Chapter Thirty-One: The Visitors Finally Arrive
A row of witches and wizards entered, long dark blue robes covered up by weird wooly red sweaters. They looked comfortable and yet still fashionable enough to look professional somehow. Most of the students looked to be sixth or seventh years, though a few younger ones could have passed for as young as fourth years. As they entered the Great Hall a plump smiling woman spoke casually but in a voice that boomed like Dumbledore.
"Thank you for your warm welcome. We understand we are not who you expected and apologize for the confusion. We have come on Durmstrang's behalf due to ….personal issues which prevented them from attending. We are happy to be here and we are the Abraeselts of Abraes Academy in Norway."
Another round of polite clapping arrived as all the students entered the halls then everyone fell quiet as all the lights went out. Sirius heard Remus inhale sharply and actually reach for his wand as if expecting an attack. Feeling a little foolish he hadn't had the same knee jerk reaction, although neither did James, he relaxed as brilliant lights danced through the Great Hall, a pleasant greenish glow which alternated between bluish-green and almost purple.
"The Northern Lights," Remus whispered in awe as a sort of refreshing chill filled the Great Hall as if they were somewhere else as if they were in the north watching the lights in the wilderness.
All the Abraeselts started chanting in soft pleasant voices, some language he didn't understand but which sounded nice regardless. Little candles sprung up from the students whose chanting had become louder and more melodic. Suddenly the northern thing exploded colors bursting throughout the hall, wrapping around random students, moving their way throughout the whole population. A burst of green light swept across Sirius making him feel really warm.
Snowflakes started falling and melted as soon as they touched a student or table, melting into nothing though, not leaving anyone with so much as a drop of melted snow on them. As the northern lights vanished and the chanting died down again the snow collected into the middle of the Great Hall spinning around and around. Suddenly a large plump man with a twinkle in his eye that could match Dumbledore's appeared with a greeting of deep laughter. Sirius gaped in disbelief at the jolly man with a white beard and large red suit.
"Holy shit they brought us Santa," he whispered in disbelief, wondering vaguely if presents would accompany this spectacle. The chanting ceased with the appearance of the man who announced himself as Headmaster Christolph, causing the hall to explode into ecstatic cheering and clapping, even from the Slytherins.
"I don't think that's really Santa," James pointed out but he sounded unsure. Dumbledore embraced the old man as if they were best of friends, which just increased Sirius' suspicions the plump man was Santa.
"I can't wait to ask the students if they randomly get presents. Reckon I can transfer if they do?"
Remus and James laughed while Peter was clapping too hard to catch what Sirius had said.
"What a wonderful introduction Headmaster Christolph, thank you for that spectacular display. Now if your students will please take your seats."
Sirius blinked confused, but suddenly there was a fifth table in the Great Hall, though the hall itself didn't seem any more crowded.
"Thank you for your hospitality, hohoho, we're very pleased to be here."
Sirius grabbed James' arm shaking him.
"It's Santa, it has to be bloody Santa, he just ho ho'd," Sirius shouted as James just gaped in awe.
Soon the Abraeselts had taken their seats, their headmaster joining the table of professors. Sirius could hardly wait for the next school, no longer caring about their status, much. Well not if they had really brought them Santa!
Just as the chatter died down, to as quiet as it could possibly be with the current level of excitement, the Great Hall door opened again and students gave out screams of surprise. There were fewer students in this school, dressed in blood orange robes with red-orange cords of rope wrapped around their shoulders. But the shocking thing wasn't their robes or even the fact there were only men, what was shocking was they were riding some sort of creature that seemed to be a cross of a pig and a wolf. A furry creature with a tail like a wolf but the size of a pig with a snout more pig-like than wolf-like. They were well behaved, remaining calm even though some of the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws were able to reach out and pet them and did.
A tall skinny woman followed on foot with reddish-blond hair and a staff that every time it hit the ground let out sparks.
"I am Headmaster Nadine. We are the Digores of Digore Institute of Magic located in the heart of Romania."
There were gasps of awe following that statement and Sirius immediately grew so excited that he couldn't sit still. He glanced at James who looked just as excited, Romania meant dragons!
"We take wizards and witches throughout the world who wish to work as Magizoologists or in a related field, though most students come from our own homeland. We've traveled far in the skies to be here and we thank you for the reception. Please enjoy our performance."
Then she smashed the staff to the ground and the sparks burst forth forming flames that leaped around the Great Hall. Flames danced and wrestled with each other briefly before gathering into a huge ball, the heat from which Sirius could feel, and which rotated slowly before it unfurled into a giant dragon made of flames.
Wolf-pig creatures began to howl, sounding exactly like wolves while the young men, and what now he could see were also women with very short hair, stood atop the creatures pulling off their cords. They snapped their cords like whips and shadows leaping from them shot towards the fiery dragon to wrap around it, slowly chaining the flailing beast. As Sirius watched he realized not only were the cords of smoke chaining the beast, they were slowly shrinking it as well.
Just when Sirius had decided the other performance was better the fire dragon opened its mouth spitting fire that swept the whole of the Great Hall, the individual fireballs forming into tiny dragons which stalked across the different house tables before the howls of the wolves reached a sort of haunting crescendo and the fire dragon exploded. The little dragons followed suit but left tiny miniature eggs behind of all sorts of colors.
Remus picked up a sleek black one in front of him looking amazed if not a bit confused. Sirius looked around for an egg to grab in front of him but they were spaced out sparingly.
Lily had one though that was black as midnight and star constellations seemed to cover it, and Dorcas had one that was a dusty gold color but as far as he could see they were the only Gryffindors. Then again, it looked like two older students had tucked them quickly into their bags which he wasn't sure was a smart move or not. What if they exploded?
"Take these eggs as a gift though we don't have enough for all students. You will find if you solve the riddle the replica eggs will hatch into replica dragons, little lifelike figurines for your pleasure. This is a tradition in our lands and we respectfully ask that the dragons are treated with respect, we use them in our research of the real dragons of Romania and while no real harm can come from them they will bite if misused."
There was a ripple of nervous and excited laughter. Sirius' envy grew times ten, though at least Remus had an egg. That meant they'd have a replica dragon in their dorm. So cool! Only the dragon better not mess with Elvis or there would be hell to pay.
"Welcome, Nadine. Welcome, all!" Dumbledore called warmly offering his hand to the headmaster who shook it. There was more of a distance between them which suggested Dumbledore wasn't friends with her which Sirius wasn't surprised by. Other than letting dragon tamers live there they were a mysterious and secretive country. "Now please take your seats and enjoy the feast with dishes from your own countries and some famous dishes of our own."
Once all the students were seated Dumbledore clapped his hands and a feast like Sirius had never seen at Hogwarts before appeared exotic dishes, one after the other. Peter's mouth began to drool and Sirius' belly grumbled in appreciation. He pushed aside a dish of fish and chips and dug into one that smelled of spices.
"This is fanshashtic," James exclaimed his plate already full, a large bit of some sort of lamb dish on his fork.
"I'm glad I didn't miss this," Remus whispered more to himself, tucking the dragon's egg into his bag with such care that convinced Sirius he'd never ask to be the owner of the egg since his friend would probably give it to him assuring him he didn't care. But it was plain by the way he wrapped the egg up as if worried it would break that Remus would mind whether he'd say so or not.
"So what is wrong with these schools being here?" Lily asked, coming over with a plate overflowing with food and sitting next to Remus who lowered his spoonful of food suddenly looking ill.
"Lily piss off, we're trying to enjoy our dinner," Sirius muttered gesturing to Remus pointedly who stared at his plate, too nervous it seemed, to even meet Lily's eyes. When he found out whatever it was he vowed he wouldn't make Remus feel like that! By the time Remus told them, or they figured it out, his friend would already be so comfortable with them that he wouldn't mind. Lily glanced at Remus and grimaced looking guilty.
"I'll go back to the girls in a moment," she assured him, looking like she wanted to pull Remus into a hug, not that he could really fault her for that.
"Fine," he huffed, looking longingly at his food he'd yet to dig into while Peter was on his second plate already. It all smelled so good! Lily better not ask a bazillion questions and drag this out.
"So wizarding schools are ranked. There are the top schools, the main schools if you will, which have the best programs and the most students." As well as better rates of wizard career employment even of those in different ministries of magic, but if Sirius said that it would just be bragging.
"Yes, so?"
"So," Sirius said with forced patience. "These schools that came aren't ranked top. The fact the top schools sent them is like a huge insult. Basically they are saying their lesser school counterparts can beat us. That we're that weak."
Lily gasped, rightly offended and Remus looked up frowning.
"I don't think it's that….or not that entirely.."
"What do you mean?" Lily asked gently, encouragingly. Remus flinched and Sirius almost told her to piss off again.
"I think this has less to do with the tournament and more to do with….well the war going on. Dumbledore wants allies. So the larger schools sending these schools might be their way of insulting us, denying help, or sending schools that perhaps can help?" he mused moving his fork around the food on his plate, in an excuse not to have to meet Lily's eyes.
"Yeah, but we don't know which is which," James piped in, being as careful at avoiding Lily's eyes as Remus.
"Well, I suppose it doesn't matter. It's not these schools' faults the bigger schools didn't come."
"True, true, now go back so I can eat," Sirius shooed her, ignoring her eyes roll and her pained look at Remus before leaving.
"It would be neat if this was sending support for the war but these two schools are known to be blood purists, not that they are death eaters necessarily, just less likely to fight on our side."
"How do you know this?" Sirius asked, amused, he only knew about three other wizarding schools, and those were all top tier ones.
"How do you not know mate? Didn't your family tutor you on that stuff? Being pureblood and all."
Sirius shook his head confused.
"My dad says that as purebloods we have a responsibility to….what is it he says….oh yeah carry the history of our ancestors. To learn and do better by that history."
"Well, that explains why I don't know these schools. In my family, the only responsibility 'we' have is to other 'noble and worthy' families. Pretty much the rest of the world can go to hell for all they care," Sirius explained more bitterly than he intended by the end of it. "Enough talking. Shut up and let me eat," he barked digging into his food with gusto, ignoring James laughing at him.