The Grand Prix of Fire
Author's note: I'm actually writing again after months of not. I'm also going today to Italy, so I'll try and work on stuff while I'm gone.
Anyway! Breaking a personal rule here by doing an AU, but I saw such good fanart for this that I had to have a go at writing it.
For reference: Yuuri, Phichit and Guang Hung, and Emil are in Hufflepuff. Otabek and Leo are in Ravenclaw and JJ is in Slytherin (personal preference for these. Accept it and move on). Viktor, Georgi, Yuri and Mila are all from Durmstrang, and Chris, Sara and Mickey are from Beauxbatons.Please enjoy! Spoilers for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Yuuri leaned forwards at the Hufflepuff table, squashed between Phichit and Emil as they listened to Celestino's beginning of year speech. He'd missed Hogwarts. He loved his parents, don't get him wrong, but he always missed the magical world.
"This year students, we'll have some very special guests joining us. Please put your hands together to welcome Beauxbatons Academy of Magic from France with their headmistress, Madam Lilia Baranovskaya."
The doors to the Great Hall opened and the students of Hogwarts all leaned to get a look at the foreign students. Clad in suits and dresses made of blue silk, they looked like water as they filtered into the Hall and sat down at the tables. A pair sat down next to Emil: a smiling young woman with bright purple eyes and a slightly scowling young man.
"Bonjour! Hi! I'm Sara Crispino, originally from Italy but accepted into Beauxbatons. And this is my brother, Mickey!"
Yuuri and Phichit exchanged a glance as she shook hands with everyone around them. If she'd spotted the look of death her brother was giving everyone, she didn't show it.
"That's not all our guests!" Celestino's voice cut through the chatter and everyone turned to face him. Madam Baranovskaya was standing at his side, smiling slightly more than she had when she'd first come in. "Please welcome, with just as much enthusiasm, the students from Durmstrang in the far North!"
The doors were thrown open and the Hall silenced in shock. Well known headmaster Yakov Feltsman walked in, two students flanking him as the rest trailed behind them in neat rows. Yuuri's eyes widened as he recognised them.
Viktor Nikiforov. And Yuri Plisetsky.
"No way." Phichit breathed out as they walked past them. "That's not...Is that actually Quidditch legends Viktor Nikiforov and Yuri Plisetsky?"
Yuuri swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on Viktor. Phichit teased him mercilessly for the posters he had of the Russian chaser posted up around his bed. And now his idol was here in person?!
To Yuuri's slight horror, and Phichit's utter delight, Viktor and Yuri came up their row. Yuri took one look at the Hufflepuffs and squished himself between two Ravenclaws in the seats opposite. Viktor however, stopped in front of Yuuri.
"Room for one more?" He asked in perfect English, his accent coming across.
Yuuri was frozen in his seat. Viktor Nikiforov was actually in front of him?! Luckily, Phichit shuffled to the side, making space for Viktor. The Russian smiled and sat between them.
"Hi! I'm Viktor Nikiforov from Russia. I love Quidditch and play as a chaser. Tell me about yourselves."
Yuuri was silently very grateful that Phichit started the conversation as food appeared. He started talking comfortably to Viktor about his siblings and family, about how Viktor had won for Russia last year at the World Cup.
"Oh! Have you guys met Chris yet? Christophe Giacommetti from Switzerland? He goes to Beauxbatons, so he should be here too." Viktor asked suddenly, looking around. He waved across to someone at the Slytherin table before he turned to Yuuri.
"And who might you be? You've been really quiet all evening. Have you had enough to eat?"
Yuuri's face turned bright red and he looked at Phichit, hoping for help. All he for was a thumbs up.
"I'm Yuuri Katsuki, sixth year Hufflepuff, chaser on the Quidditch team-"
"You play chaser?" Viktor said, cutting him off. "Me too! I'd love to play against you some day."
Yuuri's heart skipped a beat then. Noting his silence, Phichit interjected.
"Yuuri is actually aiming to compete nationally for the Japan team."
"You're from Japan?" Viktor asked, leaning his elbows on the table as he picked up a small cupcake.
"Originally. My family moved here when I was six and demonstrated my magical abilities. We brought my dog too. He loved England..." Yuuri cut hinself off, the memories of Vicchan still painful. Viktor, it seemed, understood.
"I have a dog too. Called Makkachin. I-"
"Students and guests!" Silence fell as Celestino started talking again. "I'm sure you're all curious as to why we have guests here. Well, it's for the Triwizard Tournament! One person from each of the schools will compete in three tasks for eternal glory and the Triwizard Cup!"
Gasps in awe filled the Hall as people saw the cup. It was a slightly blue glass and made of silver. It was very beautiful Yuuri had to admit. But, the tasks?
"However, due to the danger of the tasks, no one under seventeen is allowed to compete in them from any schools."
Yuri Plisetsky stood up quickly, shouting angrily in Russian as he ignored the look of hatred Yakov was shooting him. Several others joined in across the tables and schools. Celestino raised a hand and silence fell quickly.
"This is for safety. If you're unhappy, participate next time. You have until Halloween to put your name in the Goblet of Fire."
More gasps filled the Hall as the Goblet was revealed. Made of beautiful gold, it burnt with a blue flame. "Write your name and school on a slip of parchment and put it in. However, do not do this lightly. Once your name is in, you cannot remove it. You cannot back out of the tournament either."
Once Celestino dismissed everyone, Yuri Plisetsky all but dragged Viktor away from Yuuri and Phichit, growling in angry Russian. Viktor waved as he left, smiling.
"See you soon Phichit and Yuuri the Chaser!"
For the weeks leading up to Halloween, all anyone could talk about was the Triwizard Tournament. Everywhere Yuuri went, people were whispering behind their hands about who would represent Hogwarts. Bets were being placed on students, and most people put their money on Viktor Nikiforov representing Durmstrang.
The night of Halloween arrived and everyone was squashed into the Great Hall. Yuuri somehow ended up between Viktor and a very calm Ravenclaw. Was his name Otabek?
"Students! The night has arrived! We will select the Champions to represent the schools."
The Goblet turned red and a slip of parchment fluttered down into Celestino's hand. He turned it over and read out loudly.
"The Champion for Beauxbatons will be Sara Crispino!"
Loud cheers echoes across the Hall as the young woman with purple eyes stood up, smiling. The guy next to her, her brother, started fuming as she walked to the front and into a separate room.
A second slip of parchment fluttered from the Goblet and into Celestino's hand. His face broke into a smile at this one.
"The Hogwarts champion will be Otabek Altin!"
Yuuri turned, his face breaking out into a smile as Otabek stood up from next to him and made his way down to Celestino. He shook his hand and followed Sara into the room.
A final slip of parchment fell into Celestino's hand.
"The Champion for Durmstrang will be Viktor Nikiforov!"
Viktor stood up from Yuuri's other side, flashing him a quick smile as he made his way down. The cheering was loudest for Viktor by a considerable margin and shouts of "You owe me twenty galleons!" filled the Hall. Once Viktor had left, Celestino silenced everyone with a raise of his hand.
"We have our champions! And now we-"
He was cut off by the sound of parchment fluttering. He turned and saw another slip of parchment falling from the Goblet. Hesitantly, he opened it.
"Yuuri Katsuki?"
Yuuri froze as nearby eyes fixed on him. He wasn't 17. He was 16. Too young to enter. He stood up very hesitantly and started walking after a shove from Phichit.
Celestino handed him the slip of parchment, his face void of emotion. He pushed Yuuri into the room.
Yuuri walked in slowly, swallowing thickly. Otabek was the first to notice him.
"Yuuri? Is something wrong?"
He noticed the parchment in Yuuri's hand. "You're..."
"I'm a champion..."