Chapter Nine:
As Ariana came close to the Slytherin table, she saw Draco catch her eye and made Crabbe scoot over to make room for her, thankful to sit by a familiar face she took it. "Well, that was a surprise," Draco whispered as she sat down, "Could have sworn you were going to be a Professor McGonagall's kid." He nodded towards Professor McGonagall who continued to read out names.
"Yeah, I dunno. I just let the hat choose." Ariana sat down, feeling a bit flushed in the cheeks, looking down at her plate she realized how hungry she was and felt her stomach rumble at the thought of food. Draco must have heard because he gave a small chuckle.
"Hungry?" He smirked.
"Starving." She smirked back at him, he held her eyes for a moment too long for Pansy's liking as she sent a badly aimed kick at Draco but got Ariana instead. "Ouch!" Ariana managed to not yell out too loud. She looked across the table at Pansy giving her the death stare, Ariana was tired of Pansy already. Smirking Ariana leaned over towards Draco, making sure Pansy saw the hand Ariana had placed on his shoulder. "Your girlfriend is kicking me." She whispered in his ear, the smirk plastered on her face, out of the corner of her eye she saw Pansy become redder.
Draco looked up and across at Pansy and smirked turning back towards Ariana leaning forward he whispered in her ear, Ariana made eye contact with Pansy, raising a single eyebrow a smug smile on her face. "She isn't my girlfriend. She just wishes." His breath was hot on her ear and it kind of tickled, Ariana couldn't help but let out a small giggle. Draco pulled back a curious look on his face.
"Sorry," Ariana whispered loud enough for Pansy to hear. "Your breath tickled." She turned towards the high table as Professor McGonagall had finished calling names and had carried the stool away. As she returned Professor Dumbledore stood and reached out as though he had no greater joy in life than to see them all back.
"To our new students I say welcome! And to our old students welcome back! For now, tuck in!" He said sitting down as all kinds of food that anyone could ever ask for appeared before them.
"Awesome!" Ariana said taking a bit of everything that looked good. She never was really allowed to eat whatever she wanted, or even food hot and fresh, she paced herself. Just as she thought she couldn't eat anymore the dishes changed and all kinds of desserts appeared next. Not wanting to miss anything as well, nor seem rude to whoever made the wonderful food, in case they were watching, helped herself to some pudding. As the food on the plates vanished leaving them sparkly clean Dumbledore stood once more.
"So!" said Dumbledore smiling around at them all. "Now that we are fed and watered, I must ask once more for your attention while I give out a few notices. Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to tell you that the list of objects forbidden inside the castle this year has been extended to include Screaming Yo-yos, Fanged Frisbees, and Ever-Bashing Boomerangs. The full list comprises some four hundred and thirty-seven items, I believe, and can be viewed in Mr. Filch's office if anybody would like to check it,"
The corners of Dumbledore's mouth twitched.
He continued, "As ever, I would like to remind you that the Forest in the grounds is out of bounds to students, as is the village of Hogsmeade to all below third year,"
"It is also my painful duty to inform you that the inter-house Quidditch Cup will not take place this year," Dumbledore continued, "This is due to an event that will be starting in October and continuing though out the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts-"
But at that moment, there was a deafening rumble of thunder, and the doors of the Great Hall banged open. A man stood in the doorway, leaning upon a long staff, shrouded in a black traveling cloak. Every head in the Great Hall swiveled towards the stranger, suddenly brightly illuminated by a fork of lightning that flashed across the ceiling. He lowered his hood, shook out a long mane of grizzled, dark grey hair, and then began to walk up towards the teachers table.
A dull clunk echoed through the Hall on his ever other step. He reached the end of the top table, turned right and limped heavily towards Dumbledore. Another flash of lightning crossed the ceiling.
The lightning had thrown the man's face into a sharp relief.
The stranger reached Dumbledore. He stretched out a hand that was as badly scarred as his face, and Dumbledore shook it, muttering something. He seemed to be making some kind if inquiry of the stranger who shook his head unsmiling and replied in an undertone. Dumbledore nodded and gestured the man to an empty seat on his right-hand side.
"May I introduce our new Defense against the Dark Arts Teacher," said Dumbledore brightly, into the silence, "Professor Moody.
It was usual for new staff members to be greeted with an applause, but none of the staff or students clapped except Dumbledore and Hagrid. Both put their hands together and applauded, but the sound echoed dismally into the silence, and they stopped fairly quickly. Everyone else seemed to transfixed by Moody's bizarre appearance to do more than stare at him.
Dumbledore cleared his throat again.
"As I was saying," he said smiling at the sea of students before him, all of whom were still gazing transfixed at Mad Eye Moody, "we are to have the honor of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event which has not been held for over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year,"
"You're JOKING!" said Fred Weasley loudly.
The tension that had filled the Hall ever since Moody's arrival suddenly broke. Nearly everyone laughed, and Dumbledore chuckled appreciatively.
"No I am not joking Mr. Weasley," he said, "Though I did hear an excellent one over the summer about a troll, a hag and a leprechaun who all go into a bar –"
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat loudly.
"Er – but maybe this is not the time… no..." said Dumbledore. "Where was I? Ah, yes, the Triwizard Tournament… well, some of you will not know what this tournament involves, so I hope those who do know will forgive me for giving a short explanation, and allow their attention to wander freely. The Triwizard Tournament was first established some seven hundred years ago, as a friendly competition between the three largest European schools of wizardry – Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. A champion was selected to represent each school, and the three champions competed in three magical tasks. The schools took it in turns to host the Tournament once every five years and it was generally agreed to be the a most excellent way of establishing ties between young witch's and wizards of different nationalities – until, that is, the death toll mounted so high that the Tournament was discontinued."
"There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the Tournament," Dumbledore continued, "none of which have been very successful. However, our own Departments of International Magical Co-Operation and Magical Games and Sports have decided the time is ripe for another attempt. We have worked hard over the summer to ensure that, this time, no champion will find himself or herself in mortal danger."
"The Heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang have already arrived, and on Halloween we will have the Champion Selections. An impartial judge will decide which students, are most worthy to compete for the Triwizard Cup, the glory of their school and a thousand galleon personal prize money."
"Eager though I know all of you will be able to bring the Triwizard Cup to Hogwarts," he said, "the heads of the participating schools, along with the Ministry of Magic, have agreed to impose an agreed restriction on contenders this year. Only students who are of age – that is to say, seventeen years or older – will be allowed to put forward their names for consideration. This" – Dumbledore raised his voice slightly for several people had made noises of outrage at these words – "is a measure we feel is necessary, given that the Tournament tasks will still be difficult and dangerous, whatever precautions we take, and it is highly unlikely that students below Sixth and Seventh year will be able to cope with them. I will personally be ensuring that no underage student hoodwinks our impartial judge into making them Hogwarts champion." His light-blue eyes twinkled as they flickered over to Fred and George's mutinous faces. "I therefore beg you not to waste your time submitting yourself if you are under seventeen,"
"The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be staying with us for the greater part of this year. I know that you will all extend every courtesy to our foreign guests while they are with us, and will give your whole-hearted support to the Hogwarts champion when he or she is selected. And now, it is late, and I know how important it is to you all to be alert and rested as you enter you lessons tomorrow morning. Bedtime! Chop Chop!"
Ariana stood up with Draco, "Wow, that sounded really exciting!" Ariana said stifling a yawn, not realizing how tired she was. "You didn't seem too surprised though, did you already know about it?"
Draco's chest puffed out a bit, "Oh yes, my Father is quite important at the Ministry, very good friends with the Minister Of Magic. We've even had him over for dinner once or twice at our Mansion."
"That is impressive." Ariana said with a smile, seeing how important it was to Draco. Seeing a familiar mess of black hair she tapped Draco on the arm catching his attention, not that it actually left her. "Hey, I'm going to go say goodnight to Harry. Wait for me? I don't know where we are going." Draco looked over towards the trio and gave a small reluctant nod. Ariana rushed over threw the crowd. "Harry!" Ariana shouted catching his attention, they three stopped and waited. "Hey!" She said as she got close. "I just wanted to say goodnight." Ariana said her smile faltering as she saw he wasn't. "What's wrong?"
"What's wrong? How could you be in Slytherin?" Harry almost shouted at her.
"Look I didn't choose to be in Slytherin, the hat chose for me. Isn't that how it works?" Ariana said her hands on her hips.
"Why didn't you tell it you wanted Gryffindor?" Harry asked, remembering when he got sorted.
"Well, because I thought that was cheating... and rude. It's like asking someone to pick something for you because you can't make up your mind then not liking their choice. And besides I thought that was the point of the sorting hat?" Ariana said.
"What did it tell you?" Ron asked, Ariana could tell he wanted to know if the hat had said she was evil or something.
"Just that he saw many different things in me... that I would stand up for my friends, and that I was cunning, a bit arrogant, but that once I knew what I wanted I would do wondrous things to achieve it. Look I'm sorry we aren't in the same house, we can still be friends right?"
Harry looked over her, trying to decide if she was telling him the truth, when he decided she was he nodded. "Yeah, I just, had to make sure..."
Ariana smiled again. "Thank you. Look Draco's waiting for me, I just wanted to come say goodnight." She stepped forward giving her brother a quick hug. "Night guys." She nodded to Hermione and Ron and took off back towards Draco.
