WHAT HAPPENS WHEN. THE AMAZING RACE COMES TO. HOGWARTS?

Chapter 1: THE REUNION

The sun had descended upon the horizon. Everything was quiet around Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The halls are unusually hushed from the scuffle of footsteps or of the whispering during the night. But, then again, classes ended last month; students won't pour in until next month. But it seems as if it is quite the contrary in Professor Dumbledore's office.

" Are you certain that you have sent the invitations, Severus?" Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor House, asked Professor Severus Snape, head of Slytherin House, peering at him through her glasses.

" Would I lie, Minerva?" he asked, giving her a smirk. Professor McGonagall rolled her eyes. He DIDN'T have to ask that question.

" Well, then," Professor Dumbledore, the Headmaster, began, " Did you invite Harry Potter?"

" Of course, Headmaster. I didn't forget." Prof. Snape said. How could I forget Potter, of all the people in the world? He quickly admonished the thought, knowing well that Albus Dumbledore could read minds and replaced it with a nod.

" Well, I'm sure it will be a great reunion. After all, it will be for four days." Professor Flitwick, head of the Ravenclaw House said, waving his wand around and summoned a teapot to pour tea in his cup.

" I agree with him. I can't wait for them to come back to Hogwarts. They haven't been back for two years now. Virginia Wesley's batch will be here, correct? I have especially grown fond of the little girl ever since she rescued that Colin Creevey from being eaten whole by that giant Venus fly trap I trained." Professor Sprout, head of the Hufflepuff House, said, smiling brightly. Snape scoffed at this.

" Correct on that. Hers is the last batch we invited. Did I tell you there would be a surprise?" Headmaster Dumbledore asked, his eyes twinkling.

" What surprise?" Professor Flitwick squeaked.

" They don't know anything about this. Anyway," Headmaster Dumbledore stood up with his hands on his back and faced them, " I invited a host and the cameraman of the popular television show called " The Amazing Race" and I just wanted to let the kids have fun. Plus, the prize is worth a million galleons."

" You invited Muggles, too?" Snape asked.

" That's about it."

" I don't mean to be negative about this, Headmaster, but it is an outrage. We don't allow them, especially THEM, to just come barging in to our world. I think it's a rather ridiculous--"

" Wonderful idea. It will be like a contest, isn't it?" McGonagall asked.

Headmaster Dumbledore nodded.

" Of course, there will be representatives for each House, won't there?" Sprout asked.

Again, he nodded.

" How did you ever get the idea, Headmaster?" Flitwick asked.

" I often go to the Muggle Studies classroom and tinker with the channel button of the television there, and I grew fond of the show. I was a bit disappointed, though, when Flo and Zach won. The girl is rather whiney."

" I think I'd rather watch " World Wrestling Federation", Professor." Snape said, summoning the teapot away from Flitwick and letting it pour tea into his cup.

Everybody stared at him.

" I must've had too much devil's chocolate cake at dinner," he replied, taking a sip from his cup, " Can't have enough of that."

" Minerva, I'd like you and Sprout to bring out the Brass Cup by tomorrow." Dumbledore said.

" Yes, Headmaster." McGonagall said.

" Severus, I'd like you, Hagrid, Vector and Lupin to put up the tents tomorrow on the grounds and conjure sleeping bags. Divide the labor accordingly. I already asked Filch to start clean up the halls since last week. And--"

Dumbledore stopped upon hearing a load rumble overhead.

" PEEVES, I TOLD YOU NOT TO TRY TO HELP ME. LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE!" Filch yelled. Mrs. Norris meowed in agreement.

" YOU TOLD ME TO WAX THE FLOOR! SEE HOW SHINY IT IS?" Peeves, the Poltergeist, yelled back at him. Then, he cackled.

" AND SLIPPERY!"

" You're yelling again. What about our bet?" Peeves said in a phony apologetic voice.

" I AM NOT SHOUTING. ALL RIGHT, I AM! I'M SHOUTING, I'M SHOUTING, I'M. Never mind. Here's a sickle. Go blow yourself up." Filch said.

Dumbledore looked back at them, " I see that he has that taken cared of. Also, I have already settled as to where the contestants of the game would travel. When the winners are announced, there will be a feast at Hogwarts."

" But the Muggles will know everything about our world!" Snape said, getting up. " No need to be so excited, Severus. I'll leave it up to you to procure a potion with a slight amnesiac that will make them forget what took place during the duration of the race, and that's for a good reason too."

Snape smirked, " Gladly, Headmaster." Then, he sat down.

" Do you suppose we could ask Trelawney the outcome of the race?" Flitwick asked.

" That would be a bad idea, Professor Flitwick. She refused to come out of her tower ever since she had that bout of flu wherein her powers suddenly went haywire. She had predicted several deaths and air accidents during that time, and she is still touchy about it." Sprout explained.

And I constantly give " advice" to her 'bout it, Professor McGonagall thought.

" Minerva," Dumbledore said in a warning tone. Professor McGonagall jumped a bit.

" Sorry."

" Well, we'll all expect the students to come back to their dear old alma mater by tomorrow evening. I suggest that you do all the preparations by tomorrow morning. The host and cameraman, as they call him, will be here by afternoon. They'll have a separate tent, of course, and also, put in some firewood nearby so that the students could warm themselves up."

Everybody nodded.

" That's about it. You can go back to your rooms now and I'll see you in the morning. Thank you for coming by!"

One by one, the teachers left and went back to their rooms with the feeling that the tranquility and calm around Hogwarts will soon be replaced by the old aura of the hustle and bustle of students, chatter, competition, and school fights.

A rosy dawn settled all around and the dew smelled fresh and clean. Before anyone knew it, it was morning. Dumbledore looked out the window and saw the four men conjuring tents and sleeping bags the color according to their houses. He saw Professor Snape waving his wand and out came three green tents along with green sleeping bags. Hagrid is doing the yellow ones, Vector on the blue and Lupin on the red. Tearing his gaze from the window, he stroked Fawkes one last time before leaving his office. Along the way to the Great Hall, he passed by Professors McGonagall and Sprout, who were apparently arguing about which polish to use to clean the Brass Cup. (" Restore Four is even used by Muggles, Minerva." " Yes but this formula turns any metal into gold." " Who needs the Brass Cup to be turned into a Golden Cup? That's what it's called!")

Eating his sumptuous breakfast, Dumbledore knew that it would be another great day, and not even Voldemort could do anything about it. ( Oh! He's dead already.)

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Creative imagination, right? Well, please put in your reviews. I'd truly appreciate that! I have Chapter 2 put up already so read on. Read my other stories, too. E-mail me, if you wish, at lmla_blue@yahoo.com Thanks to my friend, Nichole Locaylocay! I hate to admit it but, somehow, Nick, you have caught me! I'm starting to sail in the Draco/ Ginny ship but that doesn't mean I won't maneuver the Draco/ Hermione ship any longer. So, read on and enjoy! Don't forget the reviews! I have no rights or whatsoever to the programs or books used in this story. Don't sue me! By the way, that " I'm shouting." talk used by Filch comes from the movie CLUE. So don't sue.