Hermione Granger and the Goblet Of Fire (Completed)

Chapter 3 - Harry's Arrival

When Hermione awoke the next day it took her several seconds to remember where she was. She opened her eyes and found that Ginny was almost changed. She grinned when she saw that Hermione was awake
"So" Hermione said "Harry is coming today"
She was very glad to see that Ginny blushed as she nodded. She had been very taken with Harry since her first year
"Yes" she said quietly. She sighed "I wish I knew why Harry doesn't like me"
"Well, what have you said to him?" Hermione asked
"Well... not... much..." said Ginny slowly. Hermione raised her eyebrows "or anything... at all..."
"Well maybe you should start by actually saying something to him" laughed Hermione. Ginny stuck out her tongue. Hermione grinned

Hermione and Ginny spent the morning playing wizards chess, and Ron came downstairs just after lunch
"What have you been doing?" Hermione asked
"Sleeping" said Ron "What? Mum says we have to get up early tomorrow to get to the Quidditch World Cup, so I think I should have a lie in"
"Until one o' clock?" said Ginny. Ron grinned sheepishly

Ron glanced at the Daily Prophet on the table and his eyes widened in shock
"Hermione!" he said hoarsely "Hermione! Look at this!"
Hermione got up and walked over to the table, Ginny behind her. She looked at the Daily Prophet and froze. On the front was a large black and white picture of Sirius Black. Sirius was Harry's godfather, who had been imprisoned twelve years ago for murders he didn't commit. Hermione, Ron and Harry, as well as Professor Dumbledore and their ex Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher Professor Lupin, were the only people who knew that Sirius had been framed by Peter Pettigrew, one of his ex best friends. It was thanks to Hermione and Harry that Sirius was barely able to escape with his life at the end of last year, and Hermione cared about what happened to him almost as much as Harry did

Hermione's eyes turned to the report underneath the large picture:

NEW EVIDENCE COULD LEAD TO BLACK CAPTURE

Shocking new evidence provided by wizards abroad has lead the discovery that Sirius Black may be hidden in Africa! Wizarding authorities have been alerted and are now conducting a large scale manhunt

  "We are very close to catching Black" says head of the Auror Office, Rufus Scrimgeour "One of our top Auror's, Kingsley Shacklebolt, has been able to work out his movements, and we have been able to corner him. We should have him by the end of the month"

  This statement had been received with delight by the wizarding community
  "I was very glad to hear this" said Severus Snape, 34, the Potions professor at Hogwarts School "we will all be able to sleep at night knowing that Black is about to be handed back to the Dementors"

  Sirius Black, convicted death eater, was imprisoned twelve years ago for the murder of twelve muggles and one wizard...

It then went on about what Sirius was framed for. Hermione and Ron exchanged horrified glances, before turning back to the article. Hermione felt hatred bubbling through her, directed at Snape. Snape was well aware that Sirius was innocent, but as him and Sirius had argued at school, Snape had tried to get Sirius back into Azkaban

"It would be good if Sirius Black was caught, don't you think?" said Ginny, turning to Hermione. Hermione had never told Ginny that Sirius was innocent, as the last time she had said it she'd got questions about her sanity
"Yes... It would be great..." she said in a stained voice, before going back to the chess game, trying to act naturally and not betray the panic raising inside her

Just like the day before, Hermione, Ron and Ginny went outside to play Quidditch. This time, Hermione spotted Crookshanks, who was hissing and spitting wildly, chasing a gnome, a creature that looked like a tiny little ugly man, who was only a few inches high, with a shrivelled head that looked too big for him and large bony feet