Author's note:
Sorry for the late publication!

Sadly, this chapter has no interaction between Severus Snape and Y/N Y/L/N. There will be plenty of that in the next ones, though!
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Word count: 2k
Warning: Mentions of attacks

It's a new school year, however very different. This year, Hogwarts will be hosting the Triwizard Tournament.

Only the teachers know - it's going to be a surprise for the students.

Right now, all the teachers and students are gathered in the Great Hall. All the first-years have just been sorted, and now, everybody is waiting for the Headmaster to do his speech so they can get something to eat.

While they are waiting, Severus is in deep thought. He heard the news about what happened at the Quidditch World Cup - Death Eaters attacked people.

The news puzzled the Potions Master. He can only think of one reason why they would suddenly attack - if the Dark Lord will return soon.

He hopes that Y/L/N and Draco weren't injured during the attack. Lucius probably made sure that they were safe.

Severus can't help but wonder if he knows why it happened...

His thoughts are interrupted as the Headmaster begins his speech.

"Now we're all settled in and sorted, I'd like to make an announcement" the old man says, gaining everybody's attention.

"This castle will not only be your home this year, but home to some very special guests as well. You see, Hogwarts has been chosen-" he says just as Argus runs into the Great Hall, whispering something to the Headmaster.

Albus nods at him. He continues his speech as Argus runs out of the room.

"So, Hogwarts has been chosen to host a legendary event - the Triwizard Tournament" he announces. Everybody gasps and starts whispering to one another.

"Now, for those of you who do not know, the Triwizard Tournament brings together three schools for a series of magical contests. For each school, a single student is selected to compete. Let me be clear, if chosen, you stand alone. And trust me when I say these contests are not for the faint-hearted" he warns, looking absolutely serious.

"But more of that later" he then says, completely changing his tone to a calm and cheery one.

"For now, please join me in welcoming the lovely ladies of the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and their Headmistress, Madame Maxime!" he declares, gesturing to the door.

It opens as it reveals a big group of girls wearing blue uniforms and blue hats. They march inside the Great Hall, charming all the boys of Hogwarts.

Severus notices that Weasley seems very fascinated with one of the blonde girls, admiring her bottom.

The Potions Master rolls his eyes at that. Of course, they are teenagers after all... He hopes there will be no students messing around at the Yule Ball.

Speaking of the Yule Ball, the students don't know about that yet. That will be another surprise.

Albus greets the French Headmistress. She must be a half-giant just like Rubeus as the woman is at least three heads taller than the Headmaster.

All the Beauxbaton girls bow as everybody claps and cheers for them. The Headmaster kisses Olympe Maxime's knuckles before he returns to the staff table to introduce the other school.

"And now, our friends from the north. Please greet the proud sons of Durmstrang and their Headmaster, Igor Karkaroff" Albus states as everybody diverts their attention to the door once more.

While they do so, Severus scowls. Igor Karkaroff, a former Death Eater like himself. He wonders if he has any idea what happened at the Quidditch Cup or any idea of the Dark Lord's possible return.

He just hopes that the man won't mess up and reveal that they both were once servants of the Dark Lord.

As he looks at the door as well, a big group of boys with staffs enter the Great Hall. Everybody looks in awe as the boys do their performance.

Once they are done, the Headmaster of Durmstrang and what seems to be his top student enter as well. The student beside him is none other than Viktor Krum, the Quidditch player of Bulgaria.

The two of them approach the Headmaster of Hogwarts. "Albus!" Igor says in his thick accent as he greets the man.

"Igor" Albus says as they both hug each other while laughing.

After everyone has been properly greeted, they all sit down to enjoy the meal. The Beauxbaton students sit with the Ravenclaws while the Durmstrang students sit with the Slytherins.

Maxime sits next to Albus while Igor sits between her and Severus.

The Head of Slytherin is very thankful that Igor isn't talking to him.

"Professor Dumbly-dorr, my horses have travelled a long way. They will need attending to" Maxime says in her thick French accent.

"Don't worry, Madam Maxime. Our Gatekeeper, Hagrid, is more than capable of seeing to them" Albus assures her as he gestures to the half-giant.

"But you know, Monsieur Hagrid, they drink only single-malt whiskey" the woman states.

Filius suddenly yelps in pain. He removes a fork from his hand - Rubeus' fork.

"You idiot!" the Charms teacher scolds him.

"Sorry about that" Rubeus mutters apologetically.

Severus raises an eyebrow at that as he takes a sip of his drink.

Once everybody is finished eating, Albus gains everybody's attention.

"Your attention, please! I'd like to say a few words. Eternal glory - that is what awaits the student who wins the Triwizard Tournament. But to do this, that student must survive three tasks. Three extremely dangerous tasks" he says, looking serious while all the students look intrigued.

The Weasley twins look extraordinarily mischievous.

"For this reason, the Ministry has seen fit to impose a new rule. To explain all this, we have the Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation - Mr. Bartemius Crouch" he says as he gestures to the man who steps forward.

Just then, the ceiling starts to act up, startling everybody. They all start screaming just as a newcomer stops whatever is happening.

The man who just entered the Great Hall is Alastor Moody. Of course, the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher...

Severus notices that the man seems to be looking at Potter. Great, another one who wants to see the Boy Who Lived. He huffs at that.

The Auror limps towards the Headmaster of Hogwarts. "My dear old friend, thanks for coming" Albus says as he shakes the man's hand.

"Stupid ceiling" the man with the fake eye mutters.

Albus laughs. "Thank you" he tells the Auror before regaining people's attention.

Which he doesn't really need to as everybody is already looking in his direction.

He then gestures to Crouch who starts speaking. "After due consideration... The Ministry has concluded that, for their own safety, no student under the age of seventeen shall be allowed to put forth their name for the Triwizard Tournament. This decision is final" he states.

All the students immediately start to complain rather loudly.

"That's rubbish!" the Weasley twins exclaim in unison.

Severus rolls his eyes at that. Stupid Gryffindors, it's for your own safety.

As the students get louder and louder, Albus decides to stop the turmoil.

"Silence!" he shouts. The Great Hall immediately turns quiet.

With a flick of his wand, something that looks like a goblet appears in front of him. There's a blue flame inside it.

"The Goblet of Fire" the Headmaster informs.

"Anyone wishing to submit themselves to the tournament need only write their name upon a piece of parchment and throw it in the flame before this hour on Thursday night" he announces.

"Do not do so lightly. If chosen, there's no turning back" he warns, looking very serious.

"As from this moment, the Triwizard Tournament has begun" he declares.

Everybody looks at the Goblet of Fire. Severus wonders which Hogwarts student will become one of the champions.
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A few days later, it's Thursday afternoon. It's time to find out who the participants will be.

"Sit down, please" Albus politely says. Everybody immediately does so.

"Now, the moment you have all been waiting for - the champion selection" he announces.

He then diverts his and everybody else's attention to the Goblet of Fire. The first parchment flies out of the flame and lands in the Headmaster's hand.

"The Durmstrang champion is... Viktor Krum!" he says out loud. Everybody cheers for that.

Igor looks extremely proud of that. Severus suspects that he only let Krum submit.

Krum rises from his seat and shakes Albus' hand.

As the Durmstrang student leaves the Great Hall to enter another room, the second parchment lands in the Headmaster's hand.

"The champion of Beauxbaton is... Fleur Delacour!" he announces. That's the same girl Weasley was admiring a few days earlier.

Everybody claps as the girl rises from her seat and shakes his hand, smiling as she does so. She leaves as well as the third and last parchment lands in Albus' hand.

"The Hogwarts champion is... Cedric Diggory!" he announces out loud.

Everybody claps as the Hufflepuff rises from his seat and shakes the Headmaster's hand before leaving as well.

"Excellent! We now have our three champions! But in the end, only one will go down in history. Only one will hoist this chalice of champions, this vessel of victory - the Triwizard Cup!" Albus states as he gestures to a cup which illuminates a bright blue colour. Everybody cheers for that.

Just then, Severus notices something - the Goblet of Fire is acting up.

He slowly approaches, looking puzzled. He signals with his head to Albus that something is wrong.

The Headmaster approaches the goblet just as the flame turns red. Out of the blue, a fourth parchment leaves the goblet.

The Headmaster catches it and reads it. Everybody looks puzzled yet curious.

"Harry Potter?" he quietly questions, barely above a whisper.

"Harry Potter!" he says, a bit louder this time.

At that, everybody turns to look at the Boy Who Lived.

"No, no..." Rubeus whispers with worry.

"HARRY POTTER!!" Albus yells, sounding furious.

As Granger pushes Potter to move forward, the boy slowly approaches the angry-looking Headmaster.

As the boy is about to join the other participants, he looks at Severus. The Potions Master gives the boy a confused look - how in Merlin's name did he put his name in the goblet of fire?

The boy leaves the Great Hall to enter the room where the other champions are waiting.

Albus, Severus, Minerva, Rubeus, Moody, Crouch, Igor and Maxime follow him. Of course, not silently. The Headmaster and Headmistress of the foreign schools believe that the boy has cheated.

"Quiet!" Albus yells over and over as they loudly complain.

"Harry!" the Headmaster yells once they have reached the room. He grabs the boy, quite harshly.

"Did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire?!" he demands in an angry tone as he shakes the boy.

"No, sir!" the boy exclaims, looking terrified.

"Did you ask one of the older students to do it for you?" the Headmaster asks, still looking furious. The boy repeats his answer.

"Are you absolutely sure?" Albus tries.

"Yes, yes, sir" Potter answers.

"But of course, he is lying!" Maxime exclaims, accusing the boy.

Moody huffs at that. "The Goblet of Fire is an exceptionally powerful magical object, only an exceptionally powerful Confundus Charm could have hoodwinked it. Magic way beyond the terms of a fourth-year" he states, clearly not believing that Potter submitted himself.

"You seem to have given this a fair bit of thought, Mad-Eye" Igor says in an accusing tone.

"It was once my job to think as dark wizards do, Karkaroff. Perhaps you remember" Moody warns.

"It doesn't help, Alastor. Sir," Albus says as he approaches Crouch.

"We will leave this to you, Barty" he tells him.

Crouch waits a moment before giving his thought. "The rules are absolute... The Goblet of Fire constitutes a binding magical contract... Mr. Potter has no choice. He is, as of tonight, a Triwizard champion" the man says as he looks at Potter with a serious yet scared look.

Potter himself looks absolutely terrified.

Severus is puzzled. Could the boy really have submitted himself? Or did somebody, who wishes him dead, do it for him?