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Disclaimer
I own nothing of the Harry Potter franchise.
Glad to clear that up
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Chapter 6
Hadriana guided the Durmstrang students to Charms class, all of them being followed by the Slytherin seventh years and the Hufflepuff seventh years who would share the class with them.
"Professor Flitwick is one of the best teachers we have." Hadriana said to whoever wanted to hear her. No one noticed Markus' sudden interest and Katia, who walked at Hadriana's side, nodded in silence "He may be teaching charms but he's great with DADA and history as well. If you ever need some kind of information or some help with class work, he's the one to see."
The group entered the Charms class room and took their seats. Hadriana took a front seat with Ursula, as did Katia, Kristoff, Viktor and Markus. Flitwick was already inside, waving his wand towards the blackboard, making the chalk write the class instructions.
"Good morning, class." Flitwick started with a huge smile and good mood "For all Durmstrang students, it is a pleasure having you in my class room. My name is Filius Flitwick and I will be your charms teacher for the duration of your stay in Hogwarts. I had a brief conversation with Highmaster Karkaroff and he explained me that you will have extra course work with your professor Bohuslav's syllabus. I am aware that your final exams are nothing like our NEWTS so if you need help, feel free to come and ask." he said "Now, does anyone have a question before we begin our class?" One hand rose in the air "Yes?"
"This is not about your class work, although I would take time to thank you in the name of my schoolmates." Markus said, looking at the teacher, who nodded with a smile "This is more out of my own curiosity, but are you THE Fillius Flitwick, the European duellist champion in the years 68-72?" All Durmstrang heads turned to Markus in that instant while some of Hogwarts students just smirked, believing that the foreigner was in awe.
"Yes, that's me." the diminutive professor replied with an embarrassed chuckle "May I ask what is your name?"
"Markus Ragnos. I'm a fan of yours." whatever the Hogwarts students thought, it crashed down when it became Flitwick's turn to be awed.
"Merlin's beard!" the professor swore "Mr. Ragnos, I knew you looked familiar. It is a pleasure to meet you." the professor almost shouted, shaking the young man's hand in excitement "Welcome to my class room, my dear sir."
"The pleasure is all mine, master Flitwick." Markus replied pleasantly, shaking the older man's hand excitedly, while his friends all chuckled "If I may be so bold, I would love to spend some time to talk to you."
"I will be delighted, my dear boy." the professor replied with a huge smile "If you could stay after class, we could make an arrangement."
"Of course."
"Fanboy." mocked Kristoff with a grin, making Katia and Viktor chuckle.
Flitwick went back to his previous demeanour, without supplying more information on what had happened but everyone could see his happiness and excitement while he started with the revision from the previous class.
"What was that?" Hadriana asked Katia in a whisper.
"How much do you know about the European Duelling Circuits?" asked Katia and Hadriana shrugged.
"I know Britain hasn't had a competitor since the seventies, mostly because of the war and I know that professor Flitwick was a champion in his younger days... " added Ursula, also curious
"Master Flitwick was a four time champion in four years and lost only three matches during his career." Katia supplied as Flitwick went on illusion charms, growing the girls' interest "Markus started to compete in the junior European leagues while thirteen years old and won every single match he had against some of Europe finest." Hadriana and Ursula widened their eyes "And this summer, he competed for the first time in the adult leagues of the Scandinavian Tournament and became the grand champion."
"Wow." mumbled Ursula, watching Markus paying attention to Flitwick while Hadriana looked surprised "He must be really good."
"You have no idea." replied Katia with a smirk.
"Hadriana is one of our best duellists. Maybe she should ask him for some advice and training." Ursula half joked with a chuckle, earning a surprised look from said girl and a stoic look from Katia.
"I would advise against it." the blonde replied, looking to the board "You didn't just almost curse Géri and Fréki, did you?" Hadriana didn't reply, looking embarrassed "I knew it." Katia sighed.
"I admit, I may have acted poorly..." Hadriana tried to say.
"I advise you to apologise." Katia told her bluntly "I consider you a friend so consider this as a friendly advice and a request from a friend."
Katia said nothing else after that and Hadriana got some movement from Katia's other side. Apparently, her husband had been paying attention to their conversation.
"This year I would like to continue some of the work we did last year." Flitwick said "As not all of you may know, last year there was a break out from Azkaban and a very dangerous criminal escaped. The Ministry, in their immense wisdom" Flitwick's sarcasm was supported by many chuckles and snorts "decided to post dementors around the school grounds, to protect The-Boy-Who-Lived. As you can imagine, it wasn't a good year for us." more snorts "We started to learn the patronus charm and a few of you managed to cast it. I would like to offer extra credit to all who manage to do it this year." there were some groans but everyone was interested in what was offered "So, I would like to ask our Durmstrang guests who knows how to perform the Patronus charm?"
Four hands rose in the air. Katia, who Hadriana already knew to be able to do it, Kris, Viktor and Markus.
"Fantastic. Would you be available to provide assistance to your classmates, should they ask?" one nod from the four teens was enough "Very well... then would one of you come forward and demonstrate?" Flitwick asked with a smile and all Durmstrang students turned to the same person, the same Flitwick wanted to see "Perhaps you, Mr. Ragnos?"
"Of course, professor." Markus replied, getting up from his seat and walking towards the end of the classroom.
"Extra credit if provide a full explanation on how to do it." added the charms master, sitting on his own chair behind his desk. Markus just shrugged to himself and turned to the students, noticing the amused looks from his school mates and the curious looks from the British students, not to mention the awe and the gasps as they realized his most distinctive trait: the golden eyes.
"The patronus charm is an emotion based spell, which means that you have to draw power from your emotions to be able to cast it. In particular, the patronus charm is fuelled by happiness." Markus explained, ignoring the interested looks many were giving him "To cast the spell, all you need to do is focus on that feeling and use it to fuel your magic, while chanting the incantation, Expecto Patronum." as Markus spoke, he rose his wand with his right hand and a massive silver wolf formed, howling and floating through the air.
"Expecto Patronus." three other voices said and three more wolves formed. These were smaller than Markus' wolf and immediately started to float together behind the first one, leaving everyone amazed and gaping. Amazingly enough, two of the wolves occasionally snuggled their muzzles.
"What an amazing display." Flitwick said, almost falling from his chair with the excitement "An O for the class and another as extra credit for the four of you. Are there any questions for Mr. Ragnos?"
"How do you draw the happiness to fuel the spell?" asked a Hufflepuff girl with what she would claim to be a seductive smile.
"Focus on a memory of a happy experience." Markus suggested "Or focus on what you believe your happiest moment would be like and use that. Some accounts have reported that hope is also suitable for the charm, since they are in the same emotional range."
"Wait, you mean instead of an actual memory, use... a wish?" blurted Hadriana and Markus only nodded. Hadriana had been unable to learn the spell the previous year, unlike the expectations of everyone and wanted to correct that slight. Even her damned brother managed to learn it. With the information she had just learned, she might be able to achieve that goal.
With no more questions, Flitwick took control of the class once again, going over the theory of the charm. Hadriana tuned him out and started to think in what she had just learned. She already knew all the theory about the charm. When Ursula nudged her at the end of the class, she had an idea of a "wish" she could use.
"I just want to try something." she whispered and her friend nodded. Hadriana drew her wand and focused on what was on her mind. She felt the tear falling from her eye but didn't care.
"Expecto Patronum." she whispered with her eyes closed. She felt the magic be drawn from her and heard the gasps all around her.
"Well done, Hadriana." whispered Ursula on her side. Hadriana opened her eyes and much to her surprise, she saw a lone wolf floating in the air, fading after some moments.
"Well done, Ms. Potter." congratulated Flitwick, awarding her with the extra credit and the points for a job well done "What did you do different, if I may ask?"
"I took Mr. Ragnos suggestion and I used hope and wish instead of happiness." the raven haired girl replied, turning to the golden eyed young man who stood near the professor "Thank you."
Markus nodded, eyeing her carefully as she packed her belongings and walked out of the class room towards a grinning Katia, before turning his attention back on the professor.
"Was it the first time you summoned your patronus?" asked Katia, standing between Kris and Viktor when Hadriana met the rest of the students outside. She just nodded, hearing the several whispers from the Durmstrang students around her.
"So, should we go to the next class?" Hadriana remarked, trying to change the topic.
"Ve must vait for Markus." Viktor replied "Vat's next?"
"Cooking class, apparently." replied Kristoff with a chagrin, looking to his timetable. Hadriana, Ursula and the remaining Slytherins that decided to stay around their lady looked at Kristoff as if he had grown a second head while the Durmstrang students snorted.
"Cooking class?" asked Ursula with a raised eyebrow.
"Potions. Free period for you, then." Katia replied with a smirk "Try not to do anything stupid."
"How many of you don't take potions?" asked Hadriana.
"Eight." Kristoff replied, making a small headcount "Me, Markus, Sasha, Dimitri, Anton, Emil, Karsten and Eckbert."
"Do you want to go somewhere like the library, the great hall, back to your ship?"
"I'm thinking about going to the library." a powerful voice sounded behind Hadriana, making everyone look at Markus "That is, if I find it. Are all of you attending the class?"
"Yes, we all take potions." Hadriana replied, thoughtfully "We still have some time... where do the rest of you want to go?"
"The potions' master looks like a surly bat." Katia complained to her friends, picking some chicken to her plate "His definition of teaching consists on writing the instructions on the board and telling us to get to work."
"It's true." Viktor replied, looking slightly disappointed, serving himself of some mashed potatoes "So far, I'm not impressed."
"What about you two?" asked Katia again.
"The library is big and Potter told us it is one of the most complete libraries in Britain." Kris replied "It seems to be like Durmstrang's."
"Not all lost, then." replied Viktor, noticing Markus thoughtful look "Now, changing the subject. Markus, have you reached a decision yet?"
"Not really." the golden eyed man replied, cutting a piece of meat.
"Fine, I will put forward my name after lunch." declared Viktor, earning a mocking glare from Katia.
"Don't bother, Vickie. We all know the cup will choose me." she replied with a grin.
"Care to make a bet?" the bulgarian challenged.
"How much?"
Kristoff ignored his wife and friend bantering and went back to his lunch. Directly in front of him, Markus looked thoughtful.
"What did Potter really do?" that shut up Viktor and Katia and Markus looked at Kris.
"What do you mean?"
"I heard Katia and Potter talking during charms class and she admitted to have done something stupid. I just want to know what."
Markus drank from his cup.
"Like I told you, she tried to curse Géri and Fréki. I tackled her to the ground and took her wand while in wolf form. Then I turned back and spoke to her."
"Threatened her, more likely."
"Threaten, speak..." Markus shrugged "Then I summoned her wand back and the bitch pointed it at me. She lacked the courage to go through with it."
"Did she apologize, yet?" asked Katia, looking at him, receiving a negative answer "Pity. I thought she had potential."
"She won't." replied Markus decisively "She has that air of arrogance that all british wizarding folk have."
"She's a pretty one, though." added Viktor.
"Ask her out, then." Katia replied with a smirk and Viktor actually seemed to consider it. He looked at Hadriana, sat at her usual place, speaking with her friends "From what I was able to gather, she is famous in this country, because of her family, her brother and her performance in school. She seems to want to prove her own value and I don't think she will care if you're famous, she doesn't even like Quidditch... as long as you treat her with respect, I think she may give you a chance."
"I will think about it." Viktor replied, going back to his food.
"Hey, wolves?" asked a voice and the four turned to their year mate Anton Karanov "Are you putting your names in the cup?"
"Vickie and I decided to do it." Katia replied with a smirk, enjoying the huff from Viktor "Kris doesn't want to."
"I'm giving my chance to my wife." Kris replied.
"Assuming she gets chosen." replied Viktor.
"Why?" asked Markus.
"Bets." Anton replied and Markus nodded "Of course, if you put your name, all bets are off."
"So far, I don't think I'm interested." Markus replied with a shrug. Then, he smirked "Why don't we make this interesting?" he said with a grin directed to Kris, rising from his seat "Listen up, I have something to say."
All Durmstrang students turned to him at once. Not only them, everyone in the hall noticed it and turned to him out of curiosity, although they didn't understand the language spoken. The Highmaster of Durmstrang paid him special interest.
"Igor, what is happening among your students?" asked a curious Dumbledore.
"Just an announcement, I believe." Karkaroff replied.
"Who wants to put their name forward for the tournament?" asked Markus and at least three people besides Katia and Viktor put their hands up. When the three saw them, one of them hesitated and dropped his hand.
"Jakob, what are you doing, stepping down?" asked Markus, seeing him dropping his hand.
"I really don't think I'm better than Katia or Viktor." said boy replied and the other two agreed with him, dropping their hands as well.
"Only Katia or Viktor, then?" asked Kris, scratching his chin.
"I was going to make it known that whoever the Durmstrang champion might be, I am offering my help for training but if Katia and Viktor are the only candidates, my offer is kind of useless."
At that moment, some of the Durmstrang students actually considered their chances to be selected by the cup. However, they also knew their own limitations and between them, Viktor or Katia, one of the two wolves would be chosen. They were that good and they were more suitable to represent the Institute.
"I say Katia." one of them shouted, having some of them agreeing with him.
"Viktor would be best." another claimed.
Karkaroff laughed as Markus sat back on his seat, only to see Katia and Viktor getting up and glaring at each other, both of them walking towards the great hall doors. Markus and Kris looked at each other both chuckled, rising from their seats and going after their two friends, followed by the other Durmstrang students, who cheered their favoured champion.
"What just happened?" asked Eliza, seeing all Durmstrang students leaving the great hall.
"I have no idea." replied Hadriana, seeing how Highmaster Karkaroff followed his students out of the hall, himself followed by other more curious students of the other two schools.
"Now they will compete in everything until the choosing of the champions." Kris said, shaking his head.
"It's a shame no one else wanted to take the chance." replied Markus, slightly disappointed.
"It's our own fault, for being who we are." shrugged Kris, amused, arriving at the hall where the cup was kept, watching Katia and Viktor writing their names in pieces of parchment.
"I'm glad we arrived before you put your names in." Markus spoke up with a laugh, as all his schoolmates surrounded them.
"Make way!" a powerful and older voice shouted and the students allowed the Highmaster to pass "Viktor or Katia?" he asked and Markus nodded.
"No one else wanted to take the chance. Yet." he replied, seeing Kris kissing Katia for good luck before the girl and Viktor approach the cup by the sides, raising their parchments above it.
"Ready?" asked Viktor and Katia nodded.
"Good luck, Vickie." Katia smirked and Viktor grunted.
"You too." he replied and both of them dropped the parchments. Purple flames engulfed the two pieces and their schoolmates cheered for them. Whichever wolf would be selected as a champion, they knew their champion was already a winner.
"Well, that was certainly a surprise." Ursula spoke, seeing the cheerful looks of all Durmstrang students.
"Krum and the Drumyozov girl put their name in the cup..." said Alistair "Only the two in all of them. That means a lot."
Hadriana said nothing but agreed with Alistair, although she was curious why Markus Ragnos hadn't put his name on the cup, especially if he was that good as Katia and Flitwick had made him to be. Those thoughts quickly left her mind.
She still hadn't decided if she was going to put her name forward but she was inclined to do it. She noticed how the conversations in the hall changed to the tournament and who the champions would be. A couple of her year mates proposed themselves as champions to their houses and received cheers in reply... She recognized Cedric Diggory from Hufflepuff, Angelina Johnson from Gryffindor and Cassius Warrington from her own house, much to her own surprise.
She noticed Hermione looking at her from the Ravenclaw table and so did Daphne from her seat among her year mates. At her side, Ursula looked at Hadriana but said nothing. There was still time.
The day had finally come.
October thirty-first, Halloween for all.
The day of the defeat of the Dark Lord Voldemort at the hands of Richard Potter for all British magical folk.
The day Hadrian Potter defeated said Dark Lord and saw his achievement stolen by his family, being taken away to live with muggles who would kill him one year later.
Hadriana Potter, Hadrian's twin sister, hated Halloween for all it meant. Despite her feelings, Hadriana kept her facade and entered the great hall with her friends, sitting at her usual place at the Slytherin table. As it was a 'formal' event, Ursula and Daphne sat at her side.
They were a mere hour to know who the school champions would be and everyone was excited. Hadriana would be lying if she said she wasn't as well. She looked around and was able to see none other than Rita Skeeter in a corner, watching everything and everyone while writing in her notepad. It was not unexpected, the tournament was a grand event worthy of media attention. She also saw Bagman, of the department of games and Bartemius Crouch, accompanied by their aides, who sat at the head table, conveniently enlarged for the event.
Hadriana had decided to put her name in the cup two days before but made sure no one saw her doing it, deciding to tell it only to her closest friends. Should she be selected, it would be a surprise to everyone.
"The day has finally arrived." Dumbledore announced, having everyone's attention directed to the cup that stood on a table next to the head table "I hope all of you who submitted your names were sure of your decision because as I have told you before, if you are selected, there is no turning back."
Ominous words.
"However, before we select the champions, let us partake on our feast and nourish mind and body. Let us celebrate not only the magical and historical day, but also the events that marked this date in the close past." he said and many whispers began as everyone knew what he meant.
Dumbledore then clapped his hands and the food appeared on the tables, a rich variety of meats, fish, vegetables, pies and sweets. With the start of the feast, everyone tried to hide their nervousness with jokes, laughs and conversation, only to fail and have their own conversations return to the TriWizard Tournament.
In the past days, the Durmstrang and Beauxbatton students definitively proved their worth to the teachers and all went back to the normal routine of Hogwarts, with the occasional rumour that someone had put his or her name in the cup.
Moody shrugged his shoulders at the sight of the student packed class room with the Slytherins, Ravenclaws, Durmstrang and Beauxbatton students on the first day he had to teach the class. He was paid to teach and he had taught bigger classes at the auror academy. He decided to follow his normal class plan, intending on the revision of fundamental concepts and test the knowledge of the foreigners, as he called them.
Once again, they had not disappointed but Moody was already expecting it, especially from the Durmstrang students, having jabbed at them for the rumour of being taught the dark arts and the identity of their Highmaster, a former Death Eater. Surprisingly, no one replied to the provocations but Hadriana could see the anger in their faces towards the crippled man.
Needless to say, Moody was not liked by the Durmstrang foreigners.
Katia's only comment to Hadriana was that the man was rude and not impressive at all. One of their former teachers had been an auror and a war hero and had never been as scarred and mutilated as Mad-Eye-Moody was, which showed much more skill. Regrettably, he died with Dragon Pox, but that was irrelevant to the conversation.
Hadriana hid a small smile as she remembered the conversation she had with Katia. As the week passed, the two had became closer and Katia had made sure Hadriana felt comfortable among her little group. Maybe a little too much, as Hadriana was starting to get a feeling that Katia was trying to set her up with Krum, of all people. Fortunately, the bulgarian didn't seem to be interested, being more focused on his competition with Katia, trying to be the best possibility for the champion. Both had become so obsessed with it that Kristoff and Markus didn't found it amusing anymore.
Kristoff Drumyozov was intelligent, with a smart wit and apparently desired by many witches from both Hogwarts and Beauxbattons. None of them had realized he was married with Katia, believing they were just dating... Hadriana felt no compulsion to correct them. Finally there was Markus Ragnos. Of the four, despite his exotic eye colour and the knowledge that he was a duelling champion, he seemed to be the least interesting of the four.
He was never seen alone, always accompanying someone, he barely spoke in class, unless the teacher asked him a question (even Flitwick had come to stop asking for his cooperation in class) and was too quiet, always watching. The gaze of his golden eyes was uncomfortable at times and many didn't have a good impression of him.
Hadrina and most of the Slytherins, however, felt the exact opposite. They had noticed slight gestures from the other Durmstrang students, especially from Katia, Kristoff and Viktor, the so called leaders or wolves of Durmstrang, as their school mates had referred to them. Gestures that when in doubt, deferred to Markus. Gestures that sought his approval or advice. Where others saw him as never alone, they saw him as always protected by his peers. Where others saw him as silent and aloof, they saw him collecting information on his surroundings and the people around him. Most of all, where everyone saw the disinterest by professor Flitwick, Hadriana saw a great effort of will by the charms master to not call forward Markus Ragnos.
She was very sure that Markus Ragnos was much more than what he let the others see.
"Any ideas who the champions will be?" asked Daphne.
"I have to say Krum will probably be Durmstrang champion." replied Eliza, cutting her meat.
"Why?" asked Ursula "Why not Katia?"
"Krum seems to be more powerful and more sure of himself." the girl replied with a shrug "Drumyozov seems to be more boast than action."
Or she is hiding something. thought Hadriana.
"I agree." Alistair spoke his mind "His supporters also seem to be more and they should know them better."
"What about ours?" asked Ursula with a snort. She believed Katia was a better witch than Krum.
"I don't think Warrington has what it takes." Brian replied regrettably "That only leaves us with what, the chaser girl from the lions and Diggory?"
"Diggory is the head boy, it must count for something." Eliza replied and Hadriana nodded.
"It will probably be Diggory, then." she replied, looking at the Hufflepuff table, where she saw said boy laughing with his friends.
I hope not. she thought to herself in silence, going back to her dinner.
"That leaves us with Beauxbattons." said Ursula.
"And I, for one, have no idea." replied Hadriana.
"There's a girl, Flower or something..." mumbled Brian "She's the one guys drool over..."
"The veela?" asked Eliza, slightly angry at her boyfriend for letting himself fall under the veela's allure.
"Yes, that one." Brian replied dejected.
"I haven't had the chance of interacting with our guests from Beauxbattons." Alistair replied "I shall refrained to make a comment."
"Who WOULD you like to see as Hogwarts champion?" teased Ursula.
"If the prize was something more exquisite than some mundane one thousand galleons and some eternal glory, I would compete myself." Alistair replied and had everyone's attention.
"What would you compete for?" asked Eliza and Brian nudged her softly in the ribs. By carefully looking at the their two friends, they knew exactly what Alistair meant.
"Well, moving on..." Daphne spoke, earning an approval nod from Hadriana. However, before anything else could be said, everyone turned their heads to the Durmstrang students who rose from their seats clapping:
Hurra for deg som fyller ditt år!
Ja, deg vil vi gratulere!
Alle i ring omkring deg vi står,
og se, nå vil vi marsjere,
bukke, nikke, neie, snu oss omkring,
danse så for deg med hopp og sprett og spring,
ønske deg av hjertet alle gode ting
og si meg så, hva vil du mere? Gratulere!
Høyt våre flagg vi svinger. Hurra!
Ja, nå vil vi riktig feste!
Dagen er din, og dagen er bra,
men du er den aller beste!
Se deg om i ringen hvem du vil ta!
Dans en liten dans med den du helst vil ha!
Vi vil alle sammen svinge oss så gla'
og en av oss skal bli den neste – til å feste!
"What's happening?" asked Eliza curious. At the head of the table, Markus sat next to Viktor with Kris and Katia in front of them. Between them was what seemed to be a rectangular chocolate cake, big enough to feed several people with two lit candles. It became clear what was happening when Markus blew the candles.
"Ragnos' birthday is today?" asked a very surprised Ursula. It was very rare for a magical to celebrate a birthday on Halloween and those that did were usually very powerful. Someone decided to clap out of politeness and soon, the entire great hall clapped, joining the celebration.
They were surprised when two house elves popped next to Ragnos, bowing to him.
"Frey, Freya, what are you doing here?" Markus asked surprised and everyone around him paused.
"With your permission, master, we would fulfil the old one's last request." the male elf replied, as the female one snapped her fingers, producing a rectangular package.
"For you, master." Freya said, handling the package to his master while bowing "There is also a message."
"What message?" Markus asked, confused as he received the package from the elf, placing it on the table.
"The message says 'Well done, my son.'" the male elf supplied and Markus stiffened, as did everyone around him.
"Son?" asked Kristoff in a whisper, looking at Markus, who lowered his head for a moment. No one really saw what happened but the package unmade itself and everyone gasped at what they saw.
"What is happening?" asked Ursula and Hadriana noticed the emotion in most of the Durmstrang students. Happiness and pride.
Markus picked the broadsword from the table, admiring the leather of the scabbard and the workmanship of the hilt. The pommel had the shape of a wolf head and the grip was short, suitable for one hand. The cross-guard, while short, had engravings etched onto it, nothing magical but still a beautiful work. It suited perfectly to his hand, as Markus noticed when he grabbed the grip and unsheathed the sword, getting more gasps as everyone saw the glowing etched runes in the steel blade, weaving the sword's powerful enchantments.
"This is dwarven made." Markus mumbled as he tested the edge, drawing blood from his thumb "Thank you, my friends." Markus said, sheathing the sword again on the scabbard.
"That... is one amazing gift." Markus heard the voice of Viktor while he strapped the sword to his waist "Dwarven made..."
"And it's even more valuable because it was a gift by my father, most likely ordered..." Markus hesitated, opting by a smirk, feeling the sword at his waist, feeling the weapon's power.
"Mr. Ragnos!" called Dumbledore and everyone turned to the head table, remembering where they were, being watched by everyone. Dumbledore, Karkaroff and McGonagall were walking to him, two of them looking distressed.
Karkaroff only nodded to Markus, receiving a nod in reply from the younger man.
"Mr. Ragnos, I understand it's your birthday but I am afraid I can not allow you to keep such a dangerous weapon in Hogwarts. If you would hand it over..."
"No." replied Ragnos and many gasped in shock as the boy ignored Dumbledore, turning to his Highmaster.
"I know I can't carry the sword with me at all times, even if it is my birthright but I am not giving it up." Karkaroff nodded.
"I suggest you keep it in your cabin." the highmaster replied and Markus nodded, turning back to his friends and schoolmates.
"Best birthday ever." he said and everyone laughed while Katia hugged her friend.
"Mr. Ragnos, I am afraid..."
"Fine, I will have MY heirloom stored in MY cabin at OUR ship. Will that be suitable enough for you?" scowled Markus, releasing the sword from his waist "Frey, take the sword to my cabin at the ship and then return for a piece of cake. Freya..." both house elves blushed as their master gave them his orders and cut a piece of cake for the female elf "Enjoy the cake." Freya accepted the cake and popped away. Markus cut another piece for the male elf, who carried out his orders and popped away after receiving the cake from the hand of his master.
"You love messing with those two, don't you?" asked Kris with a chuckle.
Dumbledore and McGonagall went back to the head table, Dumbledore shocked with the young Ragnos reaction and McGonagall fuming at the blatant disrespect. Karkaroff stayed behind, offering his best wishes to all possible champions and followed the others with a smug smile. The gryffindors fumed at the foreigner's disrespect towards the great Albus Dumbledore, the boy-who-lived and his red head friends being the more vocal upon it, the Hufflepuffs frowned, the Ravenclaws didn't care, the Beauxbattons reacted the same way as the Hufflepuffs and the Slytherins were amused.
"It is time for the champion's choosing." Dumbledore declared in a happy tone, as soon as the empty plates and the food disappeared from the tables. The aides from the ministry carried the table with the cup closer to Dumbledore and the lights dimmed, enhancing the purple flames of the cup.
"We will proceed with the choosing now." Dumbledore announced, standing between Madame Maxime and the Highmaster Karkaroff "Each headmaster will take a parchment for each champion and Mr. Bartemius Crouch shall read it."
Polite clapping was heard and the flames of the cup burned. Everyone could feel their nervous.
"Ladies first." Mr. Crouch said and Madame Maxime stepped forward, stretching her hand to the flames. A parchment materialized in the flames and she took it, handling it to Mr. Crouch.
"The champion for Beauxbatons Academy of Magic is Fleur Delacour." said girl rose from her seat among the cheers of her schoolmates and the polite clapping of everyone else. She walked to the head dais and released a small bout of her allure, smiling as she saw the reactions of the boys. She stood with Madame Maxime, after shaking her hand and trade a small greeting. It was clear that the madame was very pleased with the champion of Beauxbatons.
"Congratulations, Ms. Delacour." said Mr. Crouch "Now, for Durmstrang Institute, Highmaster Karkaroff, if you please..."
Highmaster Karkaroff followed, grabbing the parchment and handling it over to Crouch. No one noticed the glare and the uneasiness between the two men.
"The champion for Durmstrang Institute is Markus Ragnos."
"WHAT?!" was shouted by every student of Durmstrang at the same time, interrupting the polite clapping from everyone else, surprising and shocking everyone. All of them, including the Highmaster turned to the dark haired, golden eyed young man, who rose calmly from his seat, amused with the disbelief in the face of his pears.
"Viktor and Katia were getting on my nerves with their competitiveness..." was the only thing he was able to say before the cheers started. Despite his disbelief, Viktor laughed and slapped Markus back while Katia accused Markus of being a bastard and jumped over the table, hugging her friend with laughter. Kristoff and Markus shook their right arms before they hugged and with a look to Viktor, the two lifted Markus on their shoulders, which resulted in their champion being cheered even more, while the shouts of 'Ragnos' were sang over and over, some even hitting the table to punctuate the cheering.
Dumbledore turned to Karkaroff and was surprised to see his shock and disbelief turning into happiness as the two boys carried their champion to the dais and all others sang his name. Markus shook hands with the highmaster, who was ecstatic and crossed his arms, turning to the great hall, chuckling as he saw the still ongoing celebration and the disbelief in the faces of Beauxbatons and Hogwarts students. The cheering might have died out but the smug smiles didn't.
"Right, congratulations, Mr. Ragnos." Mr. Crouch replied, with a slight sneer "It seems that your schoolmates wholeheartedly agree with your choosing." Crouch regretted it the moment he said it, as another round of cheering started. Curiously, it wasn't the Highmaster who stopped it, but the champion himself, by rising a hand. Again, the smiles didn't vanished.
"Finally, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." all Hogwarts students and staff leaned in their seats, watching carefully as the headmaster grabbed the parchment and gave it to Mr. Crouch with a proud smile.
"The champion for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is Hadriana Potter." Hermione, Daphne and Ursula rose in their seats, cheering for Hadriana. The house of the snakes followed after that brief moment of surprise, as no one had an inkling that their lady even wanted to put her name in the cup. While not as intense as the Durmstrang celebration, Slytherin cheered for their champion, quickly followed most of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Those were the ones that didn't care which house the champion was. Most of the Gryffindors sneered at the idea of having a snake representing them and refused to celebrate while others clapped just because.
Hadriana smiled as she walked to the dais and shook hands with Dumbledore, noticing her mother's proud look. She just ignored the red head and turned back to the great hall with a smile.
"Now that the champions were selected, some announcements are due before we retire for the evening..." Mr. Crouch started. However, the cup had different plans and flamed again, producing another piece of parchment, much to everyone's confusion.
Dumbledore pick the parchment and widened his eyes with what was written.
"Albus, what does it say?" asked Mr. Crouch, noticing Dumbledore's uneasiness.
"Harry... Harry Potter." the ancient man replied with a scared and confused look.