October soon followed within a blink of an eye. With a week building up to the arrival of the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, it was the only topic among at the tip of every students' tongue at Hogwarts and all the rush and excitement had built up to the arrival day.
"Tie up to the collar, Mr Weasley! I will not have my students looking unpresentable in front of our guests." Professor McGonagall was fussing at Ron as she walked down the line of students at the entrance hallway. I was standing waiting in line with my group of friends with the rest of the house.
"McGonagall is going to need a grip." Fred said.
"Exactly what's with the fuss?" Lee.
"This is the first time in many years that the Tri-wizard tournament is being held again! And of course with Hogwarts playing host to two other wizarding schools, the teachers must be in frenzy!" Alicia countered. "I heard that even the prefects are given additional responsibilities to welcome the guests too."
Suddenly, Professor McGonagall soon stopped by our group.
"Everyone, no more talking, the guests are coming anytime now and you must stand in order. And behave yourselves." She said in her usual stern stone.
"Miss James, it's a bit of a last minute request, but you have been selected to represent Gryffindor house and accompany Miss Spinnet in welcoming the guest students."
"Me?" I asked in surprise at her words.
"Yes, I believe you will the next best suited to represent our house with your excellent character. It is wise to not choose someone who might make fools of themselves and in turn of the Gryffindor name." She said, with a not so subtle glance at the twins. I try to hold back my laughter at the twins gave a shrug.
"It would have been the duty of the prefects, but Mr Chase is preoccupied with being in charge of other prefect matters. You two will meet up with the other prefects tomorrow. And you will be exempted from classes for the whole day."
"Understood." I nodded.
"Thank you, Miss James." Professor McGonagall said with a pleased look. She returned to going down the long line of students. "Longbottom, what are you doing in the middle? Join the other fourth years in line now."
"Well that was unexpected." Fred said.
"That's amazing. Imagine all the French and Bulgarian boys we could meet!" Alicia exclaimed with glee and a smirk on her face.
I knew Alicia's fangirling was just a cover up for her true feelings, she told me before that she and Roger Davies broke up over the summer and while she claimed to have gotten over it, I always caught the sad look in her eyes whenever she spoke of it.
"They do not even compare to us." Lee responded which earned agreements from the twins.
"Hmm, French and Bulgarian boys do sound amazing." Angelina added.
"Ange, you can't say that. Do you know how that breaks my heart?" Lee exclaimed dramatically to which he received the thousandth eye roll from Angelina.
"Aren't you excited to meet some boys, Sam?" Alicia turned to me with a wink. I was quite aware of the look that Fred was giving me; his expression showed that he was eager to know of my answer.
"Well, we will see, but we should just focus on welcoming them first." I smiled to Alicia. I saw Fred's face visibly relaxed.
"That's so like you, Sam. Always so responsible and well-behaved I wonder why we are friends sometimes." George slung an arm around my shoulders.
"Well someone have to look out for the two of you. I am sometimes surprised myself why I would be stuck to the two of you." I sighed.
"Well tough luck, because you cannot escape from us ever." Fred said with a lopsided grin.
"They're here!" One of the student started shouting.
Everyone's attention was all directed to the flying horse carriage in the sky. As it started to approach the castle grounds, the seemingly small carriage looks bigger by every second and the number of horses seems to get increase. I squinted my eyes to see the six horses pulling the carriage were close to land with Hagrid signalling on the grounds. It was an uncommon sight and the horses made a rough landing when it they touched the ground causing many of the students to back up to avoid a collision.
Fred held me to him in the midst of brief chaos and I felt myself heat up at the contact. "Are you alright?" I wanted to reply but choked on what to say. I just nodded in silence.
The door of the carriage swung open to reveal a large woman stepping out. She was gigantic in stature and towered over us. She was followed by a good twenty over students dressed in smooth blue silk uniforms from head to toe.
"Headmistress Madam Maxime, and the Beauxbaton Academy of Magic." Professor Dumbledore announced with sonorous spell.
The Beauxbaton students practically oozed grace and elegance at their entrance, I could see the male students drool at the sight of the French girls and female students swooned a little at the French boys.
"Over there at the lake!" A student yelled and everyone's gazes immediately turn to a large ripple beneath the waters and no sooner did a large ship rose above. It was the most astonishing sight yet, the Durmstrang ship soon docked by the side of the lake facing us. I could see a fierce rugged looking man in a thick coat making his way to the castle with students wearing similar thick clothing following close behind.
"Durmstrang Institute and their Headmaster, Igor Karkaroff."
"Blimey, it's Victor Krum!" I could hear Ron commenting loudly and the whole crowd of student starts roaring and cheering at the celebrity seeker. The entire atmosphere is heated up and all that could be heard were the excitement of all the students' reaction to Victor Krum's arrival.
"What a wicked entrance!" I could hear George exclaiming.
The crowd of Hogwarts students started to file back to the Great Hall for the opening ceremony and I could feel the adrenaline rushing in my body as to what would come in the following months for the tournament.
The whole school settled down while waiting for the guests to enter and we were positively surprised at their entrances- the Beauxbaton students did a dance of sorts which displayed their refined behaviour and everyone just jaw dropped at the Durmstrang students performing a fire act. Not to mention Victor Krum's solo entrance managed to get everyone riled up especially Ron who practically swooned.
Wanting to show our welcome on our part to our guests, Professor Dumbledore actually made us sing our school song which I ended up laughing throughout mostly due to the spontaneous decision to do so by the Headmaster and the twins' terribly exaggerated singing. The last time I sang the song was….oh wait never mind.
With everyone seated, the feast began and soon enough it ended when Lugo Bagman, Barty Crouch and Hagrid arrived.
"George, look over there." Fred nodded to the front at the teacher's table.
"We need to talk to him." George spoke.
"Talk to who?" I asked.
"Bagman." Fred answered.
"Why?" I gave him a suspicious look.
"Remember the gold we won?" Fred asked to which I nodded.
"It was leprechaun gold, it disappeared one day before the school term started!" He exclaimed with anguish.
"I am sorry to say, but I told you so! You cannot trust him! Why didn't you say so?" I chided the both of them.
"I knew you would say that, that's why we didn't want to tell you. We plan to get it back of course, the gold is supposed to be the start-up money of the business!" Fred retorted back. I could tell he was mad as I saw the tip of red in his ears.
"We sent him letters but he didn't give us any answers."
"Well I am sure he doesn't give two knuts about two boys whom he probably forgotten he had met. He is definitely not going to pay up-"
Our conversation was quickly interrupted when every person in the hall were starting to get more excited. My eyes directed to the front where Professor Dumbledore stood.
"Eternal Glory- that is what will awaits the students that wins the tournament. But to do so, the student must survive three tasks-three extremely dangerous tasks. Now let me say this is not for the faint hearted, if chosen…you stand alone. The champion will also win a thousand galleons and receive-"
"We're in." Two voices spoke.
"What?!" I cried out. "Are you bat shit crazy? In case you haven't heard, there's a possibility you can die out there!" I added, giving them a look that spoke of what I thought- ridiculous.
"It's just a threat they say to test us! And what better way to get money for the joke business? A thousand galleons, can you imagine?!" Fred countered.
"Well I think your life is worth more than a thousand galleons."
"Love the sentiment, but we need that money. Especially, if Bagman is not planning to pay up like you said." Fred spoke in response.
Sometimes, I wonder why I bother to get through their thick skulls. I rolled my eyes as I continued listening to the headmaster.
"Anyone who wishes to participate will proceed to write their name on a piece of parchment and place it in this-" With a wave of his hand, the weird tall statue beside Professor Dumbledore unravelled to be a goblet of…fire. Wow.
"-Goblet of fire by Halloween night. Due to the danger that the tournament can impose, the ministry have decided that only those over the age of seventeen will be allowed to participate-"
"That's rubbish!" The twins protested. And it was not only them; I could hear a few from the other students, even some from Durmstrang.
Thank god. Their recklessness will become the death of them.
I wasn't able to speak to the twins for the rest of the day following our tensed argument. But I knew by their character, they weren't going to give up easily. As soon as we made it back into the common room, they were discussing in fervent and hushed tones with Lee, probably on how to go against the rules to enter the tournament.
At times like these, even I cannot bother to get some sense through their pride and egos.
The following day…
"I wonder how they are actually like?" Alicia asked excitedly. Alicia and I are making our way to greet the Beauxbaton students after being excused for the rest for the day after breakfast. Lexi was whining about how lucky I was and our friends wished us a fun time.
As we arrived to the classroom, we saw someone familiar who was heading the same way.
"Sam! What a coincidence!" Cedric Diggory greeted with a smile.
"Yes it is." I said as I recalled that Cedric is also a prefect and he would present for this as well.
"Are you two here for the welcoming?" He asked.
"Yes, I am here to substitute for one of our house prefects." I answered.
"Well, that's great to see you again. Shall we?" He pulled open the door and gestured for us to walk in. I could see Alicia swoon a little and give me the look as I chuckled and shook my head. There is no doubt why Cedric has the girls at Hogwarts pining for him.
"So how is Lexi doing these days?" I was surprised by him bringing of the topic of my sister but I just went with the flow. "Well as a matter of, she was complaining about the fact that I was exempted from class during breakfast."
"That's like her indeed." Cedric said with an oddly strange smile.
"I-I was wondering…."
"Prefects gather around here please." He was interrupted as Professor McGonagall announced for all of us went to gather around her. "You will be paired up and bring the Beauxbaton and Durmstrang students around the school." She continued.
"Mr Diggory and Miss James, you will be paired together to lead a group from Beauxbaton."
"Looks like we are working together." I said as I turned to Cedric.
Professor McGonagall continued naming the pairings and soon after, the Beauxbaton and Durmstrang students were ushered in with their headmistress and headmaster whom I find both very, very intimidating.
Cedric and I were introduced to the twelve Beauxbaton students we are in charge and began introducing ourselves. There was a mixture of boys and girls. What stood out to me was a very petite young girl with silvery blonde hair who stood in the front of the group with an older yet very stunning girl with the same hair. She was practically the very definition of a beautiful French girl that guys will die for.
"I am Cedric Diggory, I am a sixth year prefect from Hufflepuff house." Cedric started off and I swore I saw some of the Beauxbaton girls eyeing him up and down. Even to beautiful French girls, Cedric is swoon-worthy.
"I am Samantha James, also a sixth year from Gryffindor house. I am not a prefect but I play Chaser for my house's Quidditch team."
"Je suis Fleur Delacour, I am thee leader for zis group." She introduced with such poise. I felt myself paling in comparison at her beauty and grace.
"Samantha?!" I was taken aback by the call of my name in the crowd of Beauxbaton students, when a girl with long dark hair emerged from the group.
"Eleanor?!" I exclaimed as I saw the girl that I befriended back during the Quidditch World Cup. From the last time I saw her, I wasn't able to remember her looks very much but now I was shocked at how pretty she actually is.
She had straight beautiful chocolate brown hair that reached half way down her back tied into a neat low ponytail. She had big dark brown eyes accompanied by beautiful long lashes and a bright red lips. Her uniform even made her figure and height more stand out. I practically felt dull in comparison there and then.
"Oui!" She responded as she immediately pulled me into a friendly hug. "It's so amazing that I am able to meet you here, ma cherie!"
"Me too! I didn't know you are from Beauxbaton." I responded in surprise.
"I am! How wonderful is it that we get to meet again?" She replied in enthusiasm. I was then pulled into a hug by Eleanor herself and even received side kisses on each cheek.
"It's nothing; I would have done it for anyone else."
"Not bad James, you already made them like you." Cedric nudged me with a grin.
"It's just a coincidence. Come on, Cedric and I will bring all of you around now." I said as I started leading them out of the classroom and into the school grounds.
Cedric and I decided to work our way up and started from the dungeon level where the Slytherin and Hufflepuff common rooms were located. Most of them were even shocked at the idea of having a dungeon on school grounds. Next we move onto school grounds where we briefly show the Quidditch pitch and Black Lake from afar. We moved onto each level to significant places such as the Hospital Wing, library and also the trophy room.
The Beauxbaton students were intrigued by the many paintings that we have in just one castle and there some were/were not pleasantly surprised at our moving staircases. Throughout the tour, Cedric and I were busy entertaining them with our own stories, and make sure they were not too tired out as Hogwarts is definitely no small place.
"It eez interesting you are separated into houses in theez skool. Back in France, we all study 'as one." Fleur commented.
"Well, Hogwarts was founded by four great wizards and witches, and our house name comes from each of their last names. They used to handpick the students that were enrolled here." I explained.
"Plus, it encourages healthy competition amongst us. Well some more than others." Cedric added with a knowing grin, obviously hinting at the rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin.
"Well, it's time for lunch now. We best head for the Great Hall." I announced.
We all headed to the Great Hall and I could see the other groups of students on the way too. Once they were led in, I managed to find Alicia and quickened my steps to reunite with her.
"How was it?" I asked.
"It was absolutely fun; one Beauxbaton boy even complimented my French and called me 'Ma Cherie'."
"You sure he wasn't trying to flirt with you?" I chuckled at her dazed look.
Most of the Beauxbaton students took their place at the Ravenclaw table and Durmstrang students took theirs at Slytherin. I went over to our table to look for our group of friends and spotted them in the centre, already sitting down with food on the table. Before I could sit down, Cedric approached me at the table.
"Nice work, Sam. We make a great team."
"I think so too." I raised my hand for a high five, and received a bewildered look. Oh right, he wouldn't know this muggle custom. I went to grab his hand and clapped it with mine.
"Muggles usually do this when they agree on something, and are happy about it." I explained.
"Really?" I could see him grinning in realisation and immediately went on to clap my hands a few times more than necessary, resulting in both of laughing.
"You two were partners?" Lee asked.
"Yeah, we got paired up to show the Beauxbaton students around." I answered.
"I must say Diggory, you are one lucky man to show those pretty girls around." George smirked.
"I wonder who's prettier. You or them?" Lexi who was sitting nearby, smirked as she made the comment.
"Well, I must say it's even better to work with one." Cedric's response caught the attention of everyone in the group and received a few whistles.
"Cedri-" Before I could even give a response, I heard a clank on the table and my eyes immediately went to Fred who just put down his goblet with a little more force than he needs to.
I then heard snickering and saw an exchange of some knowing look between Lexi and Cedric, before they gave each other high fives. My dearest sister also chose to send a wink my way. What the name in merlin is going on? Cedric then waved goodbye to the group of us before returning to his friends at the Hufflepuff table.
Before I could register what just has really happened, I was pounced on by someone.
"Ma Cherie! Eez it alright if I could join you for lunch?" I turned to see it was Eleanor.
"Yes sure." I led her to sit between me and Alicia as George patted for me to sit beside him.
I sat down to face Fred, Lee and Angelina and as we got our lunch, the main conversation focused on Eleanor.
"Eleanor, these are my friends at Hogwarts. Alicia Spinnet, Angelina Johnson, Lee Jordan, George and Fred Weasley." They all chorused a 'Hi' together.
"I am Eleanor Blanc. It's nice to meet everyone."
"Oooh, aren't you the one who helped me too back then? Merci." Eleanor said as her eyes landed on George. "I didn't have a chance to thank you properly."
"Sorry, I think you got the wrong red-head." George said. "I think its Freddie here who helped you."
"Oh my, my apologies."
"It was nothing for me to help a lady in distress. And don't worry about it, a lot of people always get us confused at the first try." He responded with his usual charming smirk.
"Well, I never really met twins before." She responded.
"Well I like to think I am the better looking one out of us two. What do you think, Eleanor?" Fred winked.
"That is very bold, Fred." She responded with a knowing smile while batting her eyelashes and giving a flirtatious smile. It must be the Weasley Charm at work and I could feel my heart sunk a little at their exchange. I pushed my feelings aside as I continued the introductions.
"Eleanor, I would like to introduce you to my younger sister. Alexis, but we usually call her Lexi." I signalled at Lexi.
"Hi." She just gave a nonchalant greeting.
"Sorry, she's sometimes like that." That couldn't have been any other way to explain about Lexi. She is very...selectively social.
"So Eleanor, I noticed you don't have a strong French accent as compared to the other Beauxbaton student." Alicia started off after we all started digging into lunch.
"Oh, my dad is English so I learnt to speak with an English accent and can switch back and fro when I want to. I moved to France when I was three after the last war here."
"Shame, you could have been attending Hogwarts with us." Fred said.
"Hogwarts is very amazing and different. Even though similarly in Beauxbaton, we live in a palace so there are some similarities too. I would also very much like to attend Hogwarts and meet friendly people here. Even back in France, I do not have many friends."
"Well you have come to the right group; we are just about the friendliest bunch you will ever meet!" Lee proclaimed.
"Oui, we are very especially excited to come for the tournament to meet new friends, and I hear the boys here are very charming?"
"Well what you heard it's true, we happened to be the best." Fred bragged. "Isn't that right, George?"
"Right indeed. We happened to be the most charming pair in Hogwarts." I scoffed at their outrageousness and made a ridiculed face.
"You don't have to agree with them Eleanor, they are more like the biggest bragging pair in Hogwarts History." Angelina added.
Lunch carried on with me staying silent throughout the entire conversation while the rest of my friends were engrossed with getting to know Eleanor. She was the only child growing up in her family and didn't have many friends to play with even in school.
She mostly talked about how her life was in Beauxbatons and that she travelled back to England for summer vacations. She loves to sing and dance as she is part of a performance group in Beauxbatons and is an avid baker which made the guys excited….it seems like she was the definition of perfection.
"Wow, it is amazing you have been friends for since your first year!" She exclaimed as she found out more about our group.
"I am amazed we could even stand these three guys especially the double trouble." Alicia sarcastically pointed out to the boys.
"You wound us, Alicia. We brought life and joy to this group, I might add." George faked a hurtful expression as he placed his hand on his chest for a more dramatic finish.
"I pity Sam the most. How is it that she can tolerate the two of you most of the time and at the same time?" Angelina added on.
"That's where Sam is different, Ang. Sam is not like most girls. Secretly, she is just like one of the boys." George said fondly while pulling me in a headlock. Somehow, George never fails to grab me in a headlock at least once a day and forgets to consider I am a girl who should be handled like a delicate flower.
"Stop it, George!"
"Is my Sammie poo embarrassed? Give Georgie here some love." George proceeded to engulf me in a bear hug. He rocked me back and forth like I was his personal teddy bear.
"Aww, aren't you two the cutest together." Eleanor commented squealing with such an envious smile.
"No! George and I are just good friends!" I intervened knowing what sort of idea she was having in mind.
"Way to give a guy a heartbreak, don't you?" George made a pouting sad face in response to my reaction.
"As lovely as Sam is, we are almost like family. She's an honorary Weasley even without the ginger hair. There is no way I could like her like that, even with her being such a doll." George spoke so fondly I was almost touched at his words except that he chose to pinch both my cheeks.
"Stop it George, way to embarrass me!" I smacked away his hands.
"Just part of my job. You know that I am your favourite twin." He winked at me and he threw a look at Fred who was looking on at our banter with an unknown expression. My lips curved into a smirk as I responded. "Secret, George! Fred is not supposed to know."
"Oh no! Sorry Forge!" George mockingly gasped.
"Frankly I am disappointed in your choice, Sam. I thought we always had something special together." For that one moment, I thought he was hinting at something but I knew that I could not overthink it because I never know what is on Fred's mind and his words never fail to confuse me.
"Well Sam, school must always be fun for you to have such friends!" Eleanor spoke up after.
"These two are avid pranksters; I can assure you that it is not fun getting caught up in any of their fiasco." I said which earned quick and eager agreements from Alicia and Angelina.
"Still, I envy you." I didn't miss the expression on her face when she said that. I caught the hint of sadness in her eyes but when she caught me looking at her, she immediately brightened her expression and went back to talking vividly with the rest of my friends.
I made a mental note to invite her as often as possible to hang out during her time here at Hogwarts, seeing that she is definitely enjoying the company of my friends. I mean what's the harm with one more addition to the group, right?
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