Chapter 11 – Why didn't you tell me?

As usual, at September 1st, magical children and teens made their way with their families to King's Cross Station, where, in Platform 93/4, the students would take the Hogwarts Express in order to start another school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Nearly eleven o'clock in that morning, a red haired family finally made her way to the Platform.

'Please, Bill… Tell me!' begged an already annoyed and a bit tired too Ginny Weasley.

In the last few days, she had been past the most possible time with her older brothers who already had left the Burrow, Bill and Charlie, and at night she had talked for hours with her best friend, this activity had showed in having a fatigued and irritated Ginny, especially in the first morning hours.

'No, Little Flame. I'm not telling you. You'll know as soon as you get in Hogwarts.'

'But it's a lot of time until I get to Hogwarts! Why don't you just tell me? I swear I won't tell anybody. Please, Bill… You're my favourite brother!' she tried, in vain, to persuade him.

Bill had been enjoying his sister's begging face and her stubbornness during the last days, since he, Charlie and Percy had started giving short hints to their younger siblings that they were aware that something important was going to happen in Hogwarts. Although the four younger siblings had tried several times in persuading them to talk, the elder brothers did not say a word.

As it was almost eleven o'clock, Ginny, still upset, said goodbye to her family (except her mother and Percy, who ignored Ginny) and entered with Ron, Fred and George in the big and red train. Quickly Ron left his siblings to join his best friends, while the twins stayed with their sister and her blonde friend Luna in a compartment for a while, before they went look for their best friend and prank's partner Lee Jordan.

In the feminine dormitory, all the Gryffindor girls from third grade were sleeping. All of them, except one. Ginny Weasley had been waiting for the other girls being asleep, so she could do what she had been anxious about, since Dumbledore's announcement. Although the petite red haired hated that her brother did not tell her, she had to admit, the long wait was worth it. And Ginny could not wait to see Harry and tell him the big news.

She seated on her bed with the red and gold curtains totally closed and brought the old mirror to her lap.

'Harry Potter.' She slowly whispered and waited until she saw his face. 'Good night, Harry!'

'Good night, Gin!' he replied. 'How-'

'You won't believe it, Harry!' Ginny quickly said, cutting him off.

'In what, Gin? Won't you tell me?' Harry asked, while trying, in vain, to hide a smile on his face.

'Well, you know Bill and the others were giving hints that… Wait a second…' Ginny stopped talking and stared at Harry with a thinking face. 'You knew it!' she slowly accused the boy, looking astonished and then angrier. 'You knew it and you didn't tell me!'

Harry maliciously smiled at her for a second, before innocently and mysteriously he replied her. 'Maybe yes… Maybe no… What do you think I knew it, Gin?'

'The Tri-Wizard Tournament!' she exclaimed as it was obvious. Ginny breathed deeply, so she would calm down, verified if her roommates were still sleeping and finally asked him what she was so curious to know. 'How did you find out?'

'In fact, it's Remus' fault. You know he works in the ministry as an Unspeakable. He hears all kinds of rumours, so we can check them.'

'Ok, but since when do you know about this event?'

Harry babbled a bit, before he finally admitted. 'Huh… I'm not sure… Maybe… End of July… Beginning of August…'

'What!? Harry!' Ginny exclaimed in disbelief, wanting to scream.

What an angry Ginny had to say to Harry was interrupted by some moans from the sleeping girls. Ginny, noticing that she was talking too loud, was going to murmured what it was in her mind, when Harry interrupted her. 'Gin, why don't you use the Muffliato Charm?'

'The muff what? What does that exactly do?' she asked, truly interested in learning something new.

'The Muffliato Charm.' Harry slowly repeated. 'My mum and a friend created it when they're still simply Hogwarts' students. I found it in her journals. This charm permits… Huh… For example, you are in a room full of eavesdropper people and you want to have a conversation with someone without those people heard it. Therefore, you cast this charm, Muffliato, on you and your friend and, in this way, those eavesdropper people will hear nothing but a buzzing sound from you. Did you understand, Gin?'

'Yes, I did. But, Harry… You could have told me about it a bit earlier, don't you think?' Ginny sneered and quickly she performed the charm. 'Do you think it worked?'

'I guess…' Harry, seeing her doubtful look on her freckled face, added, 'Gin, you're a brilliant witch. I don't see why it wouldn't have worked. But you can always test it, you know…' he ended with a mocking smile.

'And have them waking up and find out about this!?' Ginny said looking around the closed curtains, where she knew the other third grade Gryffindor girls would hopefully still deeply sleeping. 'I don't think so, Harry.'

'You're the boss, Gin.'

'And don't you dare forget it, my Harry dear.' She replied at the same time as she reared her head with superiority.

The childish attitude from Ginny resulted in having the two friends laughing for a while, showing that Harry was right, the happy red haired girl had performed perfectly the Muffliato Charm as any of her roommates awoke.

'Now, Harry, don't think I've forget, because I haven't.' Ginny informed as they finally stopped laughing. 'Why, Harry? Why didn't my best friend tell me about the Tri-Wizard Tournament?'

Harry swallowed when he saw her hurt face. He hated seeing her like that. He really hoped he could compensate her.

'Well, because, Gin, this lovely best friend of yours when found out about this unique event had the brilliant idea of surprise you. Has he been succeeded?' Harry flattered her and she was in that moment trying containing her giggles.

'Yes… However, the next time he brilliantly thinks in something like this he will be hexed with my speciality. I'm pretty sure he has heard of my Bat-Bogey Hex.' She nicely warned him. 'Are we understood, my Harry dear?'

Harry could only fiercely nod. He still had hopes of never having Ginny hexing with her speciality. Sometimes, she could be a very scary young lady.

The days passed by as most usual as possibly in Hogwarts.

Professor Severus Snape kept being unfair, Professor Minerva McGonagall strict as always, the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Alastor Moody, was extremely paranoid as expected. Draco Malfoy was still attacking other students in their back and with his bodyguards (Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe), Fred and George Weasley were playing some of their pranks (with Harry's and Ginny's help), Luna Lovegood did not stop mentioning strange creatures and, not least important, Neville Longbottom kept grabbing as wonderful and great he was.

Nevertheless, one thing has changed from the prior years. Everyone was waiting with big excitement and curiosity for the arrival of the students from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and Durmstrang Institute. After all, the Tri-Wizard Tournament had not happened in centuries and nobody was aware of whom or what would choose the champion from each school.

However, those were not the only things in student's minds. They were also trying figuring out which boy or girl who was at least fourteen years old would be the Hogwarts champion (the latest statistics from the Fred and George had shown that Angelina Johnson, Cedric Diggory, Roger Davies and Neville Longbottom were the favourites to win the title). Another bet around Hogwarts was about the three extremely dangerous tasks that the champions must survive, while testing their magical ability, intelligence and courage.

In a jiff, it was the day when the other magical schools would arrive to Hogwarts.

A/N: Hi! Merry Christmas (a bit late, I know) and Happy New Year!

I am truly sorry for such a long wait, but I got busy with school (it is a year of exams). Therefore, I really do not have time to write. However, I will keep writing this story. I am not giving up.

So, the Tri-Wizard Tournament… How will it go? Who are the champions? Who will it win? Any guesses?

Thank you for reading this story and do not forget writing a review.

Inês