Harry awoke early on Halloween morning, he could hear Ron chewing Seamus and Dean's ears off about Viktor Krum, leaving Harry to wonder if his friend had gone to bed at all, as he was prattling about the Durmstrang student when Harry'd gone to bed the night before. Instead of using a silencing charm, Harry took the opportunity to work on the latest occlumency exercise he and Hermione were working on.
He'd started again by breathing and clearing his mind and then he imagined building walls inside his mind to shut the room out from him. Brick by brick he built the walls up until he could no longer hear his friend talking, or James' snoring or anything else. From there, sleep was a simple matter.
Ron was re-telling the story of the World Cup match for the fiftieth time, when Neville of all people, snapped, "Yes… Yes Ron, the Wronski feint, youngest international seek in a century! We've heard it! Kindly shut the fuck up!"
Harry bit down on his laughter for a moment when he heard Dean and Seamus break into laughter while James snorted loudly. Harry sat up slowly and found Ron sitting at the foot of his bed. He held his sock in his hand while his left foot dangled in front of it. The look on his red-headed friend's face was priceless. He almost wished that they roomed with Colin Creevy, as his friend's face should have been preserved for all time.
Dean was pulling on a jumper while Seamus was looking at his hair in the mirror. James had paused in the middle of gathering his supplies for his shower. All three of them were looking back and forth between Ron and Neville, who was the only one besides Harry in bed and it looked like his pudgy friend was still trying to sleep. He rolled over and pulled one of his pillows over his head.
Harry turned to Ron with a grin, "All right Ron?"
Ron smirked, "I guess it's true what Mum says about the Longbottom temper."
Harry climbed out of bed, quickly showered and pulled on a pair of jeans and a jumper then followed Ron and James out of the dorm. They found Hermione in the common room reading over one of the more advanced occlumency text that Dumbledore had given her and Harry when they completed the basic techniques.
When he told Dumbledore, the headmaster was unsurprised that she'd been studying the techniques with him. He'd even said he would only have been surprised if Harry hadn't asked Hermione to help him. Their studies were progressing well. Harry was now able to clear his mind rapidly and the meditative beach he'd created could be recalled almost instantly.
They'd been able to create several basic shields in the last two weeks and Hermione was beginning to construct more advanced shields herself. Harry was not far behind her but he was still learning to order his mind properly, Hermione came to it almost naturally.
He found that the occlumency was helping him in his classes as well. As he became better at focusing on details his Transfiguration work, both practical and theoretical had improved and his grades had seen a dramatic jump as well as McGonagall's opinion of him. His charms were also showing remarkable improvement, he'd even been able to understand his potions lessons though Snape made certain his grades didn't improve at all. He and Ron had been able to fake their way through Divination assignments by merely making up creative and horrible deaths for themselves.
Meanwhile, DADA had become very interesting and challenging. Moody had made a point that in addition to teaching them about creatures and protection from hexes he taught them dueling techniques, after each class he'd assigned them to learn a different defensive charm or spell. Harry had mastered "Protego" as well as two strong protective spells. Moody had promised that in the second term he'd begin teaching them offensives spells starting with "Stupefy."
The most interesting lessons came at the start of the year however. Moody had demonstrated the Unforgivables. He'd displayed the Cruciatus on a spider which upset Neville greatly. The Killing Curse was nearly as upsetting to Harry, as he watched the green jet erupt from Moody's wand he realized that it was the same spell that killed his parents.
Finally there was the Imperius curse; he performed it on each of them so they'd know what it felt like. Harry proved to be able to fight off the effects of it as well. Moody had remarked that with further training Harry might able to resist it as well as the Cruciatus.
The night before, the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang arrived and the students from all three schools were treated to an extravagant dinner. The students from the French school seemed to only take delight in complaining about everything they encountered, especially a young lady by the name of Fleur Delacour. Harry might have been insulted by the behavior of the Beauxbatons students had he not been enraptured by the lovely Miss Delacour, like ninety-five percent of the male students of Hogwarts.
Ron, however, was enraptured by Viktor Krum. From the moment the stern-looking young man had exited the ship Durmstrang's delegation Ron had sounded very much like Colin Creevy sounded to Harry. His star-struck expression and constant praise of him had earned Ron more than a few eye-rolls.
After the dinner, Dumbledore announced that entrance to the Tri-Wizard Tournament would begin that night. Then he presented to the students the Goblet of Fire. It was an overly-large, nondescript wooden cup; it was filled with blue flames as he placed it upon the stool that the Sorting Hat traditionally sat upon.
The naming of the champions would occur after the Halloween feast tonight and students over the age of seventeen had until the feast began to enter. Harry had the feeling that Ron and James were so eager to get to breakfast for the chance to see who thought themselves able to face the Tournament and even more interested in seeing how the twins planned to defeat Dumbledore's age line.
When the four of them arrived at the entrance hall they noticed the Goblet displayed in the center with the age line glowing brightly around it. Students from every house milled about the hall, all of them watching it intently some had even brought some of their breakfast out into the Entrance Hall to eat quietly.
They found Colin and Dennis talking animatedly while the older Creevy brother was snapping picture after picture of it. Next to them was Ron's younger sister Ginny talking with a third-year Ravenclaw girl Harry had never met before. The girl's long hair was a dirty-shade of blonde and her blue eyes seemed almost painfully wide. She regarded the world around her in a rather detached fashion, as though none of it really interested her.
Harry then noticed that she wore a necklace made of radishes and her ear rings were a pair of corks from bottles of butter beer. Ron stepped forward and spoke to Ginny, "Gin, did anyone put their name in yet?"
The younger Weasley flashed Harry a smile then turned to Ron. "All the Durmstrang kids came in and put theirs in a little while ago. I haven't seen anyone from Hogwarts yet."
James clapped Ron on the back hard and said, "I guess you'll just have to wait a little longer to talk to Krum." Ron shook his head while James and Harry laughed.
The blonde turned to them and her eyes fixed on Ron, "Hello Ronald."
Ron grimaced slightly, "Hello Luna." Hermione nudged him and he coughed before saying, "Harry, Hermione and James, meet Luna Lovegood."
The Ravenclaw distractedly took their offered hands. Harry turned towards the Goblet, "I imagine some of the kids came last night after the dinner. I reckon it could be embarrassing if the thing spat your name out in front of the whole school."
The others nodded while a large group of Hufflepuffs entered the Hall. This group was rather boisterous and seemed to be crowding around someone. They began pushing someone forward and giving them encouragement. Cedric emerged from the group with a bashful grin and approached the Goblet. He turned back to his friends and said, "Are you sure about this?" They just waved him forward. Cedric laughed and dropped a slip of parchment with his name on it into the Goblet. When he did, the flames turned red briefly and a few sparks flew out of the Goblet.
The Hufflepuffs cheered loudly while he moved onto the Great Hall.
A few moments later Fred and George entered with Lee Jordan. The trio was laughing to each other as they approached, "Wish us luck."
Hermione narrowed her eyes at them while Ron smirked and said "What did you try?"
Fred smirked, "Aging potion."
George nodded, "Just a drop, we only need to age couple of months."
George then moved confidently towards the Goblet. He paused only to take a breath then stepped across the line. When nothing happened he turned back to the group with a smirk. He reached into his robe and produced a slip of parchment. Harry noticed nearly everyone in the hall watching his friend as George dropped his name into the Goblet without reaction from it. With a whoop, Fred joined his brother within the line.
Their celebration was short lived as the Goblet began to spark and shudder almost angrily. A wave of energy erupted from within and Fred and George were thrown out of the circle. They landed on the floor in a heap. A moment later they got to their feet and everyone began to laugh at the long white beards on the pair's faces. Seeing this, Fred and George began to laugh themselves. Dumbledore sent them up to the Hospital wing.
Harry and the others entered the hall, leaving Ginny and Luna behind. As they sat down, Ron leaned towards James and whispered. "What about you Padfoot? You could probably get by the age line. You know far more spells than even the Seventh Years, why don't you enter?"
Their friend shook his head, "It would draw attention to me, the Goblet might even recognize me. You may not have seen pictures, but my looks are strikingly similar to my dearly departed cousin. It's possible that my magic could be recognized by a powerful artifact like that. Hell, Dumbledore and I had to let Moody in on the secret because he recognized me immediately."
Further down the table, Dean and Seamus were discussing some of the Hogwarts students who had entered their names in the Goblet. It seemed that among the candidates to join Cedric were a Slytherin named Warrington, who Harry had played Quidditch against, and two members of Ravenclaw's Quidditch team by the names of Chambers and Bradley. It seemed that none of the Gryffindors had entered their names thus far. Ron slid down closer to them, "Personally, if it's not one of us I'd like to see Chambers in the Tournament."
Seamus nodded enthusiastically, "As long as it isn't that pretty-boy Diggory." There was a cheer outside the Hall and Seamus started looking for whoever it might be to enter the Great Hall.
Harry shrugged, "I don't know, I think Cedric would do well."
Angelina's voice broke the impromptu huddle, "I did it, put my name in." They all turned to see Angelina Johnson, a dark-skinned sixth-year Gryffindor that Harry knew mostly through Quidditch. She was one of the best chasers ever to play for Gryffindor. She was also stunningly beautiful as well was one of the first to accept Harry in first year.
Ron nodded while James said. "No beard, so I'm assuming…"
She smiled at the black haired youth. "My birthday was last week, Tonks."
Ron then said, "All right! We know it'll be a Gryffindor, I hope it's you Angelina."
Hermione smiled as well, "I hope it's you as well, Angelina."
She smiled at her housemates before sitting down next to Alicia and Katie and discussing her chances. The quartet finished their breakfast and exited the Great Hall a short time later after deciding to visit Hagrid for a while. As they turned towards the large doors on the far side of the hall, they parted admitting Madame Maxime and the delegation from Beauxbatons. The giant woman instructed her students to line up and one by one they entered their names into the goblet.
Ron turned towards them for a moment after tearing his eyes from Fleur. "What do you think will happen to the students who aren't chosen? You reckon they'll be sent home?"
Hermione shook her head, "No, I'd imagine they'll stay to support their Champion. Otherwise why would they bring students who weren't of age?" As she spoke she motioned to a much younger blonde girl in a Beauxbatons' uniform talking with Fleur.
As the last of her students entered their name, Madame Maxim ushered them out of the hall and across the grounds towards the giant carriage they had arrived in the day before. Hermione led the four of them out of the school and across the grounds towards Hagrid's hut.
&&&&&&&&&
They knocked on the door and were treated to the strangest sight they'd seen at Hogwarts when it opened, and that was saying a lot. Hagrid was dressed in a horrible brown suit with a yellow and orange checked tie. His normally wild hair seemed to have been tamed by a quart of dirty motor oil as it was slicked back into a pony tail. "It's abou' time. I was wonderin' if yeh fergot where I live!"
He ushered them into his one-room home and sat down for tea. The four of them were dumbfounded by the appearance of their friend. James was the first to recover and managed to ask about the skrewts. The normally wild-haired man smiled, "Oh dey're growin' so big, nearly three-feet long now, though they've started killing each other." He sounded rather like a proud parent as he poured them each a cup of tea. "I had to put 'em in separate boxes, there's 'bout twenty of them left."
The group sat around his table drinking tea and discussing the Tournament. "You jus' wait. It's gonna be amazin'. The firs' task…" He shook himself, "Ah, I'm not suppos' ter say." Ron tried to urge him on but Hagrid would have none of it. "I don' wanna ruin the surprise. I'll jus' say, it'll be like nothin' yeh've ever seen!"
Not long after two, Hermione smiled and looked at her watch, "Harry we need to study our occlumency lessons for the day."
Hagrid nodded, "I heard abou' that from Dumbledore 'Arry. He mus' think a lot abou' yeh to let yeh study somethin' that advanced."
Harry smiled slightly, "I don't know Hagrid, Hermione's doing most of the studying, then she teaches me." He stood up and offered Hermione a hand up. She smiled and took his offer then led them out of the hut. Harry's wasn't sure but he thought he heard Ron and James laughing as she led him away.
She reclaimed his hand as they crossed the grounds. Harry turned to her before the silence became oppressive and said. "I wonder what got into Hagrid."
She smiled at him briefly before saying, "I don't know, maybe he has a meeting with Dumbledore or someone later today."
He shrugged. A short while later they arrived at the little clearing behind the Quidditch locker rooms. Harry pulled out his wand and transfigured a few rocks into a large red blanket and several pillows. Hermione gave his work an appraising eye and smiled, "Well done Harry. You're really improving." She punctuated her praise by squeezing the hand she held before she sat down on one of the pillows, only then did she relinquish his hand.
Harry cleared his throat and said, "What are we studying today?"
She smiled and began to fold her legs beneath her until she found a comfortable position. "No new techniques today, just meditation."
Harry nodded and sat down, he then found his own comfortable position in front of her. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes then released the breath and began to regulate his breathing in counts of five. Breathing in for a five count and out for the same five count. His mind was soon clear and the image of the beach quickly materialized around him. He'd added to the image over the weeks. He'd gone to the library and researched tropical countries. He'd found that the pictures of Hawaii were most like his beach and began to adjust his beach to the pictures he'd found of the Islands. He'd seen pictures of a place called Na Pali on the island of Kaua'i and found it simply breathtaking.
Not long after reading about Na Pali and the Kalalau trail he found that the green hills and mountains that framed the shore crept into his beach. There were a few black volcanic rocks that had sprouted from the water nearby, Hawaiian geese now flew over head and when he looked into the water he could see along with the friendly little fish that played at his ankles, schools of reef triggerfish sailed through the water looking for a meal. On the horizon humpback whales would leap out of the water to breathe occasionally.
He'd told Hermione about it and she had been pleased that he'd actually put thought into making His place as real as possible. Many of his dreams now took place here, he'd played with a dog in the surf, he'd watched his friends lay about here and in one odd dream he'd helped Ron and the Twins build an ice cream parlor.
He also had dreams here spent in solitude, but he never felt lonely here. He always felt that someone was nearby, someone who cared about him. He sat just out of reach of the waves. A breeze ruffled his hair and carried the scent of the near-by forest to him and he smiled.
It was in this moment that Harry made a decision. After he graduated from Hogwarts, he'd go to Hawaii and see if he could find His Place on the islands and if he did he'd slap down a house and spend the rest of his days standing in the surf.
He grinned as he could imagine Ron and James' reactions to that. Both would immediately learn the phrases needed to woo young Hawaiian witches and follow him for the sheer joy of meeting island girls. Hermione would come along as well and spend her days happily reading on the beach or studying local fauna.
If he was honest with himself he found that he didn't want James and Ron along so much as Hermione and in addition to spending their days in the surf he wanted to find a private spot on a beach like this and spend his days entwined with her…
He shook himself free of his thought and the beach faded back into the recesses of his mind. He opened his eyes to see Hermione sitting in front of him, a serene expression on her face. The sun was sitting low in the sky and when he checked his watch he noticed they didn't have much time before the feast began.
He reached out a hand and ignored the subtle tremor of nervousness then touched her hand, "Hermione?" Her eyes fluttered and then opened, she graced him with a gentle expression. "We need to get going, the feast will be starting soon."
They ran up to the castle and into the hall to find they were among the last to arrive. They took their place along side James and Ron who were talking with the clean-shaven Twins. The Goblet had been moved to the front of the Great Hall in place of Dumbledore's chair.
When they sat down, Ron immediately launched into an explanation of Hagrid's behavior earlier. "Before we left Hagrid threw on this retched cologne and followed us out. Then as we were following him up to the castle we caught sight of the Beauxbatons group, Hagrid saw Maxime and he turned bright red!"
Harry looked up towards the head table and saw his large friend glancing towards the Headmistress of Beauxbatons with a funny expression. Harry grinned when Ron remarked that their children would be "bloody huge." He turned towards James and Hermione and noticed his friends in a seemingly serious conversation. He decided not to interrupt and turned back to his dinner. He noticed that unlike previous Halloweens, this feast was dragging along. The anticipation for the naming of the Champions as well as this being the second extravagantly heavy meal in as many days harmed his appetite. Finally he set his plate aside before desert was served.
It seemed forever before their plates disappeared and Professor Dumbledore lowered the lights until only the flickering light from the carved pumpkins remained. Every eye turned towards the head table to see Dumbledore speaking with Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch.
When he finished his discussion, Dumbledore moved in front of the Head Table and addressed the eager students. "It seems that the Goblet has reached its decision and we now humbly await its pronouncement. When the champions' names are called I ask them to move to the front of the hall and proceed towards the door to my left into the next chamber. Once all three are named and gathered in the next chamber, Mr. Bagman and Mr. Crouch will give you your first instructions."
Everyone's attention was now fixed upon the Goblet, awaiting any change. Without warning the flames turned from blue to red, suddenly a tongue of flame erupted and a piece of parchment was expelled. It sailed casually through the air only for Dumbledore to pluck it casually from its fall. He unfolded the singed parchment and read aloud. "The Champion from Durmstrang is Viktor Krum!"
Applause rang through the hall from all three delegations as the stern looking Bulgarian rose to his feet and strode confidently to the front of the hall. He exited into the next chamber to shouts from Karkaroff of "Bravo, Viktor!"
Silence quickly settled over the students again and they all concentrated on the Goblet again. As though it was waiting for their attention, the flames again turned red and another eruption of fire shot a new piece of parchment into the air. Nimble fingers caught it and Dumbledore's voice rang across the hall. "The champion of Beauxbatons is Fleur Delacour!"
The blonde rose from her seat and left the hall to loud applause of her own. Ron chuckled slightly as he noticed many of the other Beauxbatons were going through various types of grief and disappointment.
The silence that settled this time was especially tense between the Hogwarts' students. Many sixth and seventh year students seemed to be casting speculative and appraising looks at each other. Harry leaned forward in his seat, wondering who'd represent their school. It seemed that the Goblet was taking a long time to announce their champion.
Just as Harry felt that the Hogwarts students would riot if a student wasn't named the flames turned red and sparks began to spout out of the Goblet. A long flame shot into the air and expelled a piece of parchment. Every Hogwarts student leaned forward as Dumbledore caught it.
He opened the parchment and spoke even before he read it. "Hogwarts' Champion is…" His face went gray and he spoke in a shocked tone, "Harry Potter."
&&&&&&&&&End Part 5&&&&&&&&&