AN: Hello everybody! So here we have it, my contribution to Dalton's Big Bang. I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I know I will enjoy writing it!

Disclaimer: Everything related to Hogwarts!verse belongs to J K Rowling, all of the Dalton!verse characters belong to Mamma CP and the OCs are thanks to one of three things: my friends volunteering, my brain making them up or the special guest I have dropped in because I can ;) Also, the title was inspired by 'Magic Works' from the OST of 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire', so credit goes to whoever wrote it.


Seated at the Hufflepuff table, Reed was getting caught up in the hype that had swept the school when it had been announced at the start of the year. This year, the school was to be hosting the Triwizard Tournament, and so everyone was abuzz about the imminent arrival of the students from Durmstrang Institute and Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, the two rival schools that would also be competing in the event.

"This is so exciting! I wonder who our Champion is going to be. Spencer told me Sydney's so annoyed she's too old to take part; she was tempted to bribe and beg her Headmistress into letting her pretend to be a Seventh Year so she could participate." The brunette giggled.

"Typical Sydney." Reed chuckled. "How's Spencer, anyway?"

"He's good; his Auror shadowing is going fine. He's done a few magical art pieces that he's sent me pictures of, but he doesn't really have time to do them anymore. It's a shame, really."

"I know." The strawberry blond nodded.

Within moments the Hall fell silent, and the two turned to see Professor Ramsey standing behind her lectern, a grand wooden creation with wood swirling around the main beam and a wooden owl resting on the top of a blue, glass orb with wings extended.

"As you all may know, this year we have been selected to host the Triwizard Tournament." A low, excited buzz filled the room. "Quiet please, everyone." The room settled almost instantaneously. "Thank you. As I was saying, we have been selected to host the Triwizard Tournament. And now, with our guests settled in, I would first like you to welcome the ladies of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, with their Headmistress Madame Maxime."

The doors opened and a group of girls wearing blue-gray dresses with matching hats and shrugs strode into the Great Hall in a tight formation, their hands clasped behind their backs. Once they were about ten feet into the Hall, they unclasped their hands and tilted to the right, extending their right arm in perfect synchronicity with an almost angelic sigh before returning to their original position. They repeated this motion again, except to the left-hand side of the room as they strode forward. Scuttling forward, their hands by their sides as the room watched in awe, they curled their wrists upwards and then extended towards the floor, their heads tilted up as small, silver butterflies appeared from nowhere to flutter over their heads before dissolving into nothing.

Reed turned to Merril quickly, grinning excitedly and mouthing 'Wow!' before returning to watching the girls, who were doing a variety of dance and acrobatic moves as an incredibly tall woman–she must have been part-giant– strode into the Hall. Professor Ramsey met her half way before leading her to the front as the girls gracefully dipped into a bow. The student body clapped and cheered at the performance.

Once the Beauxbatons girls and Madame Maxime had made their way to their respective tables, Professor Ramsey returned to the lectern. "And now from the North, please greet the boys of the Durmstrang Institute, and their High Master, Anton Bernhardsson!"

Suddenly a group of boys entered in formation like the group before them, each carrying staffs. They beat them on the floor in a beat as they walked, sparks emitting against the stone floor and, with the added vocalization and actions with the staffs constantly followed by a glowing, yellow mist, it was really something to watch; Reed couldn't take his eyes off them. As the group of young men passed, one in particular caught his eye.

The first thing he noticed was the boy's smile. Whilst the others wore serious, stony expressions, this boy, with wild brunet curls and bright eyes, was grinning as he followed the others before he set his staff on the floor along with some of the other Durmstrang boys as they all ran forward, causing the room to gasp in wonder. Those who had kept hold of their staffs were showcasing martial arts moves, whilst the others proceeded to launch into flips and tumbles and dance moves as their High Master–a fairly tall man with defined features and dark hair and eyes, wearing a long coat with fur trim and an ushanka–strode into the Hall as the Durmstrang boys finished their performance. A few, including the boy that had caught Reed's eye, blew fire that morphed into dragons that swirled around them before dissolving into nothingness, and the room's occupants cheered once more.

"That was amazing!" Reed squeaked, turning to Merril with bright eyes, flushed cheeks, and a face-splitting grin.

"Yeah, they were brilliant." She grinned back before the two turned back to where Professor Ramsey and High Master Bernhardsson were exchanging an embrace, pressing a kiss to one another's cheek before breaking apart so the brunet man could take his seat at the High Table. Once again, the redheaded Headmistress turned back to the students. "I hope that our guests enjoy their time with us here at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Now, eat, drink, and make yourselves at home!" With two claps, the once empty plates instantly filled with food, in which everyone quickly dug into.

It appeared that the House Elves had really pulled out the stops for the occasion, judging by the various dishes that had been laid out for them; some of which Reed vaguely remembered from the odd trip to Paris he had been on with his Mum. The room was a wild buzz of conversation as they helped themselves to the food, pouring themselves goblets of the various drinks that had been arranged as well.

Later on, after the food had been eaten, Professor Ramsey introduced the Goblet of Fire. It was disguised as a stone cabinet, but at the touch of her wand it melted away to reveal the large stone goblet beneath. As the blue flames simmered, she explained that the goblet would be taking the names of those wishing to compete in the Tournament until Thursday night. She then introduced the Minister of Magic, John Wright, as another tournament judge. He briefly reminded the students it was only open to those age seventeen and above, which caused more excited chatter among the students of all three schools as they wondered who would be their Champion, who would apply, and if they themselves would.

"I wouldn't apply for a million Galleons; I'll be dead by the end of the first task," Reed chuckled. "Shall we head to the Common Room?"

"Alright." Merril smiled and the two stood. The strawberry blond boy immediately tripped over the bench and landed in a heap on the cold, stone floor. Ignoring the snickers of his peers, Reed got up with the assistance of his friend and the two made their way back to the Hufflepuff Common Room. Their Charms essays weren't going to finish themselves, no matter how many enchantment spells they tried on their quills.


AN: I hope you all enjoyed my first instalment! To clarify, if Beauxbatons' and Durmstrang's entrances sounded familiar to you, it's because I stole them from the scene in the Goblet of Fire film, as I thought their entrance would be something of tradition rather than something they arrange for every Tournament.

Until next time, darlings!