A/N: I'd like to thank the reviewers: daimahou, PancakeNSyrup, Cat Beats, mimiutami, Slytherin66, floatingmangocake, Shalifi, Lightsbane1905, thientrang161 and one guest.

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Chapter Thirty-seven

When Luna and Harry entered the chamber, Viktor only looked up long enough to assess them, before returning his gaze to the dancing flames within the fireplace he'd been looking at. He was tall and heavily muscled from his career as a sportsman. Harry felt very aware of how young Luna and himself were by comparison.

The room was rather small, with three paintings on the walls and a pair of sofas positioned around the fireplace Viktor was standing in front of.

While Harry stood there, wondering what they were meant to do, Luna walked over to Krum and stopped next to him.

"What are you looking at?" she asked, staring into the flames too.

Startled out of his reverie, Viktor blinked in surprise. "Nothing in particular." He hesitated, looking at Luna like he expected her to attack him. She didn't move any closer to him, which seemingly only served to make the young man even more unsure. "Are you waiting for an autograph?"

Harry was surprised only for a second, before remembering that Viktor was presently one of the most famous Seekers in Europe and most girls would probably approach him for an autograph or a handshake rather than a genuine discussion.

Luna looked at Viktor, her very pale eyes giving her stare a rather unsettling quality. "No, I'm not," was all she said.

Viktor didn't quite seem to know what to make of her. "I see."

Seconds later, more people entered the chamber. Harry recognized the three school heads, as well as Dolores Umbridge and Bartemius Crouch. There were three men he didn't know, but recognized as members of the Hogwarts staff. One had short brown hair and wore dark green robes with vines embroidered everywhere. The second was wearing black robes, had oily skin and unwashed hair. The last one Harry guessed was Professor Sanguini, if only because the man was sucking on a Blood Pop.

"Congratulations on being selected for the tournament," said the man with vine-patterned clothes. "We are all looking forward to—"

Someone cleared their throat obnoxiously. It was Mrs Umbridge, who was looking slightly peeved, but hiding it under a sickly sweet smile.

"If I may, Mister Cresswell?"

"Go ahead, Missus Umbridge," said the man.

Mrs Umbridge straightened her back. "As you all know," she told the champions, "the Triwizard Tournament is a unique opportunity to demonstrate your skills. I have spent months organizing this tournament—"

"We spent months organizing it. Together," grumbled Mr Crouch.

"—and as such, I am well-placed to tell you that the goblet chose the champions well."

Viktor shook his head, unimpressed by her speech. "You do not know our skills. How could you know? I think the goblet did not choose vell." He nodded in Luna's direction. "She is too young. She vill not make it."

"If that's true," said Harry, angry on Luna's behalf, "then it increases your chances of winning. Why would you complain about that?"

"Impudent, just like your father," muttered the greasy-haired man with a sneer.

"Excuse me?" asked Harry, outraged.

In what world was it acceptable for a member of the school staff to blatantly insult a student? Fleur had told him that Hogwarts was more lax than Beauxbâtons, but he hadn't believed it until that man's rude comment. Fleur had told him that while Beauxbâtons taught students with only the Susskind Theory in mind, a theory that said that a wizard's knowledge determined their power, Hogwarts was more influenced by the Montnoir theory, which declared that all wizards were born with equal amounts of magical power and their magical strength grew if they lived through very emotional events, such as traumatic moments, falling in love, and so on. Many old-fashioned pureblood families brought up their child in Montnoirian ways.

All magical schools adhered at least to the basic principles of the Susskind Theory, though Hogwarts leaned towards the Montnoir theory while Beauxbâtons was nearly entirely Susskindian. It was visible in the way the Headmaster of Hogwarts dealt with the greasy-haired man.

Headmistress Maxime would have harshly scolded any figure of school authority that had insulted a student without good reason and would have forced the offender to at least excuse themselves.

Dumbledore was nowhere near as strict.

"Now, now, Severus," said Dumbledore.

And that was it.

Fully intent on giving this 'Severus' a piece of his mind, Harry took a menacing step forward. The greasy-haired man was unbothered, seemingly eager to see what Harry would do.

"'Arry Potter," said Madame Maxime sharply.

Harry calmed down. As a school champion, his actions reflected on the school's reputation. He couldn't afford to make a scene.

"Hem-hem." Once the attention was back on her, Mrs Umbridge puffed up, proud to be the centre of attention once more. "You are right in saying that Miss Lovegood is young, Mister Krum. However, do remember that the goblet is never wrong. It selects students that have the abilities and knowledge to win the tournament. That is not the same as selecting a student with the most experience or the best grades."

"You would do well to remember," added Mr Crouch, "that in 1309, the Hogwarts champion was eleven years old. He won because he had an unparalleled natural talent for static apnea. The last task happened in a swamp, and all three champions were pulled into the muck by a bunyip. Alfred Bones won the tournament because he could hold his breath longer than the average wizard. The other two champions died, and he lived. His age had nothing to do with it, Mister Krum."

Mrs Umbridge nodded. "Exactly. Each champion in this room has a skill or a talent that they are more skilled at than all other students in their school. Or it's a talent no one else has. This skill is something that will be needed during the tournament. For example, if a task involves running, the goblet will look for wizards with a lot of endurance, long legs or a good capacity for sprinting." She looked at Viktor. "You are a famous Seeker. Perhaps one of the tasks will require sharp reflexes or a very good eyesight." She turned to Luna. "I'm afraid I don't know much about you. Is there anything you can do that most people in your school can't?"

Luna pursed her lips in thought. "I know a lot about rare magical creatures. I can also play the saxophone."

Harry smiled, amused at that last one.

"Then that might mean you'll face rare creatures during the tasks, and you knowledge will be useful. As for you, Mister Potter," said Mrs Umbridge, looking at Harry imperiously, "what skills do you have?"

"I can speak several languages," said Harry, thinking of the English and French he spoke fluently, as well as the German he'd been learning at school for a few years now. "I think I'm the only one in my school's delegation who is in the school choir. I'm also very good at running." His time with the Dursleys had ensured that.

"Perhaps you'll encounter a siren, and your knowledge from choir will be useful. Or you'll have to outrun a monster, or translate a clue in another language." Mrs Umbridge was wording everything she said quite carefully. It was probably to avoid giving away what would really happen during the tasks.

Mr Crouch stepped forth. "I shall now give our three champions the necessary instructions for the first task."

"Very well," said Mrs Umbridge magnanimously.

"The first task shall test your sense of logic. On the twenty-fourth of November, all the other students as well as the judges will be present to watch you compete. You are not allowed to ask for help or receive help from your teachers. You are to bring your wand and, if you need it, an object non-violent in nature to help you that you would need to hold onto during the entire task."

"So I can bring my broom if I vont?" asked Viktor.

Mr Crouch nodded. "Yes. But if you bring it, you'd need to hold onto it during the entire task. And if the task needs you to stay grounded, then a broom would just be dead weight for you to carry."

Viktor looked thoughtful, probably already trying to think of the best thing to bring for the task.

"You will receive information about the second task once the first task has ended. As the tournament will take up most of your time, you are excused from end-of-year tests."

"You will also be called upon before the first task to have your wands weighed so that we can be sure they are all in working order," added Mrs Umbridge.

There was a short pause.

"I believe that is all?" said Mr Crouch, his tone questioning.

Mrs Umbridge nodded decisively. "Yes. Good luck to you all, and may the best champion win."

While some of the adults left, Harry saw Viktor approach Luna.

"I am sorry if I offended you," he told her. "I thought that your age vould be a disadvantage, and I do not vish to compete if something is unfair. It vould not be a true victory if the champions are not equal."

"It's fine," said Luna, smiling blandly and looking at Viktor with unfocused eyes. "I'm used to people underestimating me."

"It vos not fine," said Viktor. "And I hope I did not—" He stopped, looking down at her feet. "…Vhy do you not haff shoes on?"

Luna looked down at her bare feet and wiggled her toes. "My shoes are somewhere in the castle, and I couldn't find them in time for supper, so I went without."

"I see," said Viktor, who clearly did not see at all.

-x-x-x-

"Oh, come on, Fleur!"

Fleur turned away from him, arms crossed.

The other students seated at the table looked up from their breakfast and listened to the argument with interest.

"You know I didn't mean to offend you. Honest!" Harry continued.

Fleur huffed, and looked him in the eye. He could see she was furious. "Well you 'ave offended me anyway! Why were you chosen ovair me? I have a higher ranking zan you back at Beauxbâtons, my teachers tell me I am a prodigy in charms and enchantments ze like zat has not been seen in over a decade, I can speak four dead languages and I am one of ze best duellers in my year! Why would I not be offended zat ze goblet choseyou?"

That last part was rather insulting, but Harry didn't say anything about it. She was clearly angry and telling her off for undermining him would do nothing more than fan the flames of her fury.

"Maybe because the goblet is an ancient artefact of untold power that never selects the wrong student?" Harry tried.

Raising an eyebrow, Fleur put her hands on her hips, not placated in the least. "It seemply does not make sense. Even if what you told me about zhat eleven years old champion from centuries ago eez true, zhen what unique talent do you 'ave to 'ave made the goblet choose you over me? What can you do zhat I can't?"

There was a rather desperate quality in her tone. She was very disappointed that she hadn't been chosen. She'd confided in him when she'd put her name in the goblet that she was reasonably sure she'd win, as she had the best grades out of all the other members of the delegation, possessed many skills and was naturally talented in numerous fields of magic.

Fleur was one of those women with a mix of beauty and brains that made most other women green with envy. She was used to getting what she wanted and having others be jealous of her. Being denied the title of champion had been a shock for Fleur and quite the blow to her self-confidence. That shock was now being externalized as anger towards the person she saw as the one that had stolen the opportunity she'd wanted. That person, of course, was Harry.

"Listen, Fleur," he said, ignoring the urge to call her out on her stuck-up personality. He'd befriended her because she was a wonderful person and as her friend he accepted her flaws as part of who she was, just like she did with him. He knew she could be snobby and disdainful of others, but he also knew that it was just who she was and she didn't do it out of genuine negative feelings for others. "I know you're angry, and I can't really explain why I've been chosen. It's just the way it is. But you're my friend, and you care about our school. Right now, I'm worried about losing because the Durmstrang student is older, stronger and just plain better. So you can either be angry at me, or you can help me win so that even if you're not the champion, we can still bring glory to our school."

Fleur's tense shoulders relaxed and she nodded. She still seemed unhappy, but she'd seen a point in what he had said.

There was a rather awkward silence as they both went back to eating their breakfast, both of them unwilling to say anything to diffuse the tension from the argument.

"So…" said Sally-Anne Perks, who was seated in front of Harry. Next to her was her boyfriend Ron, who was blushing bright red and looking at Fleur out of the corners of his eyes. "Did you get your schedules yet?"

"Yes," answered Fleur.

"What schedules?" asked Harry.

"You came a bit late to breakfast, so you probably missed the announcement," said Sally-Anne. "Beauxbâtons and Durmstrang students will be integrated in Hogwarts classes. It's one of Umbridge's rules. McGonagall has been giving out schedules to students so they know which class they're in. You might be in the same class as Ron and I, since we're the same age."

Harry looked around the Great Hall, and sure enough, he spotted McGonagall near the Durmstrang students, handing out pieces of parchment.

"Should I ask for my schedule or should I wait until she's done with the others?" he asked. He didn't want to be rude and interrupt her, but at the same time he really wanted to see his schedule. He was curious about classes taught at Hogwarts.

"Do not feel obligated to do so," said Alexandre, who was seated a little further away. He'd been reading a book in silence until then. "When the professor passed by, I enquired if I could receive your schedule too, as you weren't there yet." He fished out a slip of paper from his pocket. "I have your schedule here. You were so busy fighting Fleur that I didn't dare interrupt the… fascinating discussion."

Harry smiled. Alexandre's obsession with using big words to sound distinguished – which usually only made him seem ridiculous – never failed to amuse, though Harry wouldn't insult Alexandre by admitting that out loud.

"Aw, Alexandre, you care!" he exclaimed, taking hold of the schedule.

"I cannot refute such a claim," said Alexandre, calmly returning to his book with the corner of his lips quirked up.

"Thanks for the schedule," said Harry, his tone slightly more serious. "It was nice of you."

"You are welcome."

Harry looked down at his schedule. The following day he would have Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures, and then his afternoon would be spent in Divination class. It seemed like a good way to start the week, and he couldn't wait for Divination. He didn't have that class at Beauxbâtons, and he was curious to learn about it. Divining the future sounded appealing.

"Could I take a look?" asked Sally-Anne.

Harry's head rose, and he placed his schedule in her outstretched hand. She turned it around and read it over, looking contemplative.

"You have the same schedule as Ron," she said. "Mine is nearly similar. I have Arithmancy instead of Divination on Monday afternoons. So tomorrow we'll have the same morning classes."

"Neat." Harry took back his schedule, feeling a twinge relieved. Hogwarts was rather large, and knowing some Hogwarts students who'd be in class with him meant that he could follow them around so that he wouldn't get lost.

"We could meet up tomorrow morning," said Ron, "and we could show you the way to Herbology, so you won't get lost. You'd go barmy trying to find your way in this school—it's a bloody maze. Having a guide would help you get to class on time."

"Thanks," said Harry. He looked over at Alexandre. "And what is your schedule like, Alexandre?"

"I compared our schedules earlier, before you showed up for breakfast," said the young man, not looking up from his book. "We have the same schedule, and no differing courses."

He was reading his pocket-sized book with one hand, while the other held a fork used for spearing the grapes he was eating for breakfast.

"We could all meet up tomorrow morning," Harry told Ron. "You, Sally-Anne, Alexander and I. Maybe also other Beauxbâtons or Durmstrang students if they want help finding their way."

"Sure," said Ron. "If you want, I could give you and uh… Alexandre, was it? I could give you both a tour of the castle after we're done eating, to show you around."

Fleur looked straight at Ron. "I would also be interested."

Ron reddened, but managed to stay calm enough to stammer out, "Y-you're welcome to join us."

"Could we have that tour this afternoon, instead of just after breakfast? I have something to do," said Harry.

Sally-Anne leaned in towards him, looking curious. "What is it you have to do?"

"I recently learned I have a long lost godfather I'd never heard of before," he explained, "and he's in the hospital. I'd really like to meet him, because he knew my parents and… Well, I just want to be able to speak to him and get to know him. So I want to send a letter to him once I'm done eating."

"Eez it zhat Sirius Black you told me about?" asked Fleur.

"Yes. So maybe we could meet up after lunch and you could show us the castle then?" Harry asked Ron.

The redhead nodded. "Sounds good to me."

-x-x-x-

A/N: In this chapter, we clearly see the differences between canon!Harry and this story's Harry. He is more polite (like we've seen in other chapters when he stands in the presence of the headmistress, or offers McGonagall a seat) and this chapter really shows that, because he calls figures of authority by titles such as 'professor' or 'mrs/mr', while canon!Harry often refers to adults by their surnames in the narrative.

There is also an argument between Fleur and Harry, which shows their dynamic and how their friendship works – Harry is willing to see past her canon snobbishness and she decides to put her anger aside to help Harry win the tournament.

I also hope that this chapter clears up why Luna was chosen as a champion. As you probably guessed, Umbridge being in charge in Bagman's stead means that the three tasks are completely different, so the goblet would be looking for different qualities in its champions. More detailed justifications for why Luna was chosen will come later, when the tasks appear and we see how she deals with them.