A/N. Wow, you guys are awesome! It really made my day to open my emails and see all your reviews, follows and favourites, so thank you! As promised, here is the next instalment.

Foreign Students

Dear Mum and Dad,

You'll never guess what is happening at Hogwarts this year. Hogwarts is hosting the Triwizard Tournament between us and two foreign schools. Don't worry, I'm not old enough to participate, but it will be so much fun to watch throughout the year. And meeting other witches and wizards from different countries will be so educational. I'll keep you updated on what happens. Lots of Love,

Hermione

When we saw the notice informing us of the arrival date of our guests, we were all so excited. I couldn't wait to meet witches and wizards from other schools. Ever since discovering magic I had been anxious to find out as much as possible, and here was the perfect opportunity.

I spent the next week speculating as to what these students would be like. I knew Durmstrang was a school of Dark Arts, but no one knew where it was, how students were chosen, how their education system worked, or whether it was a co-educational or single-gender school. I was quite curious about what students from a school of the Dark Arts would be like. Would they be just like the Slytherins? Or would they surprise us and be quite pleasant, despite their education?

As for Beauxbatons, I knew absolutely nothing about them. We had run into a couple of their students at the Quidditch Cup, but that didn't really enlighten us as to what they or their school were like. I spent many hours that week in the library trying to find more about both Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. Unfortunately it seemed almost everyone else had the same idea, and by the time the books reached me on the waiting list, the students would have been at Hogwarts for almost three months.

As the 30th October drew closer the students got more and more excited, while the teachers got more and more tense. I fully understood the need to make a good impression, but they did seem a bit obsessive. Filch was grumpier than I'd ever seen him, and I'm sure he would have banned us all from leaving our dorms if he could. Even Professor McGonagall was snapping at Neville, and she is usually the kindest to him out of all the professors.

I don't think anyone really concentrated all the well on the day of the "big arrival." Even the Professors kept losing their train of thought. When it was finally time to go outside to greet our guests, it was all Professor McGonagall could do to keep us in two straight, orderly lines. Dumbledore alone seemed to be calm, his eyes twinkling as he waited patiently for the first signs of our guests.

Whatever we were expecting, it is not what we got. The Beauxbatons carriage was larger than my house, though not as big as the Burrow, and the horses weren't much smaller. This had m confused. I was sure the Beauxbatons students were humans, so why would they need such a big carriage?

When Madam Maxime stepped out it all made sense. She was even taller than Hagrid! Once I had gotten over that shock, I turned to study the students. There was both girls and boys, wearing pale blue robes. They were all overage, as only adult wizards were allowed to enter the Tournament. They all seemed nervous, and very cold. Wherever their school was, it was obviously much warmer, if the thin material of their uniforms and lack of cloaks was anything to go by. This seemed a bit silly to me. Surely Madam Maxime at least knew where Hogwarts is, so why didn't she tell them to bring warmer clothing?

Speaking of warmer clothing, it seemed that the Durmstrang students would not be having any trouble with our climate. Judging from their fur coats, they were used to much cooler weather than Scotland, and so would be perfectly comfortable in the Hogwarts castle.

Again, their mode of transport surprised us all. I mean, a ship?! How could it get into Hogwarts? It seemed like it had come underground, but to my logical mind this didn't make much sense. I guess there are some parts of magic that will never make much sense to me, but they are interesting nonetheless.

A/N. So there you have it, chapter 37! Keep the reviews coming guys, I really do love what you guys have to say. Criticism is welcome, but only if constructive. Thanks again for reading this story! NG.