Reckless ~ Tomione

The Decision

"I know that it is quite late in the year, but the tasks are quite short, and Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving later today.

"Additionally, as all of you know, Hogwarts will have one Champion who will be chosen by the Goblet of Fire, but due to unforeseen dangers, each school will put forth a second Champion. They will aid the other in the tasks, as a safety measure. This means that there will be two students from each school competing, but they will work as a single unit. Both must finish the Tasks before the Task is deemed complete."

The students had long erupted in ecstatic cheering and shouting. The headmaster was too overjoyed to put an end to the noise and he patiently waited for the sound level to descend. 

'"However, a rule has been installed to make sure that no unnecessary harm is done to anyone. Only those over the age of fifteen by tomorrow is allowed to enter. An age line will be placed around the Goblet, so none the younger students can't cross it."

This caused major grumbling amongst many students. 

"I'll be fifteen in a month, does that not count?"

"Why don't we get a chance? We're educated well enough!"

Hermione nearly growled at them. They had no sense of danger, and didn't know the true risk of signing up.

"The Goblet will be placed here, in the Great Hall tomorrow, and you have all of tomorrow to submit your names. But be warned, once your name is in there, there is no backing out. If you are chosen, you will be magically bound to the Tournament, so be careful if you are going to place your name in the Goblet of Fire.

"That is all, you are dismissed."

There was a lot of hubbub in the Hall, as students pushed through the crush of people to reach their friends. People were deciding whether or no to enter. 

Hermione was focused on finding Draco. 

'Was this what you were going to tell me before?' she asked. Draco nodded and gestured for her to sit down at the table. 

"You know, I've done some thinking," he started. "I think Riddle is planning to enter the Tournament."

Hermione nearly snorted. She couldn't picture the Dark Lord competing in a school competition.

"I know, Hermione, but the winning prize is a thousand Galleons, and if he spent that wisely, it could go a long way for him and his-" Draco lowered his voice, "-organisation."

She pondered this. "So, what are you saying?"

"Well, you and I are decent at magic right?"

"Yes?"

"And Riddle is definitely going to be chosen to represent our school."

"Are you saying we should try to get chosen instead of him?"

Draco shook his head. "No, no. There's no way we could if the Goblet has a shred of sense. I'm saying that students can only enter themselves. So Riddle can't choose who his Second is."

"He could always confund the Goblet like Crouch Jr. did in our fourth year," Hermione mused. "He certainly has the power."

"So we confund his confundus. But we make sure we get selected." Draco grinned. "Unless you have a better plan hidden in your lion's mane."

"What are we achieving, exactly?" Hermione asked. 

"I don't know, gain trust? I thought I'd leave that up to you, 'Brightest Witch of Her Age'," Draco said carelessly. "But it's a plan, no?"

Hermione nodded. It was the best plan for now.

~

"Ready?"

"When you are."

Hermione held her hand with the parchment over the Goblet of Fire, just like Draco did. She swallowed nervously.

"All right," he began. "Three... Two... One... Go!"

And with that, the two pieces of parchment were swallowed up by the flames. Draco grinned at her as all the surrounding students cheered loudly. They moved out of the way as two girls from Beauxbatons approached to drop their names into the Goblet. Hermione turned to Draco with an amused smile.

"Well, I guess our plan is under way, then."