Chapter 2: The Feast and the Goblet

All students were gathered in the Great Hall for the welcoming feast. It was the main gathering area, located off the Entrance Hall. From what Adam could see, this was a hall for special events, such as the Sorting ceremony and several others. Hall was large enough to hold every student, as well as main staff and guests. It had tall walls that reach up to the ceiling, which was covered in floating candles and enchanted to look like the night sky above. At the front of the hall was the staff table, which was designed to house entire Hogwarts staff. In the center of the table was a trone chair where the Headmaster Dumbledore sat. In fact, Hall was so large that with four long tables where students from every house sat and filled it nearly to the last place. Thousand or more students nearly filled the Great Hall with ease, which alone is a margin of it's greatness. There were small windows around the side of the hall, and a large one behind the staff table where the light shines through, and a podium carved with an owl in front of headmaster's chair, where they make their announcements.

Who is that boy? He is Black? Is he a relative of that murderer Sirius Black?, were just a few of many questions that Adam overheard from other students still ringed in his head. Too many questions at once. Too much attention for a start, not something Adam hoped to achieve on his first day. Everyone still eyed him suspiciously and with alert, as if he was a mass murderer who only awaits for a chance to be unleashed and eat them all alive. Maybe it was because he is Black? Students from the House Slytherin on the other hand, examined him with interest, but also disgust, while Gryffindors tried to be friendly, some more, some less. There was that boy with round glasses, that Adam caught staring at him with interest several times, often whispering something to his firey haired friend and a girl with a bushy brown hair across the table. It was awkward at first, but it turned to be quite annoying in the end. He was seated at one of the four long tables with his fellow Gryffindors, where he had the opportunity to meet some of them as some of them talked politely with him while others were too busy eating. Adam himself didn't have much of an apetite.

''My name's Seamus Finnigan.'' Announced with a smile boy with short brown hair from the other side of the table and offered his hand. Adam nodded and took his hand ''Adam Black.''

Suddenly, the eyes of the other students in close proximity were turned towards them. Seamus is having a conversation with a new student. That must be so insanely interesting to gather everyone's attention, Adam thought annoyed.

''So, can you tell me what's Ilvermorny like? I've only heard of it, I don't know much.'' Seamus asked as he leaned a bit forward to Adam. Tall, black boy confirmed his question as he asked as well ''Yeah, what's Ilvermorny like?''

Adam sighed at the question, gathering his memories trying to describe it best he could before another wave of questions fell upon him as another dozen of students suddenly became interested in Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry ''What are Ilvermorny's Houses? How is the sorting done? Why did you leave Ilvermorny? Is it better than Hogwarts? Do you play Quidditch in Ilvermorny?''

Questions stunned Adam, who was left speechles. ''Bloody hell, shut up all of you!'' ordered a Gryffindor boy with fiery red hair and freckled face, the same one who sat next to that boy with round glasses some ten paces away from Adam on the opposite side of the table, resulting in complete stall of question assault. ''One at the time.''

Adam smiled and nodded at boy with firey hair and turned to curious students to answer their questions ''All right, first things first. Ilvermorny is much like Hogwarts. It's a castle, although Hogwarts is bigger. It has four Houses just like Hogwarts. I was a member of House Wampus, which is as headmaster Dumbledore said, just like Gryffindor. The rest are Horned Serpent, Thunderbird and Pukwudgie. And yes, we do play Quidditch in Ilvermorny.''

Everyone listened keenly as Adam answered questions that were bestowed upon him ''I learned that sorting here is done with a Sorting Hat. It's quite different in Ilvermorny. When a student starts education in Ilvermorny, he steps on a Gordian Knot...''

''What's a Gordian Knot?'' asked all of sudden a little boy, probably first year, that sat next to Seamus, interrupting Adam causing others to give him mean looks and provoking Seamus' reaction ''Shut up, Nigel!''

Adam laughed at this and continued with a smile ''Gordian Knot was a knot impossible to untie, at least according to Greek legend. Anyway, students would step on a Gordian Knot on the floor in the centre of the entrance hall with large wooden statues of the mascots for the four houses facing them. And then, statues react if they want a student in their houses and that's how the sorting is done in Ilvermorny.''

What resulted after Adam's explanation as a dozen of nods and a loud Oh! of some students, as well as some comments on how much different it is than at Hogwarts. ''Anything else?'' Adam asked Gryffindors, now more prepared for the upcoming wave of questions. They wasted no time and opened their mouths to ask before they were interrupted by headmaster who tapped his glass of wine and walked up to the podium, catching everyone's attention.

''Now that we are all settled and sorted, I'd like to make an announcement.'' Dumbledore exclaimed with his powerful voice, only thing which could be heard in the Hall at the moment ''This castle will not only be your home this year, but a home to some very special guests as well. You see, Hogwarts has been chosen...''

Dumbledore's speech was interrupted as doors of the Great Hall opened, letting in an older man wearing an old black coat who ran across the Hall in such a manner it was funny to watch as he resembled a penguin the way he ran. He ran to headmaster stopping right beside him, and whispered something to him. Then he ran back out of Hall after Dumbledore whispered something back to him. Old man caused a good number of laughs and whispers in the Great Hall.

''You see...'' Dumbledore sighed and continued ''...Hogwarts has been chosen to host a legendary event. The Triwizard Tournament!''

Announcement caused even more whispers and impressions amongst the students but Dumbledore wasn't finished.

''The Tournament brings together three schools for a series of magical contests. From each school, a single student is selected to compete.'' he explained with a bright face when his expression suddenly turned into a grim one ''Now let me be clear. If chosen, you stand alone. And trust me when I say, these contests are not for the faint-hearted.''

Once more, whispering amongst the students continued and they plotted with each other how are they going to participate in the Tournament ignoring Dumbledore's warning. As for other two schools which are going to participate, it was now clear to Adam why they are here, as he witnessed their arrival in the yard with the rest of the student. Flying carriage and a ship that had risen from the river were quite a sight to see.

''Please!'' Dumbledore spoke again, causing utter silence ''Welcome the lovely ladies of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and their Headmistress, Madame Maxime.''

Doors leading into the Great Hall opened, revealing students of Beauxbatons Academy. Girls of Beauxbatons walked in, in a three rows with exception of first two girls who walked in together. Their blue uniforms were a striking sight to the eyes along with it's blue hats. They walked in perfect synchronization through the center of the Hall, stopping several times, turning to one side of the Hall or the other to reach out with their hands to the students and let out a sigh with their melodic voices. As they approached the staff table, girls stopped to let out a hundreds of butterflies surprising everyone in the Hall, and ran diagonally of each other as their Headmistress followed behind. It was a tallest woman Adam has ever seen, like a giant. Madam Maxime walked slowly in her brown fur coat which prompted Seamus to comment ''That's one big woman.''

Not a moment after Seamus' comment, a girl that walked by Headmistress in leotard did gymnastic backflips towards the staff of Hogwarts while another girl danced ballet which the two girls ended in a bow to their Headmistress as Dumbldore approached her and took her by hand, leading her forward and kissing her hand. A loud clapping erupted as girls of Beauxbatons Academy finished their choreography added with whistles and shouts. Adam himself joined the clapping as their choreography even though it was not his thing, it was quite amazing in it's own way. Not long after Beauxbatons' choreography, Headmaster of Hogwarts climbed on podium once again to announce another school, while Beauxbatons settled themselves at the Ravenclaw table. Dumbledore raised both his hands, ordering silence ''And now our friends from the North! Welcome the proud sons of Durmstrang, and their Highmaster, Igor Karkaroff!''

Doors of the Great Hall opened once again, and Durmstrang Institute started it's routine. Students of Durmstrang walked in two rows carrying their staffs, producing sparks as they hit the stone floor with it. They would hit the floor twice with one hand before switching the staff to another hand, with which they would do the same. Routine lasted halfway to the hall, after which several students in the fronts of the row dropped their staffs and sprinted towards Dumbledore, doing backflips similar to the Beauxbatons girls, although much less elegant and much more agressive. As they did their choreography, the rest of Durmstrang students formed a circle around them, and awaited for the arrival of their Highmaster, who made his presence known as he walked into the Hall with a furious face in a hurry as if he's going to strike someone distinguishing himself from others by his white coat, while Durmstrang students wore brown coats. Two students followed in his steps, actually one was in front while other followed from behind. Highmaster approached his students, and two of them used their wands to mark the end of the choreography with a firey snake or a dragon, perhaps? Adam couldn't comprehend – which circled around them and formed Durmstrang sigil in unison. Dumbledore and Karkaroff greeted each other with a hug, and Durmstrang students were seated with Slytherins while Karkaroff joined the rest of the staff at their table alongside Beauxbatons' Headmistress. Their choreography was greeted with a large clapping just as Beauxbatons' one, only this time boys clapped even harder for this was their thing. Some clapped because of choreograhpy, while others clapped for Viktor Krum, Seeker for Bulgarian National Quidditch team and student of Durmstrang who walked in front of Highmaster Igor Karkaroff.

Feast that followed was a pleasant affair. Adam spent good hour talking and meeting with some others Gryffindors. He met Seamus' best friend, Dean Thomas as well as girl with fiery red hair, Ginny Weasley, who was a sister to that boy who silenced everyone when they attacked Adam with their questions. They talked about Quidditch World Cup finals that was held just a few days ago between Ireland and Bulgaria. Ireland emerged as winners, but it was a close match. Being a big fan of Quidditch, Adam regreted not being able to go to the finals. Ginny's twin brothers, Fred and George, joined the conversation and bragged about how they are experts for Quidditch, and cracked jokes mocking their brother Ronald - the same guy who saved Adam from thunderstorm of questions – for he is a fan of Viktor Krum, Bulgarian seeker. They were quite funny, and Adam laughed at several occasions. Good hour passed pretty quickly, and everyone was eating and drinking, and overall enjoying the feast in the Great Hall.

''Attention please!'' Albus Dumbledore paused the feast yet once again as he reached the podium, standing next to the jewelled casket whose top reached well over Dumbledore's head. ''I'd like to say a few words. Eternal glory...''

Just the sound of eternal glory made Adam feel funny in his stomach ''...that's what awaits the student who wins the Triwizard Tournament. But to do this, a student must survive three tasks. Three extremely dangerous tasks. For this reason, Ministry had seemed fit to impose a new rule. To explain all this, we have the Head of Department of International Magical Cooperation, Mr. Bartemius Crouch.''

Just as Dumbledore announced the man who showed himself as he walked into the Great Hall from back doors, the enchanted ceiling that showed the night sky suddenly turned into a thunderstorm, resulting in terrified screams of the students. Adam himself froze in fear from the sound of a thunder, and couldn't move an inch. Cold sweat dropped down his forehead and he barely held himself together. Then, just as it started, thunderstorm ended, not on it's own but by the hand of another man who walked inside through the back door. He caused whispers in the whole Hall as he approached the staff table. The way he walked was obvious giveaway that he had a trouble walking, and he carried a large stick that was either his weapon or just a stick that helped him walk. From distance, he seemed strange, but Adam couldn't see the details.

''Are you okay, Adam?'' Ginny, who sat nest to Adam, leaned towards him and asked ''Your face is pale and sweating.''

He just looked at her and smiled insecurely ''Don't worry about me. I'm okay.'' He couldn't admit he was afraid of thunders. As long as he could remember, Adam has been afraid of storms. It was something that was driving him crazy. No matter what his grandfather did, it could not help with the fear.

''Who is he?'' Adam asked Ginny about the man who ended the storm to which girl replied ''I'm not sure, but I think it's Mad-Eye Moody.''

''Mad-Eye Moody?'' Adam whispered-asked with caution as he asked, trying not to gather attention to himself once again.

''Dark wizard captor.'' explained Ginny's brother, Ronald to his friend that sat next to him, but loud enough for everyone to hear ''He's filled up half of Azkaban. He's supposed to be mad these days.''

Well, that explains some things. He indeed looks like a madman from distance even though Adam couldn't examine the details. Dumbledore welcomed him and exchanged few words before returning to the podium and jewelled casket with Mr. Bartemius Crouch.

''After due consideration, the Ministry has conlcuded that for their own safety no students under the age of seventeen should be allowed to put their name for the Triwizard Tournament. This decision is final...'' Mr. Crouch adressed the students which turned into a large protest by the latter as they shouted insults and mocked the decision. Weasley twins were the loudest, prompting the Headmaster of Hogwarts to shout angrily ''Silence!''

Protests have stopped just the way the started, and both Dumbledore and Crouch seemed angered and annoyed by student's rude behavior. Adam was not amongst protesting students, but he sympathized with them. He partially understood the decision of the Ministry. They wanted to make the Tournament safest as possible, to avoid grave injuries and even worse than that, deaths. Even though, the thought of being a participant on a tournament such as Triwizard Tournament would make everyone's heart race.

As the masses calmed down, Dumbledore used his want to remove the jewelled casket, revealing the stone goblet which erupted blue flames from it's top, causing many comments from impressed students.

''The Goblet of Fire!'' Dumbledore exclaimed proudly ''Anyone wishing to submit himself to the Tournament, need write their name to the piece of parchment and throw it in the flame before this hour of Thursday night. Do not do so lightly!'' Headmaster warned with a hard face, which alone made Adam realised the weight of the Tournament and a burden participants must carry.

''If chosen, there is no going back. As from this moment, the Triwizard Tournament has begun.''