CH 14
Pre-gaming
Within minutes the Hogwarts and Ilvermorny Champion met at a fork in the road. Edward and Luna were just a slight distance away from the Tournament Pit. She gazed up at him, admiring her friend. Was he always this breathtaking? Edward's light pink lips and cupids bow lightly acknowledged her. She smiled back, gazing at his Hufflepuff champion robes. They certainly kept his muscular form a secret. A rather obvious secret, at that. His marbled skin swam in sunlight, giving way to two gemstones that glimmered topaz. How dashing. He looks like a marvelous Cedric.
"You can stop now, Luna." Edward's velvet voice slipped out in knots.
"Alright." she agreed. Luna looked like a doll that was subjected to a clothing disaster. Red. White. Blue. Orange? Alice has precisely one more reason to hate this witch, Edward suddenly smirked to himself. Without taking his eyes off Luna, he reached into his pocket and withdrew a purple vial.
"Here." the vial gracefully flew up and landed perfectly on her outstretched palm. Why would a vampire need a Protegos potion, anyway? Two vials would buy Luna twice the time against Felix's venom. The fate of the war hung on her dreamy shoulders. She would need all the help she could get.
Luna barely examined the vial before surprising him a brief warm hug. He stood unmoving while she released her embrace.
"How thoughtful. You always have been quite thoughtful." Luna beamed. Suddenly she was skipping away. He silently followed her toward the Pit. Jasper and his interesting taste in...friends, he genuinely smiled, watching the soft blonde curls bouncing in the air.
Edward and Luna reached the pit in no time. The Tournament stadium was transformed into a groundless terrain of jagged rocks, jutting from the Earth. The rocks rose 50 feet up and fell 30 feet below ground level. There was no solid ground. A golden glimmer of hope was hidden somewhere in that vast graveyard of stones.
The students of the three magical schools sat in rows that encircled the center of the stage. The Triwizard Tournament never hosted an audience like this one. Hushed silence replaced the traditional cheers and hoots of students. Aurors stood at every corner, holding shields that would prevent anyone from exiting their seats before the task was complete. This was the audience of a funeral. And as funerals bring us together, the schools of Hogwarts, Ilvermorny, and Castelbruxo abandoned the spirit of competition, and united as one in silence.
Harry Potter himself looked grimly down at the center stage. He watched the three Champions approach the field. He wouldn't be able to interfere, not without starting a war.
Headmistress Mcgonagall waited for the three Champions. The black-robed witch nervously scanned the field. Only two Volturi guards showed up to witness the tournament. That didn't mean they were any safer. The moment they arrived she quickly herded them to three respective seats. Luna sat between her two friends, who ignored each other to the death.
"Ms. Lovegood. Mr. Cullen. Ms. Chang. That is the order in which you shall proceed. You will remain seated until your name is called" she read from a black scroll.
"At the sound of the horn you will have 10 minutes to retrieve your clue. The Protego and Binding spells will last you three minutes. After which...you are aware of the consequences." she pursed her lips. Her peripheral vision kept watch on the two Volturi.
"Champion Lovegood, to the field!" an announcer boomed.
"Please. Do be careful." she pulled the three Champions into a quick embrace before stalking away. There was nothing more she could do.