeared and showed them to the hospital wing. The laughter suddenly stopped as the lot of Durmstrang appeared led by Karkaroff. Hermione looked up from her book she had brought with her and found herself looking once again directly into the eyes of non-other than Viktor Krum. He had to turn away from her as he had put his name into the goblet and now was waiting for the other students to do the same. Hermione didn’t dare to look up again. She had to admit she blushed a bit, but she tried to hide that behind her book. It’s not like he was the first boy to ever look at her, but when he did it, it just felt differently.

After all the Durmstrang students put in their name they went into the great hall. Harry and Ron decided that it’s time for breakfast and followed them. The Great Hall must have been redecorated over the night. There was Halloween decorations all over the place.

Hermione, Harry and Ron decided they had to visit Hagrid. Hermione had to ran up to the common room to fetch her box of S.P.E.W badges. But as it turned out, that was unnecessary Hagrid wasn’t interested in participating. Like Fred and George, he told her that she wouldn’t do any good to the elves. Hermione was still a bit mad about that on their way back to the school.

Back in school it was already time for the dinner and then the goblet would decide who the champions will be. Hermione hoped that Angelina would be chosen. To no one’s surprise the champion of Durmstrang was Krum. For Beauxbatons it was the blonde girl Ron stared at yesterday. And sadly, Cedric got chosen as the champion for Hogwarts. Hermione clapped for him anyway as she couldn’t understand why the boys still were mad since he won the Quidditch game last year.
But then the Goblet spit out another name. Harry’s name. She had to give him a small push as he didn’t move after he whispered to them that he didn’t put his name into the goblet. She believed him. But as she saw Ron’s expression when they went back upstairs, Ron couldn’t.

As they arrived at the Gryffindor common room Ron immediately went up to his room. Without wishing Hermione a good night. She decided to wait for Harry. Trying to read a book she sat down on a sofa in a corner. The rest of the Gryffindors seemed happy to have a champion and a small party started. George came over to her and sat next to her, he got rid the beard in the meantime, thanks to Madame Pomfrey.
“Do you know how he did it?” He asked her.
“No, I really don’t think that he had put his name into the goblet George. Have you seen the shock on his face when Dumbledore called out his name?”.
“He did in fact look surprised. But how cool would it be if he would win the thing?” George replied still with a smile on his face.
“Yeah, if he does without losing any parts of his body. I’ve read about the precious Triwizard Tournaments, and they are dangerous George. I’m really concerned about him.” Hermione said. “I think I’m going to bed. Could you tell him that I already went to bed if you see him?” Hermione said while getting up from the sofa.
“Yeah, no problem, Good night Hermione” George said looking after her as she left.