Bold*- parstletounge

Italics - thoughts

"Normal"- speech and narrative

Chapter 57: Beauxbatons And Durmstrang

30/10/1994

~~~~~~~~~

When they went down to breakfast on the morning of the 30th, they found that the Great Hall had been decorated overnight.

Huge silk banners hung from the walls, each of them representing a Hogwarts House: the colours and representative animal on them. Behind the teachers' table, there was a banner that bore the Hogwarts coat of arms: a lion, eagle, badger, and snake - all united around a large letter H.

The group sat down at the Slytherin table, Cassie pulled Malcom onto her knee and he snuggled into her embrace.

"I wonder what the tasks are going to be! I bet they'll be dead fun to watch whatever they are!" The boy stated.

"Well, there is usually a task with a magical creature, then a task that can vary between anything and everything. And the last task is the hardest of all - but it includes the Triwizard Cup!"

The fourth years shared a slight grin over Malcom's head - they all knew that the cup would be a portkey, and they all knew that Potter would be the one to get it. And now, unbeknownst to them, with Moody on their side it would be even easier to execute the plan.

———

All day the air was full of anticipation. Nobody was very attentive in lessons; much more interested in the arrival of the other schools.

When the bell rang early, interrupting their Potions lesson, the group dumped their stuff in the Slytherin common room and then ran upstairs to the entrance hall.

The Heads of Houses were ordering their students into lines. Whilst the other three houses got snapped at and ordered around all Sev had to do was say, "neat line!" and the Slytherins were in order, from first to seventh year. They had smoothed down their uniforms and tidied their hair to make a good impression - they were the house of Salazar Slytherin after all.

They gracefully walked down the steps and lined up in front of the castle. It was a cold, clear evening and the moon was already out; shining above the Forbidden Forest.

Cassandra was standing in between Blaise and Daphne behind Malcom, having been allowed near the front by her Uncle to warm the shivering boy up.

"Nearly six," stated Blaise, checking his watch. "How d'you reckon they're coming?"

"Can't be the train - or brooms for that matter!" Cassandra answered, scanning the darkness.

"And they can't apparate or portkey" Daphne continued.

Nothing was moving in the grounds, everything was still and silent - nothing unusual taking place. As it began to get more and more cold Cass cast a warming charm over her friends, including the twins, Cedric and Luna. She even cast one on Severus and Barty to make sure her Uncle's didn't freeze either - not that they needed help mind you; but she wanted to.

All of a sudden Dumbledore called out from the back row. "Aha! Unless I am very much mistaken, the delegation from Beauxbatons approaches!"

Everyone began looking in different directions. "Where?!"

"There!" yelled Flora, pointing over the forest.

Cassie squinted her eyes, something huge was in the sky, approaching the castle.

"It's a dragon!" shrieked one of the Gryffindor first years, losing her head completely.

"Don't be stupid; it's a flying carriage!" said Malcom, rolling his eyes at his year mate.

And he was right. As the shape drew nearer, they saw a gigantic, blue, horse-drawn carriage - the size of a large house. It was pulled through the air by a dozen winged horses, each the size of an elephant.

"Abraxans!" Cassandra stated in awe.

"Why are they so big?" Asked Malcom, looking up at her with an attentive face.

She smiled down at the intrigued boy. "They were born that way, they can only truly be controlled by giants and those of giant parentage! Which means their headmistress is just that.."

With an almighty crash the horses and carriage landed in front of the students of Hogwarts.

The door, which bore a coat of arms (two crossed, golden wands, each emitting three stars), opened. A boy in pale blue robes jumped down from the carriage and unfolded a set of golden steps before backing up respectfully.

Madame Maxime exited the carriage to many stares. Daphne, however was standing on her toes, trying to see behind her.

Dumbledore started to clap, everyone following his lead. The Headmistress's face relaxed into a gracious smile and she walked forward towards Dumbledore, extending her hand for him to kiss.

"My dear Madame Maxime! Welcome to Hogwarts."

"Dumbly-dort," 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 one of her hands carelessly behind her.

About a dozen boys and girls were emerging from the carriage. Daphne grinned and then suddenly took off out of the formation. She ran up to a pretty blonde girl and a handsome boy, who had light brown hair, embracing them in hugs.

They, as well as the other students, were shivering - which wasn't surprising considering their uniforms were made of silk and they had no cloaks.

Daphne beckoned Cassandra over so she made her way towards her, eyes watching her movements. Blaise surprisingly followed closely behind.

"Cassandra this is Fleur Delacour and Valentine Beaumont, they are my childhood friends: our mothers are extremely close."

Cass turned to the two. "Bonjour mon nom est Cassandra Riddle, bienvenue dans notre école. Ce serait un honneur de connaître les amis de Daphne's!"

(Hello my name is Cassandra, welcome to our school. It would be an honour to get to know Daphnes friends!)

The duo regarded her with a intrigued look. "Tu parles français?" The girl asked.

(You speak French?)

Cassie nodded. Before she could say anything else, Daphne turned to her. "Cassie they're all extremely cold, do you think you could...?"

"Of course Daph!" She flicked her hand and each Beauxbatons student gained elegant cloaks with warming charms attached to them.

"Thank 'ou!" Stated Fleur in a thick French accent.

It was then that Blaise approached warily, from behind Cassandra. "Um pardon moi? But uh, are you half Veela?"

(Excuse me?)

The blonde girl looked him in the eyes, "what ees it to 'ou?"

Blaise looked around for a second to make sure no one was watching before his eyes glowed golden, with flecks of red and orange.

"Mon dieu!" She cried before rushing to give him a hug.

(My God!)

"As Karkaroff arrived yet?" Madame Maxime's voice sounded out. Cassandra's head snapped up with narrowed eyes.

"He should be here any moment," said Dumbledore. "Would you like to wait here and greet him or would you prefer to step inside and warm up a trifle?"

"Warm up, I think. But ze 'orses-"

"Our Care of Magical Creatures teacher will be delighted to take care of them," said Dumbledore, "the moment he has returned from dealing with a slight situation that has arisen with some of his other er charges."

"Those damn skrewts." Cass heard Daphne mutter as they re-took their places.

"My steeds require er forceful 'andling," said Madame Maxime, looking doubtful. "Zey are very strong..."

"I assure you that Hagrid will be well up to the job," said Dumbledore, smiling.

"Very well," said Madame Maxime, bowing slightly. "Will you please inform zis 'Agrid zat ze 'orses drink only single-malt whiskey?"

Malcom giggled, turning his head into Cass's stomach as to not be heard.

"It will be attended to," said Dumbledore, also bowing.

"Come," said Madame Maxime imperiously to her students, and the Hogwarts crowd parted to allow her and her students to pass up the stone steps. Cass and Daphne waved at Valentine and Fleur, as Blaise returned to them.

They now just had to wait for the Durmstrang party to arrive. Most people were gazing hopefully up at the sky.

For a few minutes, the silence was broken only by Madame Maxime's huge horses. But then a loud, eerie noise drifted towards their ears from out of the darkness: a muffled rumbling and sucking sound that made many people look around to find the source.

"The lake!" yelled Fred. "Look at the lake!"

Cassie glanced towards it and saw that bubbles were forming on the surface. Then, in the middle of the lake, a whirlpool appeared. What seemed to be a long, black pole began to rise slowly out of the centre.

As the rigging appeared Theo stated to the group in realisation, "it's a mast!"

Slowly, the ship rose out of the water, gleaming in the moonlight. It had a skeletal look about it and looked like it should have been washed up and broken at sea.

Finally, with a great sloshing noise, the ship emerged entirely, gliding toward the bank. They heard the splash of an anchor being thrown down in the depths of the Black Lake, and the thud of a plank being lowered onto the bank.

Many exited the ship, all wearing cloaks of matted fur. Unlike the Beauxbatons students they were not shivering, in fact, they were taking their warm coats off.

Cassandra glared at the man leading them.

"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.

When Igor reached Dumbledore, he shook hands with both of his own. "Dear old Hogwarts! How good it is to be here, how good! Viktor, come along, into the warmth - you don't mind, Dumbledore? Viktor has a slight head cold..."

Karkaroff beckoned forward one of his students. Cassie grinned as she saw the boy from the top box. As he was walking through the wave of students into the castle, he caught her eye.

"Vassandva! Over here!" He beckoned her over, much to the shock of everyone there, especially Karkaroff. She reached the Quidditch player and he embraced her before offering her his arm. She took it and Viktor Krum escorted her into Hogwarts.

The other Hogwarts students filed back up the steps behind her and the Durmstrang students. Cassandra led him to the Great Hall, for he obviously did not know where to go.

Everyone took their seats at their house tables, Beauxbatons had decided to sit with Ravenclaw and Durmstrang were just standing un-aware of where to go.

Cassandra bid Viktor goodbye and went to give the twins a hug, as they had beckoned her over to ask her a question. Then she went to speak to Cedric, for he too wanted a word. Finally she returned to her place on the Slytherin table.

As soon as she sat down and showed which house she was in Viktor plonked down in between her and Draco, with the other Durmstrang students following his lead by sitting with the Slytherins.

"Vat vas vith all that moving avound Vassandva?" Krum asked her.

"Oh, my friends wanted to speak to me and they're in different houses so I can't speak to them later."

"And vat did they vant?"

Her cheeks tinted red, "well Fred and George wanted me to get your autograph and Cedric just wished me to have a good meal."

"For you I vill sign vatever they vant! And vat Cedvic sounds nice, you vill do vell with him!"

Cassandra blushed and glanced towards the Hufflepuff table, meeting eyes with the very topic of their conversation. She beamed at him and, suddenly, she wasn't the only one blushing.

Diagonal from her, Theo was clutching his knife tightly: knuckles going white as he watched the exchange.

"You like her, don't you mate?" A voice sounded in his ear. He looked up to see Blaise staring at him with a raised eyebrow.

He nodded hesitantly, knowing how protective he was of Cass.

The Italian glanced at Cass, then Cedric, then back to Cass, then at Theo. "You're much better for her than him mate. I may not like the idea of her dating but it's gonna happen eventually, and if it's going to be anyone I'd rather it be you. Draco would agree. To be fair anyone's better than Diggory - but we'd much rather that 'anyone' be you!"

Theo smiled up at his friend.

Now he had permission all he needed to do was work up enough courage to ask her - and beat Diggory to it.