The Potter Games: Chapter Two
"No... Hermione, no!" Said Ron, as he and Harry charged to the stage where Effie was leading the tributes away into the trophy room, when they both suddenly froze in mid air. "I'm sorry boys, but there is nothing you can do" said Dumbledore, his voice heavy with sadness. The teachers surrounding them however looked like they were going to follow Harry and Ron's lead, as their faces were falling at the thought of loosing such an amazing witch. The door to the trophy room snapped shut and the spell was lifted, and Ron crumpled on the floor, his body racked with tears. Harry sunk to his knees and rested his head on Ron's shoulder, crying silently over the loss of his best friend. McGonagall and Hagrid hurried over to the duo, and began to carry them towards Hagrid's hut, as it would be more private than the common room, and would also give Hagrid the chance to grieve as well. "Up you get Potter, Weasley" The softness of McGonagall's voice broke Harry from his grief and he helped get the broken mess of his best friend to his feet, and half pushed him into the grounds and into Hagrid's hut, where a glass of fire whiskey was set in front of them both. McGonagall began to scold Hagrid for giving them alcohol, but then her harsh demeanour broke, and tears leaked from her beady eyes, before she knocked back a glass herself.
The door opened and Dumbledore walked in, his expression solemn. "Albus! Is there nothing we can do?" asked McGonagall, tears still falling from her eyes. "Minerva, we are powerless. Yet we can still give her our support. She is a powerful witch, and she has proved her bravery many times over". He then uncorked a small vial of bright purple potion and poured it into both Ron and Harry's goblets, their eyes so puffy that they didn't notice, and when they awoke, they were in their warm dormitory. A note from Dumbledore was next to their beds, saying that they were excused from lessons until they were ready to return, yet they had to attend the meeting of the tributes from the three different schools tonight.
Ron and Harry stumbled downstairs to the great hall and arrived just as the tributes were showing off their outfits, and when they walked into the hall, they saw Hermione and her stylist, Cinna, walk onto the stage. Hermione looked breathtaking in a lilac dress that hung from her shoulders and seemed to be floating around her. The two boys took their seats on the Gryffindor table to see a huge ball of fire crash down in front of the stage, and between the screams, they heard the clack of boot on stone, as the Durmstrang tributes materialized in front of the stage, each looking striking in a tuxedo with fir linings, with flame decor and the school logo printed on the back. They took their seats as the huge doors opened, and a patch of ice snaked along the floor, followed by a line of beautiful girls with figure skater style outfits, and butterfly wings all skating in perfect formation to the front of the hall. The Beauxbaton girls always looked stunning in the opening ceremony.
"Welcome, tributes from the three main wizarding schools. This is a time for both condolence, and happiness, as we begin, the 327th Triwizard Games!" said the Minister for Magic, Coriolanus Snow. "Tomorrow the Games will begin, so I wish everyone good luck, and May the best wizard, or witch, win".