'Scrambled eggs and toast,' l thought casually, and picked up my fork readily as a house elf scurried up, a platter of scrambled eggs and buttered toast, which he placed in front of me. It was Thursday, nearly the end of the second week back. I'd irritantly sat through my lessons in attempt to absorb the information. As usual, I only seemed to succeed in Care of Magical Creatures, Charms and Defence Against the Dark Arts.
"Thanks," l said as l began to attack the eggs.
"Stop thanking them already, Neia, they enjoy it," Fleur said casually, as another elf arrived with Fleur's cereal.
I shrugged. "I know but I appreciate it."
"You appreciate them bringing you a plate of eggs?" Fleur asked with raised eyebrows.
I glanced shiftily up from my plate. "I like eggs."
Fleur sighed, and I shrugged before sitting up expectantly as a sea of house elves entered the hall, each with a different bird on their arm. They wandered about, trying to find the birds' owners and two came to Arneia and Fleur's table. One carried a handsome, almost white barn owl on his arm, which stuck out it's leg for Fleur to take the letter before the elf took the owl away again.
The second elf hovered behind Arneia as the most unusual bird in the room hopped onto her arm. All the other birds were owls, though many had their own breeds and each had it's own size and colour. Arneia's bird was a handsome bird of prey no bigger than Fleur's barn owl. It's feathers were black and grey and white, it's eyes dark brown.
"Hello Alrohar," l greeted with a smile, stroking my peregrine falcon. "What've you got for me today, then boy?"
Alrohar gave me the envelope in his beak and cocked his head, expecting his usual treat. I smiled and gave him a bite of toast. A couple of first years walked by in awe as I stroked the imposing, handsome bird. I knew I was known at Beauxbatons for having an unusual pet and first years always hoped to catch a glimpse of Alrohar.
"Whose the letter from, Neia?" Fleur asked, putting down her own letter and taking a sip of her drink.
"A guy?" Beth asked, slipping into a seat with Bella and quickly placing her order. Her new tabby cat Amelie was curled around her shoulders, watching Alrohar beadily with great brown eyes.
"Surprisingly enough no," l replied coolly. "And don't let Amelie near Alro."
"Don't worry, Amelie won't hurt him," Beth shrugged.
"It's not Amelie I'm worried about." l opened the letter and began to swiftly read as a gloating voice came into ear range behind her. "It's from Mum."
"Oh, how is she?" Fleur asked. She was near-enough best friends with my mother.
"She says they're both fine, and they hope Mina's ok," l replied. l glanced up and found my little sister Mariné at a nearby table, laughing and joking with her friends. "Well, Mina's fine."
"So..?" Fleur asked.
"What?" I replied, cocking my head.
"Well, your parents don't usually write unless something's up," Fleur told her. "Not necessarily a bad thing, but, you know. Not that I'm being nosy."
"Oh," Arneia said. "Well, I can't make out whether it's bad or good to be honest. She says that she and Dad are coming up to school on Sunday and they need to speak to me."
"Why can't they tell you now?" Bella asked, nibbling her muffin. "Or two weeks ago when it was the hoiday!"
"Apparently they need to tell me something, but Madame Maxime needs to be there, and a couple of other people. A wizard from the ministry, Monsieur Davoir.
"Who's Davoir?" Bella asked.
"Duh, the head of the Quidditch department at the ministry," Beth replied.
"That's right. Wait, and..." I stared as I read. "And Albus Dumbledore."
"Albus Dumbledore?" Fleur gasped, shocked. "What have you done that's got you into trouble with him?"
l shrugged, instead scribbling a puzzled but quick reply on a scrap piece of paper and giving it to Alrohar. The falcon clamped it in his beak, and hopped onto the still-hovering house elf's shoulder, who took him away to release him.
"Well, I-" Beth began, but I nudged her into silence as Madame Maxime stood at the top of the hall.
"Ladies, I regret to interrupt your breakfast, but I have an announcement," Madame told us.
"This is it," Fleur whispered excitedly. I glanced at her apprehensively. She must be right. It had to be about the Tournament, it had been nearly a week. But surely, at breakfast?
"The final decision as to the Beauxbatons Tournament Team has been made," Madame told us and whispers rippled. "And I hope to see you all at dinner to hear who shall be representing us in two weeks time!"
The whispers were replaced with an open groan and I smiled as I shook my head.
"Typical," Beth muttered.
"She wouldn't have announced it breakfast," I grinned.
"Still," Bella shrugged. "Good luck, you three!"
"Oh yes, you didn't apply did you?" Fleur remembered.
Bella shook her head. "No, not my thing. Besides, Monsieur Dijon is letting me help out with Trans classes for experience this year before my teaching course next year."
"Wow, my little Transfig buddy's getting serious!" Beth grinned, swinging an arm around her best friend.
"Speaking of which, what do you want to do next year?" I asked Beth, who shrugged.
"I don't know, something with the ministry maybe..."
"You, in the ministry? Seriously?" Fleur smirked.
"What in the ministry?" I interrupted, nudging Fleur. She was my best friend, but she had issues when it came to subtlty.
"The Muggle department," Beth replied. "And what about you two?"
"Like we need to know about Arneia!" Fleur said loftily. "She's already on the National Reserve Quidditch team, where do you think she's headed?"
I smiled without looking up. "True."
"I don't know yet, I'm finishing this year first," Fleur continued. "Taking it a step at a time."
I sat down on the edge of my seat in anticipation as the hall swiftly filled for dinner, and the announcement. I could sense by the atmosphere that many, especially my fellow seventh years, had been excited all day.
For me, lessons that day had been even more uninteresting that day as the had been all week. I'd just managed to scrape a pass with my love potion and my Runes translation hadn't been entirely accurate. I felt as nervous and excited as everyone else.
"Ladies," Madame Maxime announced, rising upon the dais. Fleur sat up, straight and alert as a meerkat and I began to chew the inside of my lip.
"Before we begin our evening meal, I have an announcement to make. The ten girls who are to represent you at the prestigious Triwizard Tournament have been selected."
"She doesn't half milk it," Beth muttered.
"And so, in alphabetical order, congratulations to Madamoiselle Juliette Allors."
Applause swept across the hall, and I saw Juliette grin at her friends a few tables over, hugging her best friend Mari.
"Madamoiselle Charlotte Bourbon."
Again, I applauded with a smile as Charlotte punched the air, then sat back down after receiving a glare from Monsieur Jasserand.
"Madamoiselle Fleur Delacour."
I laughed aloud as Fleur turned to me with a bright enchanting smile. I gave her a one armed hug and a whispered well done, as Madame announced Mari Freton's name.
I listened to the next four names, knowing if mine would be called at all it would be towards the end.
"Madamoiselle Beth Robson."
I grinned over at Beth as I clapped.
"Madamoiselle Arneia Sera."
I clapped a hand to my mouth this time, as Fleur hugged me back. I was in! I was going!
I hardly listened to the last name, Rose Sourlois, as I tried to take it in. I was in the Triwizard Tournament.