Hermione Granger and the Goblet Of Fire (Completed)

Chapter 17 - Dobby's New Job

That evening, Hermione, Ron and Harry went to the owlery so Harry could send a letter to Sirius. As they walked, Hermione and Harry filled Ron in on everything that Sirius had told Harry. Ron was initially shocked about Karkaroff, but by the time they came in range to hear owl hoots, he had decided that they should've known all along
“Fits, doesn’t it?” he said “Remember what Malfoy said on the train, about his dad being friends with Karkaroff? Now we know where they knew each other. They were probably running around in masks together at the World Cup... I’ll tell you one thing, though, Harry, if it was Karkaroff who put your name in the goblet, he’s going to be feeling really stupid now, isn’t he? Didn’t work, did it? You only got a scratch! Come here - I’ll do it-”
Pigwidgeon, who Ron had offered to Harry for Sirius's letter, was very overexcited, and was flapping madly all over the place, hooting happily. Ron snatched the owl out of the air, and Harry attached the letter to Pigwidgeon's leg

“There’s no way any of the other tasks are going to be that dangerous, how could they be?” Ron continued “You know what? I reckon you could win this tournament, Harry, I’m serious”
“Harry’s got a long way to go before he finishes this tournament” said Hermione, folding her arms “If that was the first task, I hate to think what’s coming next”
“Right little ray of sunshine, aren’t you?” said Ron “You and Professor Trelawney should get together sometime”
He threw Pig out of an open window. Pig fell about two metres, before gaining his bearings and flying away

“Well, we’d better get downstairs for your surprise party, Harry-" said Ron as Pigwidgeon disappeared "Fred and George should have nicked enough food from the kitchens by now”
They walked back to the common room and, as Ron had predicted, there was a great cheer as the Gryffindors spotted Harry. Fred and George had managed to get all kinds of food imaginable, as well as gallons of pumpkin juice and butterbeer. Lee Jordan had set off a box of Filibuster’s Fireworks, and Dean had drawn some banners, which were now stuck on the walls. Most showed Harry on his broom, but there were several not very sporting ones depicting Cedric getting attacked by the Swedish Short Snout. The atmosphere seemed electrically charged, and the Gryffindors seemed ready to pull an all-nighter

Hermione picked up a plate of food, surprised at how hungry she felt, and the trio sat down with Ginny. Harry discarded the golden egg on the table next to them, and it was picked up almost instantly by Lee
“Blimey, this is heavy” he said “Open it, Harry, go on! Let’s just see what’s inside it!”
“He’s supposed to work out the clue on his own” Hermione started “It’s in the tournament rules...”
“I was supposed to work out how to get past the dragon on my own too” Harry whispered. Hermione went red and grinned sheepishly

“Yeah, go on, Harry, open it!” said several people, as Lee passed the egg back. Harry gave Hermione a why not? expression, before prising it open along the groves. It was hollow, but the moment Harry opened it, a horrible screechy wailing echoed through the common room. Hermione instinctively covered her ears. She noticed that Neville went white, just as he had in Moody's first lesson, and had dropped a plate on the floor

“Shut it!” Fred roared, his ears also covered. Harry slammed the egg shut, and the noise ceased at once
“What was that?” said Seamus “Sounded like a banshee... Maybe you’ve got to get past one of those next, Harry!”
“It was someone being tortured!” said Neville shakily “You’re going to have to fight the Cruciatus Curse!”
“Don’t be a prat, Neville, that’s illegal,” said George “They wouldn’t use the Cruciatus Curse on the champions. I thought it sounded a bit like Percy singing... maybe you’ve got to attack him while he’s in the shower, Harry”

“Want a jam tart, Hermione?” said Fred.
Hermione looked suspiciously at the plate of tarts Fred was holding. Fred grinned
“It’s all right” he said “I haven’t done anything to them. It’s the custard creams you’ve got to watch-”
Neville, who had just eaten a custard cream, spat it out quickly
“Just my little joke, Neville...” laughed Fred