Author's Note: Here's the next chapter. I hope everyone enjoys it. IT IS IMPORTANT. Please keep that in mind. Please also remember to leave me a review and let me know how the story's going.
Enjoy.
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Chapter Thirty-Six: Unexpected Decision
"Oh Valora… I'm sorry that it happened that way."
Valora nodded as she continued walking away from the Infirmary and towards the Dining Hall. "Yeah… my mother told me it was everywhere…I'm just glad that my brothers didn't see it happen…"
From beside her Eris nodded, "That would have been horrible… but at least it didn't strike you when you were sitting on your father's shoulders…. That's a day he has never let me forget…"
After her statement the two sixth year girls continued their walk back to the dining hall in relative silence, Valora fighting not to laugh at the image Eris had placed into her head, and upon reaching the hall, they called out to a waiting Geoffrey.
"You get what you needed?" He asked as they stood behind their chairs, waiting for the Headmistress to enter the room and start the feast. Valora blushed slightly before she held up the small vial of blue liquid. "Yeah… Madame Pagano simply smiled at me when I explained what happened."
Geoffrey snorted softly, but before Valora or Eris could scold him for it the doors to the Dining Hall opened and Headmistress Maxime and the professors walked inside. The silence grew in the hall as the young first years were sorted, only two joining Valora's house, before the Headmistress stood from her chair and called the hall to attention.
""Congratulations and welcome to your new houses at Beauxbatons. First year students will learn more about their house once the meal is over, but before the feast is served, I have an important announcement to make. This school year our school will be participating in the Grand Triwizard Tournament."
Gasps filled the hall at Headmistress Maxime's statement. The younger students simply looked around confused before they turned their attention back up to the head table.
"Our school as well as the Durmstrang Academy will be joining Hogwarts School on their castle grounds for the tournament. While it is known that many of you would like to enter your names into the goblet when we arrive, I must explain that, as a whole, we will decide three potential champions to represent our academy.
"When I call out the five choices, if you feel they would do well in showing what our academy is all about and that they can hold their own in the tournament, then raise your wand. The candidates with the most support will be chosen as one of the three that will be entered into the tournament under our academy. Everyone understand?"
Throughout the hall mummers of agreement rang out from the students while some simply nodded their heads. Olypme Maxime smiled at everyone before she cleared her throat. "The first candidate is Miss Danielle Aiello, a Seventh year from the House of Azure Flames."
From her spot at her table Danielle, a girl with short raven hair smiled as fifty wands rose into the air. The Headmistress nodded before she moved onto the next choice. "The second candidate is Miss Rosaleen Alvarez, a Seventh year from the House of Azure Flames." Once again a girl at the opposite table smiled as around fifty wands rose to the air again, her blonde hair falling down to hide her face. From across the table Valora's eyes fell on Kaprece and her friends, Suri Alvarez smiling broadly as her twin got support for her position.
"The third candidate is Miss Kaprece Bontecou, a Seventh year from the House of Sapphire Flames." Since Valora was already looking at the girl, she noticed the look of shock grace her face before a smile split across her cheeks. It grew wider when a hundred and seventy wands rose into the air. Madame Maxime nodded before she continued, not shocked in the least that the number of wands increased when the new candidate was called out.
"The fourth candidate is Miss Fleur Delacour, a Seventh year from the House of Sapphire Flames." Fleur, who was seated a few seats away from her cousin blushed slightly as over three hundred wands rose into the air, almost an even amount from each house. Valora leaned over Eris to give her cousin a soft, rare smile. Ever since she started to get attacked daily and have recurring visions about James Potter, Valora's nice demeanor changed. Anyone besides Eris, Geoffrey, Anais, and her family got an icy greeting, and if they looked hard enough, could see the bitterness surrounding her heart.
"The fifth and final candidate was a position debated about for several weeks." Headmistress Maxime said a few moments after the wands lowered. "After hearing from all of my professors, I believe we have made the correct choice, which is why I am proud to present the final candidate. Miss Valora Malfoy, a Sixth year from the House of Sapphire Flames."
Valora felt dizzy as the words washed over her. A growing fear rose up inside her as the students looked around, not a single wand raising. Valora lifted her eyes up to the head table and saw the Headmistress' expectant look. Without warning, Valora felt Eris shift beside her. She turned her eyes away from Madame Maxime to look at her friend in amazement. Eris' cedar wand was pointing towards the ceiling.
What happened next shocked Valora to her magical core. Wands started to rise around her, Geoffrey's following first before a chain reaction happened until every single wand at Valora's table was pointing to the sky. Valora looked at everyone in shock, her eyes landing on Kaprece and her friends for several minutes, her eyes glued to their aloft wands before she turned to look at the House of Azure Flames table… and nearly fainted when she did. Every wand was raised.
As Valora felt the floor beneath her begin to spin the Headmistress' voice called her attention back. "That settles that then. Miss Valora Malfoy is the top candidate to represent our glorious academy at the tournament. The second candidate will be Miss Fleur Delacour and then Miss Kaprece Bontecou. I am sure which ever one of you is chosen will do our academy proud. Now please enjoy the feast." Without another word she sat down, signally the start of the meal and that the students could be seated.
The feast passed in a blur for Valora, who was still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that every single student had nominated her to represent their academy. They all hated her…so why did they want her to receive such an honor if she was chosen to compete and possibly win the tournament? What did they have to gain from it?
As the feast drew down to a close and the students were led up to their house dormitories, Valora following along with her house up until they reached the second floor landing, where she had to say her goodnights to Eris and Geoffrey. After giving each of them a hug, the petite girl felt a hand brush against her shoulder before it pulled away quickly, an intake of breath following the motion. Valora turned around to see Kaprece standing behind her, her left hand turning red from where it had been burned.
"Can I help you?" She asked, curiosity flavoring her voice. Kaprece stared at her for a moment before she dropped her hand down.
"I still don't like you." The statement was said with a hard clarity that made Valora wonder why it had been stated. Everyone in the palace knew Bontecou hated her. As Valora opened her mouth though, Kaprece made it clear she wasn't finished.
"I don't like you, but even I can't deny that you are the most powerful witch in this palace." Silence met her words as Valora's and the rest of their houses' eyes widened. "I've seen how the carvings react to you and I know exactly what they mean. Because of this, and only this," she continued with a glare, "I will support you if you are the champion chosen to compete in the tournament."
Valora stared at the girl in shock. Why on earth had she just pledged her support to her? Before she could contemplate it more Kaprece stepped forward, her eyes hard, but determined. "I will also support you in your life, my prophet."
Once the last whispered word left her lips Kaprece pushed past Valora and continued walking to the dormitory, not once looking back to see the students behind her. Eventually the others followed after her until Valora was left standing on the landing, alone, wondering if she was the only one that noticed the golden light connect her and Kaprece as she whispered her last statement. Did the seventh year not realize she had just made a vow on her magic?
!!#!!#!!
Weeks passed by at Beauxbatons with Valora wondering why the school had taken a sudden, and drastic turn. Everyone that heard Kaprece's public pledge of support, and with some having heard her whispered statement, were now going out of their way to be nice to her. It was starting to get frustrating.
While Valora dealt with the extreme mood shift at her school Draco and Damien were on their way to Hogwarts, ready to begin their fourth year and maybe, be selected for a certain tournament. The brothers kept the tournament a secret from their friends; it wouldn't be good for word to get out that they knew about it before the Headmaster had even announced it. But it didn't stop them from shooting each other knowing glances throughout their welcome back feast, causing Hermione and their Slytherin friends to wonder exactly what they knew.
When Headmaster Dumbledore stood from his seat Damien and Draco shared a smile. "So!" said Dumbledore, smiling around at them all. "Now that we are all fed and watered, I must once more ask 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 has this year 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 causing Damien and Draco to stare at him expectantly. "As ever, I would like to remind you all that the forest on 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." There. That was the bombshell the brothers had been waiting on. The fellow members of Damien's team were mouthing soundlessly at Dumbledore, apparently too appalled to speak. Dumbledore went on. "This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teacher's 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. The brothers, along with everyone else, turned to gaze at the intruder.
A man stood in the doorway, leaning upon a long staff, shrouded in a black traveling cloak. He lowered his hood, shook out a long mane of grizzled, dark gray hair, and then began to walk up toward the teacher's table. A dull clunk echoed through the Hall on his every other step. He reached the end of the top table, turned right, and limped heavily toward Dumbledore. A flash of lightning crossed the ceiling, causing Hermione to gasp.
The lightning had thrown the man's face into sharp relief, and it was a face unlike any she had ever seen. It looked as though it had been carved out of weathered wood by someone who had only the vaguest idea of what human faces are supposed to look like, and none too skilled with a chisel. Every inch of skin seemed to be scarred. The mouth looked like a diagonal gash, and a large chunk of the nose was missing. But it was the man's eyes that made him frightening.
One of them was small, dark, and beady. The other was large, round as a coin, and a vivid, electric blue. The blue eye was moving ceaselessly, without blinking, and was rolling up, down, and from side to side, quite independently of the normal eye—and then it rolled right over, pointing into the back of the man's head, so that all they could see was whiteness.
The stranger reached Dumbledore and stretched out a hand that was as badly scarred as his face, and Dumbledore shook it, muttering words the students couldn't hear. The stranger shook his head and replied in an undertone to which Dumbledore nodded and gestured the man to the empty seat on his right-hand side. The stranger sat down, shook his mane of dark gray hair out of his face, and pulled a plate of sausages toward him, raised it to what was left of his nose and sniffed it.
"May I introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?" said Dumbledore brightly into the silence while the stranger began to eat his feast, his blue eye darting restlessly around in its socket, taking in the Hall and the students. "Professor Moody."
While a few students and professors clapped Damien turned his gaze away from the Head table to give his brother a look. From her spot beside him Hermione noticed the look, placed a hand on Damien's arm, and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Everything alright?"
Damien torn his gaze away from his brother to stare at his best friend. While he hadn't exactly registered the spoken question, it was shining back at him from Hermione's chocolate brown eyes. "Mad-eye Moody has paid our family several visits over the years…" he whispered into her ear, the curious look on Ron's face causing him to get secretive. "He was one of the Aurors that raided our ball and simply watched as my cousin was killed."
Damien pulled away from Hermione in time to see the horror flash over her face, her eyes darting up to the frightening professor before landing squarely on her empty plate.
"As I was saying," Dumbledore continued, 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 that 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."
"Your JOKING!" a redheaded boy from down the Gryffindor table yelled loudly. The tension that had filled the Hall ever since Moody's arrival suddenly broke. Nearly everyone laughed, and Dumbledore chuckled appreciatively. Damien swung his eyes away from the Headmaster in order to look at Ron's older brother, who turned to his twin and gave a smile. Damien gave them both a smile; the twins were on the quidditch team with him and, despite the few pranks they pulled on him, he actually liked the two of them.
"I am not joking, Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore said a moment later, "though now that you mention it, I did hear an excellent one over the summer about a troll, 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 from each school 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 a most excellent way of establishing ties between young witches and wizards of different nationalities—until, that is, the death toll mounted so high that the tournament was discontinued."
As Dumbledore paused in his speech Hermione whispered "Death toll?" as she looked around alarmed. Damien himself was torn between being alarmed and being excited… which is seemed the rest of the school was feeling. Many of them were whispering excitedly to one another, and deep down Damien knew he was more interested in hearing about the actual tournament than about deaths that happened hundreds of years ago.
"There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the tournament," Dumbledore continued, "none of which has been very successful. However, our own department of International Magical Cooperation 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 will be arriving with their short-listed contenders in October, and the selection of the three champions will take place at Halloween. An impartial judge will decide which students are most worthy to compete for the Triwizard Cup, the glory of their school, and a thousand Galleons personal prize money."
From down the Gryffindor table the same redhead that spoke earlier whispered excitedly to his brother "I'm going for it!"
Dumbledore smiled at the comment, but didn't say anything to shoot the lion's hope down. Instead he continued talking about the other schools. "The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving in October and remaining 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 your lessons tomorrow morning. Bedtime! Chop chop!"
The Headmaster sat down and turned to face Mad-Eye Moody as the students were led out of the Great Hall and to their dormitories. Damien waved goodbye to his brother and his Slytherin friends as he walked up to the Gryffindor tower with Hermione and Ron.
"Something doesn't feel right about this tournament." Damien whispered to his friends as they climbed one of the many staircases. Ron looked over at his friend, "What do you mean mate? The tournament is going to be amazing…"
Damien met his friend's blue eyes and gave a slight nod. "Yeah, I know that much, but… the Headmaster just seemed a little odd tonight…"
Hermione nodded from beside him. Ron stared at both of them before he nodded as well. "Well, he is like, over a hundred right? He can't always be brilliant…"
Damien nodded at Ron's statement, but while he agreed outwardly with him, Damien was furiously shaking his head on the inside. The Headmaster was never, ever, brilliant…
Damien looked at Ron once more before turning his head away, effectively ending their conversation. Why on earth was Ron thinking the Headmaster was brilliant? As the trio reached their dormitory and said their goodnights Damien and Ron headed up to their room while Hermione went off in the direction of hers. The two friends got ready for bed silently, the other boys making idle conversations around them, before they got in their beds and pulled the curtains closed around them.
As Damien stared up into his emerald canopy he thought back to how the Headmaster simply smiled back at Fred Weasley when he stated he wanted to be in the tournament… Why hadn't he protested? Or agreed? Why had he simply smiled before moving on? Damien closed his eyes as more confusing thoughts flooded his mind.
Something definitely didn't feel right about this tournament…
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The next month at Hogwarts was difficult to get through; at least it was for Damien, Draco, Hermione, and their Slytherin friends. After the school learned about the tournament it became the most talked about topic at the castle. Many of the students talked about it daily, as if it were the most important thing that had occurred in their lives. Damien grew sick of hearing someone mention something about it wherever he went, so by the time the two schools were set to arrive in October the trio and gang were just ready for the blasted tournament to be over with.
A week before there had been an announcement posted that the delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang would be arriving on October 30th at 6 o'clock sharp. Because of this when the trio went down to breakfast the morning of the 30th they found the Great Hall had been decorated overnight. Enormous silk banners hung from the walls, each of the representing a Hogwarts House: red with a gold lion for Gryffindor, blue with a bronze eagle for Ravenclaw, yellow with a black badger for Hufflepuff, and green with a silver serpent for Slytherin. Behind the teacher's table, the largest banner of all bore the Hogwarts coat of arms: lion, eagle, badger, and snake united around a large letter H.
After breakfast there was a pleasant feeling of anticipation in the air that day. Nobody was very attentive in lessons, being much more interested in the arrival that evening of the people from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang; even Potions was more bearable that usual, according to Ron who was constantly insulted in class, as it was half an hour shorter. When the bell rang early Damien, Ron, and Hermione hurried up to Gryffindor Tower, deposited their bags and books as they had been instructed, pulled on their cloaks, and rushed back downstairs into the entrance hall.
While Damien sorely wanted to join his brother and friends over at the Slytherin section of the hall Professor McGonagall quickly vetoed that option. Stating, "Mister Malfoy, I know how much you hate being in this house, but the fact is that you are. Thus, you must stand with you house to greet our guests and represent our school." She then ignored the glare Damien gave her and called her house to attention.
"Weasley, straighten your hat," she snapped at Ron. "Miss Patil, take that ridiculous thing out of your hair." Parvati scowled and removed a large ornamental butterfly from her end of her plait.
"Follow me, please." Said Professor McGonagall. "First years in front…no pushing…"
They filed down the steps and lined up in front of the castle. It was a cold, clear evening; dusk was falling and a pale, transparent-looking moon was already shining over the Forbidden Forest. Damien, standing between Ron and Hermione in the fourth row from the front, saw Dennis Creevey positively shivering with anticipation among the other first years.
"Nearly six," said Ron, checking his watch and then staring down the drive that led to the front gates. "How'd you reckon they're coming? The train?"
"I doubt it." Said Hermione.
"How, then? Broomsticks?" Ron continued, looking up at the starry sky.
"I don't think so… not from that far away…"
Damien listened to the banter intently, not wanting to volunteer any information or ideas, just in case he was wrong. Malfoy's are never wrong. So instead he just waited for Ron's next guess.
"A Portkey!" he suggested moments later. "Or they could Apparate – maybe you're allowed to do it under seventeen wherever they come from?"
"You can't Apparate inside the Hogwarts grounds, how often do I have to tell you?" said Hermione impatiently.
The trio scanned the darkening grounds excitedly, but nothing was moving; everything was still, silent, and quite as usual. Damien hated to admit that he was starting to feel cold. He wished they'd hurry up…maybe the foreign students were preparing for a dramatic entrance…
And then Dumbledore called out from the back row where he stood with the other teachers—
"Aha! Unless I am very much mistaken, the delegation from Beauxbatons approaches!"
"Where?" said many students eagerly, all looking in different directions.
"There!" yelled a sixth year, pointing over the forest.
Something large, much larger than a broomstick—or, indeed, a hundred broomsticks—was hurtling across the deep blue sky toward the castle, growing larger all the time.
"It's a dragon!" shrieked one of the first years, losing her head completely.
"Don't be stupid… it's a flying house!" said Dennis Creevey. His guess was closer… As the gigantic black shape skimmed over the treetops of the Forbidden Forest and the lights shining from the castle windows hit it, they saw a gigantic, powder-blue, horse-drawn carriage, the size of a large house, soaring toward them, pulled through the air by a dozen winged horses, all palominos, and each the size of an elephant.
The front three rows of students drew backward as the carriage hurtled ever lower, coming in to land at a tremendous speed—then, with an almighty crash that made Neville Longbottom jump backward onto Damien's foot, the horses' hooves, larger than dinner plates, hit the ground. A second later the carriage landed too, bouncing upon its vast wheels, while the golden horses tossed their enormous heads and rolled large, fiery red eyes.
Damien, Hermione, and Ron just had time to see that the door of the carriage bore a coat of arms (two crossed, golden wands, each emitting three stars) before it opened.
A boy in pale blue robes jumped down from the carriage, bent forward, fumbled for a moment with something on the carriage floor, and unfolded a set of golden steps. He sprang back respectfully. Then Damien saw a shining, high-heeled black shoe emerging from the inside of the carriage—a shoe the size of a child's sled—followed, almost immediately, by the largest women he had every seen in his life. The size of the carriage, and of the horses, was immediately explained. A few people gasped.
Damien had heard his sister explain how, for lack of a better word, large her Headmistress was, but he had never thought anyone could be that size. The closest person he had ever seen as large as this woman was Hagrid; and he doubted where there was an inch difference in their heights. Yet somehow—maybe simply because he was used to Hagrid—this woman (now at the foot of the steps, and looking around at the waiting, wide-eyed crowd) seemed even more unnaturally large. As she stepped forward and into the light flooding from the entrance hall she was revealed to have a handsome, olive-skinned face; large, black, liquid-looking eyes; and a rather beaky nose. Her hair was drawn back in a shinning knob at the bas of her neck. She was dressed from head to foot in black satin, and many magnificent opals gleamed at her throat and on her thick fingers.
Dumbledore started to clap; the students, following his lead broke into applause too, many of them standing on tiptoe, the better to look at this woman.
Her face relaxed into a gracious smile and she walked forward towards Dumbledore, extending a glittering hand. Dumbledore, though tall himself, had barely bend to kiss it.
"My dear Madame Maxime," he said. "Welcome to Hogwarts."
"Dumbly-dorr," said Madame Maxime in a deep voice. "I 'ope I find you well?"
"In excellent form, I thank you." said Dumbledore.
"My pupils," said Madame Maxime, waving carelessly behind her.
Damien, whose attention had been focused completely on Madame Maxime, now noticed that about a dozen boys and girls, all, by the looks of them, in their late teens, had emerged from the carriage and were now standing behind Madame Maxime. They were shivering, which was unsurprising, given that their robes seemed to be made of fine silk, and none of them were wearing cloaks. A few had wrapped scarves and shawls around their heads. As Damien's eyes flowed over the students a second time his gaze landed on a figure that was a few heads shorter than all the rest, blonde hair flying in the night wind.
He turned his head and gave Hermione a grin. Who knew that his sister would be coming with them?
" 'As Karkaroff arrived yet?" Madame Maxime asked.
"He should be here any moment." Said Dumbledore, and just as the words left his mouth one of the students shouted "The lake! Look at the lake!"
From their position at the top of the lawns overlooking the grounds, they had a clear view of the smooth black surface of the water—except that the surface was suddenly not smooth at all. Some disturbance was taking place deep in the center; great bubbles were forming on the surface, waves were now washing over the muddy banks—and then, out in the very middle of the lake, a whirlpool appeared, as if a giant plug had just been pulled out of the lake's floor…
What seemed to be a long, black pole began to rise slowly out of the heart of the whirlpool… and then Damien saw the rigging… slowly, magnificently, the ship rose out of the water, gleaming in the moonlight. It had a strangely skeletal look about it, as though it were a resurrected wreck, and the dim, misty lights shimmering at its portholes looked like ghostly eyes. Finally, with a great sloshing noise, the ship emerged entirely, bobbing on the turbulent water, and began to glide toward the bank. A few moments later, they heard the splash of an anchor being thrown down in the shallows, and the thud of a plank being lowered onto the bank.
People were disembarking; they could see their silhouettes passing the lights in the ship's portholes. All of them, Damien noticed with a snort, seemed to be built along the lines of Vincent and Greg… but then, as they drew nearer, walking up the lawns into the light streaming from the entrance hall, he saw their bulk was really due to the fact that they were wearing cloaks of some kind of shaggy, matted fur. But the man who was leading them up to the castle was wearing furs of a different sort; sleek and silver, like his hair.
"Dumbledore!" he called heartily as he walked up the slope. "How are you, my dear fellow, how are you?"
"Blooming, thank you, Professor Karkaroff," Dumbledore replied. Karkaroff had a fruity, unctuous voice; when he stepped into the light pouring from the front doors of the castle they saw that he was tall and thin like Dumbledore, but his white hair was short, and his goatee (finishing in a small curl) did not entirely hide his rather weak chin. When he reached Dumbledore, he shook hands with both of his own.
The two of them said their greetings and then Karkaroff called one of his students up to him. Damien heard Ron's intake of breath before Karkaroff even spoke the boy's name.
"Damien—it's Krum!"
Damien didn't really appreciate the punch on his arm that accompanied that whisper, which wasn't even necessary considering he had recognized the quidditch player's profile as he had approached his Headmaster.
"I don't believe it!" Ron said in a stunned voice as the students began filing back up the steps behind the party from Durmstrang, with Beauxbatons following behind them. "Krum, Damien! Viktor Krum!"
"For heaven's sake, Ron, he's only a quidditch player," said Hermione. Damien gave her a small smile, but it quickly faded as Ron turned on her.
"Only a Quidditch player?" He said, looking at her as if he couldn't believe his ears. "Hermione—he's one of the best seekers in the world! I had no idea he was still at school!"
As they entered the Great Hall and sat down at the Gryffindor table, Ron's face fell as he saw the Durmstrang students settle down with the Slytherins. Damien saw his brother's face light up when Krum sat next to him, his blue eyes sparkling in the light from the floating candles. With a smug smile Draco bent forward to speak with Krum.
While Ron's attention was on the Durmstrang students that had removed their robes to reveal robes of a deep blood red the doors to the Great Hall opened once more to reveal the Beauxbatons students, who were still shivering in the cold air. Damien turned to look at the approaching students and he gave one of them a smile. He motioned for Draco to come over to him before he stood and waited for them to pass by the Gryffindor table. The movement caught Ron's eye; he looked away from Krum to see what his friend was doing, but his gaze never reached Damien.
Instead it landed on one of the Beauxbatons girls. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Her hair was a waterfall of white that was neatly arranged under her hat. The pale blue robes clung to her body exquisitely, the hem falling a few inches above her knees, thus showcasing her toned, pale legs. Her tiny feet were incased in matching pale blue high heels that caused her petite frame to reach the shoulders of the other Beauxbatons girls.
Ron watched as her face lit up with joy, her mouth expanding into a smile. He felt his heart flutter as she began moving towards him, but as she was almost in front of him she turned and was enveloped into a hug by the Malfoy brothers.
From his growing angry haze he heard Damien say, "It's so good to see you Valora." Ron lifted his head. 'That goddess was a Malfoy? There's no way.' But as he looked closer the family resemblance between the three was uncanny. All three had similar facial bone structure; their hair was roughly a similar shade of blonde, with Damien's more strawberry than white.
Damien and Valora shared the brilliant shade and shape of emerald green eyes while Draco had the trademark Malfoy 'icy' blue gray eyes.
Just as the rage began to develop inside of him Ron felt his throat constrict as Damien motioned over to him, speaking as he did so. "Valora, I know you've met Hermione, but I'd like for you to met my other friend, Ron Weasley."
The beauty turned her head and stared up at him, her emerald eyes seeming to caress his face. Ron felt his heart flutter again. Valora gave him a small smile, "It's nice to meet you Ron."
That voice! Ron felt as if his knees were about to transfigure into pudding. The soft tone that flowed around him was enough to turn him into a giddy mess. He smiled stupidly at her and tried, and failed, to return the greeting. As he stuttered and fumbled over his words Damien and Draco shared an amused glance, which quickly faded as Ron tried to touch Valora's hand.
Before he made contact though Valora took a step back, her smile never fading from her face. "I wish I could say and chat, but I'm needed with my school." She said to Ron, who simply continued to smile at her stupidly before she turned back to face her brothers. "I'll talk to you two later." Damien and Draco nodded before they each gave her a kiss on her cheeks and watched as she walked over to her Headmistress and the awaiting girls and boys from her academy.
Ron watched her leave, admiring how her robes swished when she was walking away when Damien grabbed him by the shoulder and pushed him back down in his seat. "Come on now… quit staring at my sister's backside." The humor was evident in Damien's voice, but it was laced with sharp edges of stone cold harshness. Ron quickly looked away from the beautiful sixth year to give his friend a shameful look. "Sorry mate."
Damien just gave Ron a nod while, from his spot behind his brother, Draco glared daggers at the redhead. A few minutes later found Draco back at his table while the Headmaster stood in from his seat and a silence fell over the Great Hall.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, ghosts and –most particularly—guests," said Dumbledore, beaming around at the foreign students. "I have great pleasure in welcoming you all to Hogwarts. I hope and trust that your stay here will be both comfortable and enjoyable."
From over at the Ravenclaw table, where most of the Beauxbatons students were seated, Kaprece gave a derisive laugh before she received a glare from both Valora and Madame Maxime.
"Before I start the feast I need to make an announcement concerning the tournament."
The Headmaster's statement was met with confused stares, including some from Madame Maxime and Headmaster Karkaroff.
"Over the summer the Headmasters and I, along with the Ministry of Magic discussed certain restrictions that would be in place for those entering the tournament. While, at that time, we agreed on no age limit, there has been a change of plans."
Restless students shifted at these words while Maxime and Karkaroff shared a confused look that spoke volumes. It was clear to everyone that knew what to look for that the two of them had no idea that plans had changed.
"There will in fact be an age 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 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 a champion."
Once the Headmaster's speech was finished several things happened. The hall burst into cries of outrage, the loudest coming from the Weasley twins… that is until Madame Maxime stood from the table, the chair falling to the floor with an earsplitting crash. All noise stopped in the Hall as all eyes turned to look at the enraged Headmistress.
"What is the meaning of this Dumbly-dorr?" The words dripped from her mouth; her hand coming down to slam into the table. "We never said there would be a restriction!"
Gasps rang out around the hall as Dumbledore gazed up at the sizable woman. "I assure you Olympe that we did."
Olympe's eyes narrowed on Dumbledore slight frame. "No we did not Albus. If you do not wish for your students to understand us, then fine. I don't see how this is fair in the least bit, considering our chosen champion is under seventeen." Upon seeing Albus getting ready to shoot her response down Olympe held her hand up. "No. We discussed my champion at the meeting. She is a sixth year that is about to graduate an entire year early. How can you punish our best student just because she is thirteen?"
Albus gave her a comforting smile. "I'm sorry Olympe, but she can not compete. It wouldn't be fair to my students, or Karkaroff's if we let your one thirteen year old compete. I'm sorry, but you will have to pick another to be a candidate in her place."
Olympe reared back to start arguing again when Albus held up a hand. "Please Olympe. There is nothing left to discuss. There will be an age line, and she will not be able to cross it. These are the orders from the Ministry."
Olympe stared at the small man before her before she straightened up and turned to face her students. "Come. We shall eat in our carriage." Instantly all of the Beauxbatons students stood and waited on their Headmistress to lead the way out of the Great Hall. Before she did so she turned back to face Albus. "We will be taking our meals in our carriage from now on. Goodnight." Without another word Madame Maxime walked away from the teacher's table and down to her awaiting students. She led them out of the Hall and back into the cold night air without a backward glance.
Back in the Great Hall eyes were back on Headmaster Dumbledore. "In conclusion, the tournament will be officially opened at the end of the feast. I now invite you all to eat, drink, and make yourselves at home!" He sat down as if nothing had happened and Damien watched as Karkaroff leaned over and started to engage him in a conversation.
Now that the feast had finally started many students forgot about the scene they had just witnessed and started to fill their empty stomachs, while those that actually knew and understood the French conversation that took place before them were staring at their plates in wonder. Why on earth had the Headmaster refused to allow the Beauxbatons girl from competing? The simple unfairness had them all unfounded.
At the Gryffindor table Damien was trying not to make a scene of his own by standing and cursing the Headmaster. Honestly, who did he think he was? Banning a Malfoy from competing in the tournament, when she's one of the most qualified witches in the entire castle…that really wasn't a smart move on his part.
!!#!!#!!
Later that night, in the Beauxbatons delegation's carriage, Valora and Eris were having a, almost one-sided, conversation in their shared room.
"I know you don't think it's fair," Eris said to her friend as they got ready for bed, the look on Valora's face though made her pause in her movement and quickly add, "and neither do I mind you. It's just, maybe that Headmaster has a point. These tasks are supposed to be really dangerous."
Valora looked up at her friend after she pulled her night-robe over her head. "I know that Eris, that's why I've been studying so hard once I found out I was chosen. I am ready to compete and that's why it's not fair. Just because I'm thirteen I'm not allowed in the competition… they didn't even test me to see how powerful I am. It's totally unfair."
The longer she spoke the more upset Valora got, until she was almost shaking in her anger. Eris noticed this and walked over to her friend.
Eris gave Valora a small smile. "Don't be upset 'lora. Our academy will still win, and I'm sure you will receive something out of all of this."
Valora looked at Eris for a moment before she crawled onto her bed and slid underneath the covers. She turned her head away and pulled her blue comforter over her small frame. Eris, who mistook her friend's anger for sorrow, placed a hand comfortingly on Valora's covered side.
"Please don't cry Valora. I promise everything will work out."
Valora didn't respond.
Finally, after not receiving any form of acknowledgement for her words Eris turned and walked over to her bed. The older girl climbed in and wished her friend a goodnight, believing that she was already asleep and couldn't hear her. But Valora wasn't asleep and heard her friend's whispered statement loud and clear. She was just so far detached from reality that she couldn't respond.
Once Hogwarts' Headmaster had announced that she wasn't allowed to participate in a tournament she had been preparing herself for, simply because she wasn't seventeen years old had made something terrible occur within her. Her magic, feeling the injustice of her restriction, had broken free of some of its binds; the binds that had been put in place for Valora's own protection.
So, as Valora lay in the dark room she was sharing with Eris and Fleur, the darkness receded from the far corners of the room and up, and across Valora's bed. She watched as it came closer, and then saw nothing. The darkness was so thick she was no longer able to make out Eris' bed next to her, nor her hand right in front of her face.
While this was happening Valora remained calm, almost accepting of the cocooning shadows, and simply allowed it to envelop her. By the time Valora awoke in the morning her heart was hard as stone, her magic darker than her fathers and more deadly than her aunt Bellatrix's.
!!#!!#!!
Author's Note: I hope everyone enjoyed and will leave a review. I'll write the next chapter when i can. Me and my fiance just got a house so my time is limited.
Also, credit goes where credit is due. Many scenes came from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire book.
Please leave a review and i'll be sure to thank you.