Albus Dumbledore approached the podium in the front of the great hall, a twinkle of mischief in his wise old eyes. The students had just arrived and the air was full of excitement over the upcoming term. He knew the students were anxious for the sorting ceremony to begin, but he had some rather exciting news to deliver first.
"Hello students," he began, "welcome all of you to a new term at Hogwarts." The young faces turned and gave him their full attention. He went over some rather mundane school news and announcements, introduce the staff , and welcomed the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Mr. Finn Treacher. Mr. Treacher was and tall thin with dark hair cut very short and eyes so green they were the color of emeralds. Many of the girls sighed, finding him quite attractive.
Dumbledore paused, then with a great smile said, "Before we begin the sorting of the first-years I have one last announcement. In the world of Wizardry and Witchcraft there are, as you well know, many tournaments and competitions. Why only two years ago Hogwarts was host to the Triwizard Tournament. It seems Hogwarts is again to be rewarded as I have only just now been informed that we have been selected to host the 20th annual Witchcraft and Wizardry World Games."
There was a collective gasp and students began to chatter wildly. Albus cleared his throat and called for silence. "The competitors will arrive in one weeks time, and in that week we will hold school games to select our own crop of competitors in the six areas of study: Potions, Transfiguration, Astronomy, Herbology, History of Magic and Charms. This year being the 20th anniversary of the games, the Ministry of Magic has decided to celebrate by holding a special event. A World Games Quiddich Tournament." Now the cheers of the students would not be repressed. He allowed them a moment to cheer then said, "We will select the best players from the four houses to participate on the Hogwarts United team."
Along the teachers table there were broad smiles, as well as conversations about their worries that the school would not be prepared in time to accommodate the arrival of over 1000 young students from other schools around the world. One teacher, however, sat emotionless as he watched the students. He could not be bothered to be excited about the upcoming games. It was all just a nuisance.
One week later everything, aside from room assignments for two of the events, were in order, and the students assembled in the Great Hall, enchanted like the rest of Hogwarts to accommodate the extra people for the opening ceremony. All the students were dressed in new Hogwarts robes for the event and waved signs that supported their schools selected team.
Severus Snape looked across the students in the great hall with a mixture of annoyance and disgust. The arrival of the other schools meant classes were to be suspended for two weeks for the games. For that he was grateful. The last week he had issued more detentions and deducted more points than any week he could remember.
Snape noted an unhappy looking Ron Weasley. He knew Hermione and Harry were waiting to enter the outer hall, having been selected for the academic and quiddich teams respectively. While he felt some annoyance that Potter was going to participate he felt some satisfaction that at least one of the three was not going to participate and was visibly upset.
Dumbledore stood and placed his wand to his throat. "It is with great honor that I ask our friends from around the globe to enter!"
The large doors to the Great Hall swung open with a crash and the entrance ceremony began. The teams, collected from various schools across the globe, entered one by one. The headmaster for each school entered first followed by a teacher/advisor and then, in two parallel lines of ten, entered the students carrying flags from their country and their school. Each school was dressed in costumes that represented their school and their witchcraft and wizardry traditions.
As each school entered the students would cheer and wave. The school from Japan, Tokyo Magical Arts School, was an immediate favorite as they tossed charms and candy out to the other students. Australia's team entered and rather than wave flags they used their wands to create a small fireworks display.
The students at Hogwarts let forth a great cheer as the students from the Salem Witches Institute entered the hall. The headmistress, Ms. Columbia Patterson, was a tall woman with a shock of silver hair on her head covered by a very tall, very straight black conical witches hat. Her dress was a conservative black Victorian style dress with a silver sash across her chest. She appeared to be as old, if not older than Dumbledore himself and she had a bright, kind smile on her face. Behind her was the teacher/advisor for the team, Miss. Persephone Torchwood.
She was dressed in a modern looking knee length tunic of black with red and blue embroidered symbols around the hem, loose black pants with the same embroidered symbols at the bottom, and black boots with pointed toes. Her hair was so black that it shone blue in the light. She wore it loose, letting it fall long and thick just below her shoulders. Her eyes were wide and fringed with thick black lashes, and her eyes were a clear deep blue. Her skin was smooth and pale, and her body was slim. While she had a smile on her face her eyes had an almost remote, look.
The students behind her were waving and grinning, each wearing the black Salem robes waving either an American flag or the schools flag with the motto: Loyalty, Memory, Courage, Ambition.
Snape was losing interest in the ceremony until the American team entered. The headmistress was just passing by the Slytherin benches and he could see clearly the advisor for the team. As she passed she looked at him with her cool blue eyes. It felt as if the collar of his shirt was starting to tighten. Narrowing his gaze as she moved past he watched her carefully usher her students to their seats and then sit herself.
Suddenly there was a great cry as the Hogwarts team entered the hall. His view of the Salem advisor was blocked as all the students jumped to their feet. He took a deep breath and stood. She was looking directly at him, an inquisitive look in her eyes.