Chapter 2
Before they knew it, they had arrived back at school. This year there were large carriages that brought them to the castle. Seamus and Loren climbed into one, and they were joined by the golden trio; Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger.
"Hello Loren," Hermione greeted her. "Have a nice summer?" "It was fine. My parents came to visit, but that was the most exciting thing that happened," she answered. "We were surprised not to see you at the Quidditch World Cup," Ron said. "You and Seamus learn to breathe without each other?" The two mentioned turned slightly pink, but just rolled their eyes. They were used to comments like that. They had been getting them since first year. Seamus brought the conversation back, "Speaking of the Cup, Ron, has your dad caught the culprit yet?" "Not yet. The Ministry is doing everything they can. Dad's been working non-stop. It's worrying Mum quite a bit." "Culprit? Culprit of what?" Loren asked. "The person who conjured the Dark Mark." Loren just gave him a blank stare. "There's no way you haven't heard. It's been front news of The Daily Prophet for two weeks now!" "My grandmother doesn't read The Daily Prophet. She orders muggle newspapers. Wants to be caught up on events that she can talk to the neighbors about." "Well," Harry began to explain, "the night of the Cup, someone conjured the Dark Mark in the sky after the Death Eaters rioted the campsite." "What's the Dark Mark?" "It's the sign of You-Know-Who," Hermione told her. "And the Death Eaters are his supporters." "Why would they be at the match?" "That's another thing Ministry is trying to figure out," Ron added. "And you couldn't have put this in a letter?" Loren asked, turning to Seamus with her eyebrows raised. "I thought you would've heard, and I know the Dark Arts freak you out," he said. Loren opened her mouth to say something else, but Seamus changed the subject. Turning to Ron again, he asked, "Has Percy told you anything about the "top secret event"?" "He's been dying to get us to pry, but he hasn't actually told us anything." They chatted more about what kinds of possibilities the event could be all the ride to the castle. Before they got to go inside, they heard what sounded like giant flapping wings. Everyone looked up and saw, a giant blue carriage flying through the sky. And coming out of the lake, mast first, was a very large ship. "It must have something to do with the event," Loren whispered to Seamus. When they got inside, they were led right into the Great Hall where the sorting of the First Years, and feast would take place. Since they all had to sit at their House
tables on the first night, Seamus and Loren separated. But because the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor tables were right next to each other, they didn't have to be too far apart. Loren did have other friends. Hannah Abbott, another Hufflepuff was a good friend of hers. Before the feast they were able to talk and catch up.
Everyone seemed to have heard the rumor about something special happening this year, and they were all very anxious to know what it was; especially after seeing what had arrived. Finally, they were about to find out. Dumbledore stood up and moved to his podium at the front of the room. Everyone paid very close attention to what he was saying, "Now that we're all settled in and sorted, I'd like to make an announcement. This castle will not only be our home this year, but home to some very special guests as well. You see, Hogwarts has been chosen-" He was interrupted by Filch, the caretaker of Hogwarts, running in and whispering something to him. Dumbledore spoke to him quickly and quietly. It must've been to Filch's satisfaction, because he then left; and Dumbledore continued, "Hogwarts has been chosen to host a legendary event. The Tri-Wizard Tournament." Excited chatter spread through the room. "Now, for those of you who do not know, the Tri-Wizard Tournament brings together three schools for a series of magical contests. From each school a single contestant is selected to compete. Now, let me be clear, if chosen, you stand alone. And trust me when I say these contests are not for the faint hearted. But more of that later. For now, please join me in welcoming the lovely ladies of the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and their headmistress, Madam Maxime."
The doors opened and in walked a dozen or so beautiful girls in matching pale blue uniforms. Loren turned to Hannah and pretended to throw up when she saw that butterflies surrounded them. She looked at Seamus and rolled her eyes that he, like every other boy in the room, was standing up to get a better look at them. She felt a twinge in her stomach at the sight, but pushed it away. Instead of thinking about the feeling, she took a roll off one of the plates in front of her and threw it at her friend's head.
"Pig," she joked when he turned to her. He just stuck his tongue out at her. "And now, our friends from the North," Dumbledore went on, "please greet the proud sons of Durmstrang and their high master Igor Karkaroff." Their entrance could not have been more different than the girls'. The door flew open in marched boys dressed in fur with marching sticks that sent sparks flying when they hit them on the floor. When one particular student entered, more excited murmurs spread through. "Hey," Loren said to Seamus. He turned around. "Who is that?" "That's Viktor Krum. One of the best Seekers in the world. He plays for the Bulgarians." He quickly turned back around to get another look at Krum. Once the new guests had settled at tables, the feast began. Loren had tried joining in with Hannah and the other Hufflepuff girls who were talking about how excited they were to have a whole new group of boys at school this year, but the truth was the Loren couldn't have cared less about them. There was only one boy at Hogwarts she really cared about. Can you guess who? Of course it was Seamus Finnigan. She tried her absolute hardest not to have feelings for him, but failed miserably. She was
pretty sure she was falling in love with him. She hadn't told anyone, not even Hannah or Hermione. And she certainly was not about to tell Seamus. She knew if he ever found out their friendship would be horribly ruined and he would never talk to her again. Still, she liked to fantasize about him declaring his love for her in front of the whole school. But she would just shake herself back to reality, and settle for friendship. When the feast was over, Dumbledore took his place back at his podium to continue talking about the tournament. "Your attention please!" The room quieted. "I would like to say a few words. Eternal glory, that is what awaits the student who wins the Tri-Wizard Tournament. But to do this, that student must survive three tasks. Three extremely dangerous tasks." Loren glanced back over to Seamus and saws him whispering with his friend Dean Thomas, obviously talking about entering. She leaned over to her friend, grabbed his sleeve to pull him to her and whispered, "Enter, and if the tasks don't kill you, I will." "Whatever Mum," he responded. She let him go, giving him a look. "For this reason," Dumbledore was still going on, "the Ministry has seen fit to impose a new rule. To explain all this, we have the head of the Department of International Magic Cooperation, Mister Bartimus Crouch." As Mr. Crouch stood up to speak, the ceiling which was enchanted to look like the sky gave off a loud crash of thunder and several people screamed. Suddenly, someone's wand cast a spell towards the clouds that made the storm stop. It was a strange man standing in the front corner of the Great Hall. Loren heard Ron say it was a man named Mad-Eye Moody. She had no idea who he was, but he seemed to know Dumbledore. Moody walked towards the headmaster and shook his hand. As the attention shifted back to Mr. Crouch, he said, "After much deliberation, the Ministry has concluded that for their own safety, no student under the age of seventeen shall be allowed to put forth their name for the Tri-Wizard Tournament. The decision is final." Boos, and shouts erupted from the students. Loren couldn't help but be relieved, knowing that now Seamus couldn't enter. Once Dumbledore quieted everyone, he opened a box that produced a large goblet that had a blue fire burning in it. He went on about it, "The Goblet of Fire. Anyone wishing to submit themselves for the tournament merely write their mane upon a piece of parchment before this hour on Thursday night. Do not do so lightly. If chosen, there is no turning back. As from this moment, the Tri-Wizard Tournament has begun." With that, they were all sent to bed. Loren decided to spend some time in the Gryffindor Common Room before she went to bed. Inside, the room was a buzz with chatter about the tournament. Fred and George Weasley were bragging about how they were going to create an aging potion in order to enter. "You got to admit, it would be exciting to compete," Seamus said to her. They were sitting on the couch. Loren was lying down with her legs in Seamus' lap. "I have no interest in dying right now, thank you. And please promise me you're not gonna try to loop around the rules and try to find a way to enter."
"Aw Seamy, is the old girlfriend trying to ruin your fun?" Fred teased as he popped up behind the couch. Seamus just ran a hand over his face and said, "She's not my girlfriend." "You two might as well be an item," George continued, coming next to his brother. "You spend enough time together."
"And Merlin knows Seamus talks about you enough Loren," Harry went on. He, Ron and Hermione were sitting at a table next to the couch. Loren tried to stifle laughter as she saw Seamus' face go bright red. "And I think it's time for bed!" he announced, trying to change the subject. "Loren, do you want me to walk you to your House?"
"So you two can get some more alone time together?" Ron joked. The Weasley twins proceeded to make kissing noises at the two of them. Loren just laughed off the embarrassment she was feeling and said, "To save you from what they would say if you did, I'll be fine by myself." She stood up and told him, "Goodnight." He waved at her, and she left.
"I bloody hate every one of you," Seamus told his friends, glaring at them.
End of chappie 2! Please favorite/follow/review!