Chapter 46: Rumble at the World Cup, A train trip and the sorting.
The next day Harry and Hermione get up early for their workout in the basement, then get cleaned up for the day. After dressing in their Consular robes, which is routine for them now, they head down to the kitchen for breakfast. Today is the day of the Quidditch World Cup. After breakfast the couple, along with their parents, phase to the rendezvous point to meet with the rest of the group going to the event. Harry and Hermione were given the coordinates for the event by the ministry and are going to make port keys for each family in their group. As each family appears, they make the port key and send them on their way. After everyone is taken care of; the Potters and Grangers port to the event where they meet up with their group. Harry and Hermione lead the group to the entrance where they get their housing assignments. The group is assigned a row of what looks like wooden shacks, but when they look inside, they appear to be one and two bedroom suites, Complete with kitchen and sitting room. It's amazing what magic can do. After all the luggage is stowed for the overnight trip, the children are let loose to explore the camp.
The camp is a sea of tents in various sizes and shapes. Some look like palaces from the Tales of the Arabian Nights, while others look like three story manor houses with smoking chimneys; so much for the statute of secrecy. At least the mundane owners of the land know about magic as they have family members that are part of the magical world. The colors viewed are many and varied. The most predominant colors though are red and black for the Bulgarian team, with green and gold dominant for the Irish. Harry and Hermione buy a pair of omnioculars, for their recording and magnifying properties for their parents to use during the game. The Potters themselves don't need them because of their powers. After wandering around the camp and talking to their friends they return to their shack for lunch. The game starts at two o'clock.
At one thirty the entire group from Phoenix house gathers to go to the stadium. Every student shows up wearing their maroon robes with the white phoenix crest on the outside. They also have on their watches and rings, which gets a lot glances as they make their way through the crowds. The parents of these children couldn't be more proud as they follow them to the stadium. As they enter the enlarged private booth, Harry and Hermione notice a couple of chairs in the center that are larger than the rest, with tiered seating arranged in a semicircle on either side. The two larger chairs are set forward and sticking out, like a balcony, over the rows of seating below the booth. The Pendragon banner is hanging from the balcony, letting the crowd know the King and Queen are in attendance today.
Hermione notices a house elf sitting way up in the top row in the back corner shivering. She takes Harry's hand and leads him up to her. When they arrive the elf looks up at them but won't release her hold on the chair she is sitting in.
Hermione kneels down and asks," What's your name miss?"
The elf squeaks out," I is Winky, Elders"
"What's wrong," Hermione asks," Why are you shivering?"
"Master has gone," she says," Winky was supposed to guard him. Older master will give Winky clothes for sure."
"I know your magic won't allow you to tell us who your master is Winky," Hermione says," but if he or she gives you clothes, you can come work for us if you want."
"Thanks you Elders," she answers, still shivering.
Hermione thought the offer would at least calm the elf down but she is still sitting there shaking like a leaf.
"I thought the offer might alleviate your shivering," Hermione says to her," Would you like to go find you master?"
"Oh yes Elder," she says," I woulds like that very muches. Winky does nots likes heights, but I was ordereds to stay heres."
Hermione puts a hand on top of Winky's head," I override your order to stay here by the power of the Elders. You may go in search of your master now."
"Thank yous," She says and disappears with a pop.
After the elf disappears, Harry and Hermione look around and notice everyone is still standing. They sigh and proceed down to their seats where they sit down, allowing everyone else to find seats. At two o'clock precisely, the fanfare starts with the Bulgarian team flying around the pitch, followed by their mascots, a group of very pretty women with shimmering robes on and pretty streamers flowing behind them as they dance to the music echoing around the stadium. Harry looks around the booth and notices about half the young men on their feet, with some of them trying to climb over the protective railing.
"What's going on Hermione?" Harry asks as he watches the various witches in the booth trying to get there menfolk back in their seats. Mr. Weasley has a hold of Ron's belt to keep him from climbing the barrier.
"Oh Harry," she laughs," If I ever needed proof you loved me; this is one form of it. Those are Veela dancing on the pitch below us. When they emit their allure, only someone very much in love with another, or being past the age of reproduction can resist. Don't ever change."
"I still don't understand Hermione," Harry says," why would I want any of those women when I have the most beautiful woman on the planet as my wife?"
She just just gives him a very wide smile and leans over to give him a kiss that curls his toes.
After the Veela leave the field it is the Irish's turn. The team flies onto the field followed by golden streams of coins that float down to be collected by the gullible crowd. There is a magical display of a leprechaun sitting on his pot of gold one side of the field, showering more coins on the crowd. Most of the crowd knows it is leprechaun gold and will disappear in an hour, but there are still a few that don't get it and collect as much as they can carry. After the show is over, the captains for each team fly up and stop in front of the King and Queen. They each bow to show their respect and after Harry and Hermione bow their heads back at them, take off for the start of the game.
There is much cheering and chanting from the crowd as the game progresses. Krum, Krum, Krum, comes from the Bulgarian side. After about two hours of play the Irish are up two hundred twenty to sixty. Krum, who is the best seeker in the world, has spotted the snitch several times but had hopes his chasers could even the game enough for them to win. The Irish keeper is just too good and he sees that is not going to happen, so when he spots the snitch this time he goes after it to at least keep the score from getting too one sided. He catches the snitch, using the famous Wronsky Faint dive. Unfortunately, he can't pull up in time and ploughs into the field, breaking his nose in the process. The game is over, with the final score being the Irish with two twenty to the Bulgarians two ten.
After flying their victory lap around the pitch the two teams enter into the King and Queens box to receive their trophies. The victors approach first, with Harry handing the trophy to the winning captain while Hermione puts ribbons around their necks. The losing team comes up next to receive their second place trophy and ribbons. As Hermione places the ribbon around Krum's neck she reaches up and heals his nose. Krum bows formally to her in thanks and leaves with the rest of his team.
All around the camp parties are going on as the people celebrate their team's victory or commiserate their team's loss. The children all go to bed around ten while their parents continue to party. This includes Harry and Hermione, along with their parents.
About two in the morning, everyone is woken up by a loud explosion. Harry and Hermione get up and walk into the sitting room with the Grangers. Harry and Hermione use their vision to look through the walls to the outside to see what is going on. They spot a group of men in black robes with white masks levitating the owners of the camp ground, who are screaming as they are taunted.
"Jeeves," Harry calls out.
He pops in after a few seconds," You called my lord?"
"Yes, please take mum and dad, along with our belongings back to the house. We will be along shortly after we get the rest of the people away. Sorry mum and dad. Please go with him. We will be able to do better knowing you are safe."
"Okay son," Mr. Granger says," See you when you get home."
Jeeves takes them away and the Potters disillusion themselves, then, rush out the door. They follow the group of men tormenting the owners of the camp. As they are approaching the cloaked figures and before they could act against the cloaked men, they hear a sound off to their left.
"MORSMORDRE" they hear, followed by a flash of green light shooting up into the sky where a bright green skull with a snake coming out of its mouth appears. The group of people that are tormenting the owners drop them in panic at seeing their former master's mark and disapperate as quickly as they can. The camp owners shakily get to their feet and run off. Several pops are heard as aurors apperate into the area around the Potters. Immediately, the area is covered in stunners. A couple of thuds are heard over to the left of the Potters, who are still disillusioned, observing.
"Stop firing," Arthur Weasley yells running up," My children are supposed to be around here. I sent them this way to get out of the panicking crowd."
Sure enough, Ron and Ginny both stand up out of the tall grass.
"What are you doing here?" Crouch demands.
"We were directing the crowd through the trees to try and keep them calm." Ron answers.
"There's an elf over here," someone shouts," She has a wand next to her."
The group moves over to the man to investigate. They find a female house elf unconscious with a wand lying on the ground next to her. One of the aurors renervates her and as she stands up, she looks up into the sky and shivers.
"Elf, did you fire that spell," an auror asks in a mean tone?
"Nos master, Winky is a good elf," she squeaks in fear," Winky not knows how."
"Who's wand is this then?" the auror asks, picking it up.
"Hey, that's mine," Ron says feeling his back pocket," and no I didn't fire whatever that spell was either. I have never heard that word before. The man's voice was very deep and scratchy though, if that will help you find him."
One of the officials in the crowd is Bartemus Crouch. The director for the International Gaming and Cooperation department at the ministry.
"Winky, I thought I told you to stay put." Crouch says.
"I's sorry master," Winky says," master gots away. I was released by the Elders."
Crouch takes off one of his gloves and throws it at Winky to get her to shut up before she inadvertently says something else.
"I give you clothes," Crouch says," I set you free."
She just falls down crying while Crouch walks off in the direction Ron indicated the voice came from. He is searching for someone covered by an invisibility cloak, but fails to find anyone. He then apperates off to somewhere else before any more questions can be asked. Everyone else ignores the elf, which disappears as she is grabbed by Hermione, to be phased back to the Granger's house. Harry stays behind long enough to make sure the area is cleared of stragglers then phases home to be with his family.
Winky is surprised at the mode of travel she just experienced and even more surprised when she spots Jeeves serving tea to the Grangers. Harry phases in a few minutes later. They are immediately surrounded by their parents as they ask for information on what happened. After filling them in on the happenings at the World Cup camp grounds the parents retire to their beds as it is two thirty in the morning.
Harry and Hermione turn to Winky and ask," Would you like to bond with us Winky?"
The elf nods vigorously, causing her ears to flap.
"Winky would loves to bonds with the great Elders. Yes Winky woulds," She says.
Harry and Hermione both place a hand on her head," We bond with thee as family, Winky Potter.
She grows a full two and a half feet, making her five feet tall. This is a half foot taller than any other elf. She has golden skin and beautiful slanted green eyes with shimmering green hair that matches her eyes perfectly. Her ears are delicate, with a slight point to them. Her face is oval with a slight point to her chin. Her lips are full and have a slight very dark greenish tint to them. Her pillowcase changes into an elegant maroon tunic with the Potter crest and flared at the thighs black pants with matching shoes. In other words, she is absolutely beautiful for an elf.
Jeeves takes one look at her and bows low.
"Welcome to the Potter household. My Queen," He says reverently.
Harry and Hermione also bow to her to show their respect for her station.
She curtsies back at them and says," It is not necessary for you to bow to me My Lord and Lady. It is only fitting that the Queen of the elves serves the King and Queen of the magical world and the Elders of the Universe."
"Thank you," Hermione replies," You can be my personal elf. We'll be like sisters."
Harry smiles at Hermione, knowing she always wanted a sister she could confide in for girly things that guys just wouldn't understand. The Potters retire to their bedroom for the night. The last two days of August are spent with the family relaxing in anticipation of going back to school.
ooOOoo
September first dawns bright and clear with cool temperatures as the family wakes and gets ready for the trip to Kings Cross Station and platform nine and three quarters. Harry and Hermione decide to phase to the platform this year to save their parents the trip, which is okay with them since they have the watches to keep in contact with the children. After hugs and well wishes the Potters phase to the platform and proceed to their usual compartment where with a wave of his hand Harry expands the compartment to hold their group. After a while all of the group has made it and get settled for the trip.
"Okay guys," Harry says to start off the meeting," There will be no official quidditch matches this year." This of course brings protest from several people, most loudly from Ron.
"No quidditch," he shouts," That is outrageous. Nothing is more important than quidditch."
Draco agrees by nodding his head vigourously.
"Except maybe your grades," Hermione reminds everyone.
"Now that the initial shock is over I will continue," Harry says," Quiddich is canceled this year for two reasons. One reason is the way quidditch is played will change this year. New brooms have been bought for the school for general training, along with brooms that are appropriate for each position on the team. For example, a Firebolt isn't the right type of broom for a keeper. That position needs a stable broom with strong bristles to be able to bat away the quaffle. The beaters need brooms that they can control with their knees if they need to switch hands with the beaters bats. Chasers need brooms that are easy to control for tight sudden turns while seekers need fast brooms to keep up with the snitch. Each position will be provided with a broom appropriate for that position. This will level the playing field to the point that the player's skill on the broom and team strategy will determine the victor, not who has the best broom. One other thing that is changing this year is the way teams are picked. We will start playing other schools, so there will be a varsity team, which will be made up of the best players in the school and there will be reserves for each position. There will be no more haphazard tryouts with brooms brought from home. Your personal broom will be for your flying enjoyment only. Friendly matches amongst friends is okay as long as you're careful. Competitions with other schools will be done on school brooms only. To earn a place on the varsity or reserve teams you will have to be trained how to use the broom designed for your position on the teams. We have authorized Madame Hooch to hire assistants to train students that are interested in competing on how to fly properly. We want no untrained flyers on the teams. Quidditch is too dangerous for armatures that don't have a clue how to handle their brooms. Consequently, Hogwarts will turn out the best trained Quidditch players in the world. If that is your ambition then you will be trained properly and have an excellent chance of being recruited by a professional team."
"Now for the second reason," Hermione continues," The Tri-Wizard Tournament is coming to Hogwarts this year. Students from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and the Durmstrang Institute will be here to participate. Harry and I believe Voldemort is going to use this tournament as a means to snatch Harry from Hogwarts in an attempt to gain a new body. Do-not-worry-about-us. We have it covered. Just don't be surprised if Harry's name comes out of the goblet. We did some spying over the summer and found this out. They don't know that we know the plan. Dumbledore is going to put an age line around the goblet to keep under age students from entering. The tournament is too dangerous for under trained witches or wizards to participate. What good will glory and a thousand galleons do you if you are dead. Let of age students participate and root for Hogwart's champion. If Harry's name does come out of the goblet, it will have to be for a fictional forth school and he will not take away from the other three champions. The reason we are telling you this is so you won't be surprised when it happens and because we are Phoenix House. We are supposed to be the elite of the school. Let's set an example for the rest of the students and help out with our visitors. Be courteous and show them how to navigate through the halls of Camelot. Other than that, be yourselves and enjoy the tournament."
The meeting breaks up and the various friends within the group chat about their summer holiday as the train rumbles through the country side on its way to Hogwarts. As the train approaches Hogsmead the boys vacate the compartment so the girls can change into their robes with the boys stand guard and then they switch. Harry and Hermione are wearing their Consular robes as the leaders of the group. When the train arrives in Hogsmead the group departs and helps guide the first years over to Hagrid while making sure the loading of the carriages is carried out in an orderly manner. After all of the other students have departed the station and boarded carriages, Phoenix house students take the last two carriages and enter the great hall as a disciplined group. This of course gets all of the other student's attention as the group comes in by twos as if they were an army squad with Harry and Hermione marching in front of the group. They march in order around the table and all stand at their place until Harry holds a seat for Hermione and then seats himself. After their leaders are sitting, the rest of the group sits and waits in anticipation of the first years and the sorting. Everyone in the hall notices the empty chairs at the round table.
The great doors open and the first years walk up the central isle toward the front. The group stops a few feet from the front where they can see a stool with an old tattered hat sitting on it. The hat comes alive and with a slit appearing above the rim, it starts to sing.
Oh welcome to Hogwarts
To all of you first years
I may not look like much
I am not unpleasant to touch
...
Put me on your head
So we can see
In which house
You are meant to be
...
Will it be Gryffindor House
For those few Brave and true
If you have courage enough
This is the house for you
...
Will it be Slytherin House
For those ambitious few
If you are cunning enough
This is the house for you
...
Will it be Hufflepuff House
For those unafraid of work
If you are loyal and true
This is the house for you
...
Will it be Ravenclaw House
For those of intellect
If you are of the studious few
This is the house for you
...
As you can see
There is a fifth house
The House of the White Phoenix
House of the elite of Hogwarts
...
Hedwig flames in at this time singing along with the hat and alights on Harry's chair.
...
In this house resides
An elite few from each house
Lead by the Elders of old
Who protect the fold
(Harry and Hermione stand)
...
They come from Gryffindor
(Ginny Weasley stands)
...
They come from Ravenclaw
(Luna Lovegood stands)
...
They come from Hufflepuff
(Susan Bones, Hannah Abbot, Neville Longbottom stand)
...
They come from Slytherin
(Draco Black, Ron Weasley, Daphne Greengrass, Tracey Davis, Pansy Parkinson stand)
...
It escapes no ones attention that there are more Slytherins than other houses standing.
...
If you study hard
Show willingness to help others
You too could be
An elite White Phoenix
...
So come up one by one
Put me on your head
And we will see
Which house is yours to be
The hat went quiet and the students went wild with the cheering for the song and the new house that was started in the middle of last year.
Professor McGonagall walks up to the stool and unrolls her parchment scroll and starts to call names. One by one the new students walk up to the stool and puts the hat on their head to be sorted. Once the sorting is completed Harry waves at the Headmaster that he has something to say. The Headmaster nods at him. Harry and Hermione both get up and walk to the podium, where they adjust it to their height. Every student is watching them with great interest.
Harry starts out," Would the following students stand up:
From Gryffindor:
Colin Creevey,
Parvati Patil,
Lavender Brown.
From Ravenclaw:
Padma Patil,
Camilla Carmichael
From Hufflepuf:
Jenna Jenkins
From Slytherin:
Millicent Bulstrode."
Each student stands as their name is called.
"Each of these students," Hermione continues as she and Harry look around the Great Hall at the faces looking back at them," Has shown exemplary conduct and willingness to help others. Their grades are excellent, yes even Parvati and Lavender. They may be the school gossips but they excel in their grades and have proven themselves. These students have been approved by Hedwig and the council of five and have all been promoted to Phoenix house. You may move to the Phoenix table and take your seats."
Each of the student's robes changes to the Maroon color with the Phoenix crest and their uniforms change to match their new status. They move over to their new table and sit with the others to the cheering of the other students. Even Slytherin house is cheering as another of their house is selected. They still have the most members and Slytherin house is no longer looked at as dark and evil.
"Phoenix House students will still take classes with their original house," Harry says," It was determined this is the best way to keep us intermixed with the general population for emergencies and each carries a port key to a safe place if anyone gets trapped in a bad situation. I believe the Headmaster has some announcements."
The Headmaster stands up at his chair and calls out," I believe I will wait until after the feast."
With an expressive wave of his arms the feast appears on the tables and everyone digs in.
While they are eating Harry and Hermione suddenly look up towards the front doors. They get up and approach the headmasters table.
"There is a Death Eater approaching the front gates," Harry whispers to Albus," We think it is the person that was with Riddle this summer. He may appear to be someone you know. We will allow this person in the school, but keep an eye on him. He mustn't suspect Hermione or I are any different than the other students. You can tell him we are just part of a very studious group and you provided a separate house for us as a reward."
"I am expecting my friend Alistor Moody," Albus whispers back," He is a retired Auror of some renown. He will be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"I read in the paper there was some trouble with him this summer," Hermione whispers," Whoever the person approaching looks like, they are definitely a marked follower of Riddle. If he is impersonating your friend, we will find him for you and if he is still alive, free him."
"Thank you for the warning," Albus says.
Harry and Hermione have just sat back down to continue with their meal when the Great Hall doors bang open. The Great Hall went very quiet.
Clomp step tap, Clomp step tap, Clomp step tap.
The man stumping into the hall is dressed in a leather jacket and trousers with a brown overcoat. He has one wooden peg leg, which accounts for the clomp sound and uses a short staff for support, which accounts for the tap. He pauses for a moment to take a swig from the flask at his hip and continues on towards the front. He has one regular eye and in an eye patch, he has a blue eye which seems to be looking everywhere at once as it spins around. On his face, he has a scar that looks like someone had taken a knife to it and hadn't finished the job.
Professor Dumbledore stands up and says," Hello Alistor. Students, this is Alistor Moody. He is and accomplished Auror and will be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor this year. Come on up and sit at the staff table so the students can see you."
The students give the creepy looking man a polite applause and then turn back to their meals. After the meal is concluded the Headmaster stands and walks to the podium where he adjusts it for his height.
"Now that we are all fed and watered I have a few announcements to make. Welcome to Hogwarts to all the new students and welcome back to the older students. May your heads all be filled with magical knowledge and wisdom? As usual, the forbidden forest is just that, forbidden to all but masters and their apprentices that have a need to go in there. For all others it is too dangerous. As you may have heard, Quidditch is cancelled this year for two reasons. One is the gaming system is being changed and in the future we will be competing against other schools instead of against each other. Friendly matches between friends will be permitted. See Madame Hootch for details on how you can join the teams that represent Hogwarts. The second reason for cancelling quidditch is we have been picked to host the Tri-Wizard Tournament this year. It has been decided to bring the tournament back as a precursor for quidditch tournaments between schools from other countries, very much like the competition for the world cup which was hosted by England this year. The other two schools will be the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic from France and the Durmstrang Institute of Bulgaria. That will be all. Prefects may lead their students to their common rooms and show the first years where their dorm rooms are."
Everyone gets up and heads off to their common rooms with Phoenix house going a different way than the rest of the houses. When they arrive at their common rooms Sirius Black explains to the new arrivals.
"My Name is Sirius Black in case you don't know already. I am your head of house. Each of you has a private room with your name on the door. Your things have been moved into your rooms for you. Curfew is ten thirty on week nights and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. We generally get up before the rest of the school to help other students if needed. Our jobs are similar to the prefects in that we patrol the halls to keep the peace. If you find any trouble you can't handle by yourself, especially from the older students, use the mirrors in your watches to contact myself or if you spot someone in real trouble call Harry or Hermione. They are Elders and can phase to your position in an instant. If you have any questions, see myself or the Elders. Okay, off to bed with you lot. I'm sure you are tired after your trip. See your old heads of house for your schedules in the morning. Have a good evening."
With that said, he retires to his quarters and the students disperse to find their rooms.