The Hogwarts students flooded into the Great Hall and returned to their house tables. The students from Durmstrang settled at the Slytherin table and the students from Beauxbatons sat down at the Ravenclaw table. Unfortunately Malfoy and his friends decided to monopolize Viktor Krum. Rastaban decided to sit down wherever he could and of course Mafalda found a way to worm her way next to him.
"The last time the Triwizard Tournament was held was 1792." Mafalda said as she continued to recite the history of the Triwizard Tournament. Rastaban already knew the history of the tournament but had decided to let he continue her rant.
Once all of the students took their seats the staff entered the Great Hall. The Beauxbatons students stood from their seats at the sight of their headmistress gaining a few laughs from Hogwarts students though they were unfazed. They didn't sit back down until Madam Maxime took her seat to Dumbledore's left. The students all turned their heads towards the staff table as Dumbledore began to speak.
"Good evening, ladies, gentlemen, ghosts and particularly guests." The Headmaster beamed at the foreign students, "I have a great pleasure in welcoming you to Hogwarts. I hope and trust that your stay will be both comfortable and enjoyable."
"When so you think we'll get to see it?" Mafalda whispered.
"See what?" Rastaban asked keeping his eyes on Dumbledore.
"The Goblet of Fire of course." She replied like it was obvious.
"The tournament will officially be opened at the end of the feast." Said the Headmaster, "Now I invite you to eat, drink and make yourselves at home!" He then sat down.
The food appeared on the plates in front of them. Rastaban noticed that there was more of a variety of meals on the plates than usual. The house elves in the kitchens must have had the foreign students tastes in mind while cooking.
"So many different foods, I don't know which one to pick." Mafalda said excitedly.
"Try the duck confit, you'll love it." Rastaban said, "And then try the Beef Bourguignon it's amazing."
"How do you know much about French cuisine?" Mafalda asked as she took a club of duck.
"My family vacations in France whenever my uncle has time off." He replied, "Since I'm the only member of the Lestrange family that isn't in jail I technically own a mansion in Paris and my aunt loves to cook and learn about new kinds of foods."
"Do you know how to speak French as well?" She asked and he nodded as he sipped on onion soup, "Can you teach me?"
"I don't see why not." He replied hesitantly.
The entire Great Hall was abuzz with chatter amongst the students. They all were eager to speak with their foreign peers. Rastaban tried as many different foods as possible as Mafalda continuously asked him about the French foods and what was in them. Looking over Mafalda's head towards the staff table he saw that two more men sat at the table, Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch. The sight of Mr. Crouch left the boy feeling uncomfortable, he sank further in his seat, attempting to hide behind the numerous students between them.
Soon the desserts arrived and Rastaban distracted himself with Mafalda's love for Macarons. She asked how they were made and why they were all in different colors. Rastaban helped himself to the Chocolate Mousse and Charlotte Russe. The food brought back fond memories of meals with his family.
Eventually all the plates were licked clean and Dumbledore stood from his chair. Mafalda repeatedly hit his arm to catch his attention. He felt absolutely giddy with anticipation and excitement. He leaned further back to get clearer look at the Headmaster.
"The moment has come." Dumbledore announced, "The Triwizard Tournament is about to start. I would like to say a few words before we bring in the casket just to clarify the procedure we will be following this year. But first, let me introduce, for those of you who do not know them, Mr. Bartemius Crouch Sr., Head of the Department of the International Magical Cooperation, "There was a small round of applause "And Mr. Ludo Bagman, Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports." There was an even louder round of applause for Bagman than Crouch.
Rastaban resisted the smirk that threatened to grow on his lips.
"Mr. Bagman and Mr. Crouch have worked tirelessly over the last few months on the arrangements for the Triwizard Tournament." Dumbledore said, "They will be joining myself, Professor Karkaroff, Madam Maxime on the panel that will judge the efforts of the champions."
"Looks like they'll be sticking around." Mafalda said much to Rastaban's dismay.
"The casket if you please Mr. Filch." He gestured to the far end of the Great Hall.
All heads turned to see Filch carrying an old wooden chest towards the head table. The old chest was encrusted with jewels that shined under the light of the lanterns that floated above the students. Murmurs echoed in the room as Filch finally arrived at his destination.
"The instructions for the tasks the champions will face this year have already been examined by Mr. Crouch and Mr. Bagman." Dumbledore explained as Filch carefully placed the chest on the staff table, "And they have made the necessary arrangements for each challenge. There will be three tasks spaced throughout the school year, and they will test the champions in different ways. . . their magical prowess. . . their daring. . . their powers of deduction and of course, their ability to cope with danger."
A deafening silence enveloped the hall as the students held onto every word Dumbledore said.
"As you well know, three champions will compete in the tournament." Dumbledore continued, "One from each participating school. They will be marked on how well they perform each of the Tournament tasks and the champion with the highest total after task three will win the Triwizard Cup. The champions will be selected by an impartial selector: The Goblet of Fire."
Mafalda was just about to jump off her seat in excitement.
Dumbledore pulled out his wand and lightly tapped the lid of the casket, opening it. He reached inside and pulled out by all means an ordinary wooden goblet. The only distinction were the blue flames that filled the cup. Dumbledore closed the casket and carefully placed the cup on the lid.
"Anybody wishing to submit themselves as champion must write their name and school down on a piece of parchment and drop it in the cup." He explained, "Aspiring champions have twenty-four hours in which to put their names forward. Tomorrow night, Halloween, the goblet will return the names of the three it has judged to be worthy of representing their schools. The goblet will be placed in the entrance hall tonight, where it will be freely accessible to all those wishing to compete."
This got a few excited murmurs from the sea of students.
"To ensure no underage student yields to temptation I will be drawing an Age Line around the Goblet of Fire once it has been placed in the entrance hall, nobody under the age of seventeen will be able to cross the line." Dumbledore stated.
This got a few complaints and disappointed sighs from the crown. Rastaban didn't care, he wasn't planning on entering the tournament anyways.
"Finally, I wish to impress upon any of you wishing to that this tournament is not to be entered to lightly. Once a champion has been selected by the Goblet of Fire, he or she is obliged to see the tournament through to the end." The Headmaster said with a serious tone.
"A binding magical contract." Rastaban muttered.
"The placing of your name in the goblet constitutes a binding, magical contract." Rastaban smirked smugly, "There can be no change of heart once you become a champion. Please be very sure, therefore, that you are wholeheartedly prepared to play before you place your name in the goblet. Now, I think it's time for bed, goodnight to you all."
The students all flooded out of the Great Hall. Rastaban overheard many of his fellow Slytherins, like Cassius Warrington, boasting about entering their names.
The next morning, Sunday, almost everyone woke up early. Rastaban made sure to take his time getting ready for the day. He dressed in black jeans, a gray long sleeved shirt and a jean jacket. He made his way up to the Slytherin Common Room where he saw Mafalda having a stare down with Cassius Warrington and his friends. He muttered a curse and quickly stepped to the first year's side.
"Hello, Warrington, may I asked what's going on?" He asked lightly pulling Mafalda a step back.
"That little git was calling us all a pack of idiots." He reached down to flick Mafalda but Rastaban quickly blocked him.
"No I didn't." Mafalda shot back before she looked up at Rastaban, "I overhead them talking about putting an enchanted parchment into the Goblet of Fire. I told them that only a complete idiot would think that would work."
"See she did it again!" The taller teen tried to get at her again but Rastaban quickly got in his way.
"Way I see it she was trying to save you the embarrassment of fooling yourself into thinking you can confund a powerful magical object like the Goblet of Fire." He replied before he smirked, "It's been known to disqualify anyone who tries to trick." Cassius' heated gaze faltered, "Let me do you a favor, Warrington, how about I write your down your name on a regular piece of parchment." He quickly pulled out a paper and ripped off a corner and pulled out a regular pen and wrote down Cassius' name, "And if your names pops up there's no need to thank me." He pressed the parchment to Cassius' chest before Rastaban walked away with Mafalda.
The two made their way out of the dungeons and up to the entrance hall where they heard the echoes of laughter. The rushed up to see what was causing such a commotion. Arriving at the entrance hall they found two old men wrestling on the floor. He found Harry and his friends laughing at the spectacle.
Approaching Harry he asked, "Why are there two old men fighting on the floor?" He asked as he watched the debacle.
"It's Fred and George, they tried to trick the Age Line." He said between his laughter.
"Aging potion?" He asked and Harry nodded.
"I did warn you." Silence befell the crowd as everyone turned to see Dumbledore approaching surveying the twins, "I suggest you go and visit Madam Pomfrey. She is already tending to Miss Fawcett, of Ravenclaw and Mr. Summers, of Hufflepuff, both of whom have tried to age themselves up a bit too. Although neither of their beards is anything as fine as yours."
Fred and George left for the hospital with Lee Jordan on their tail, laughing along the way. Rastaban decided to go to the Slytherin table for breakfast so he would leave Mafalda alone. He watched as the girl was amazed by the flock of life bats swarming around and the looming jack-o-lanterns that decorated the enchanted ceiling. He would occasionally look up to see Harry talking with his friends, they had saw with Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas.
"What do you plan on doing today?" Mafalda's voice caught his attention.
"I was planning on helping Professor Hagrid with the Blast-Ended Skrewts." He answered returning his attention to his breakfast, "What are your plans for today?"
"I was just going to spend the day at the library." She shrugged, "Can I help with the Skrewts?"
"I don't think that's best, they're very dangerous." He replied, "Wait for your third year, you can take Professor Hagrid's class if are interested in it."
After finishing breakfast the two went their separate ways with Mafalda heading up to the library and Rastaban going out to Hagrid's house. Along the way he saw the large blue carriage that belonged to the Beauxbatons students. The gigantic winged horses grazed on the open field in a makeshift paddock just a few feet away from it. He admired the creatures as he walked along the path to Hagrid's house.
"Rastaban!"
He turned around to see Harry, Ron and Hermione walking down the path towards him, "You heading to Hagrid's?" Harry asked as they finally caught up to him.
"Yes, I was going to ask if I could help with the Blast-Ended Skrewts." He answered as they continued on their way down the pathway, "I was also hoping he that he'd let me get close to the winged horses."
"Why would you want to get near those things?" Ron asked glancing at the creatures, "A single kick and they'll knock your head off."
Rastaban chuckled, "Only if you startle them."
Arriving at Hagrid's house and Harry knocked getting Fang's booming barks in reply.
"Bout time!" Exclaimed Hagrid as he swung the door open, "Thought you lot'd forgotten where I lived!"
"We've been very busy, Hag. . ." Hermione's voice stopped in astonishment.
The four students stood in shock at Hagrid's appearance. He wore a hairy brown suite, a checkered yellow and orange tie. What shocked them the most was Hagrid's apparent attempt at taming his hair, he used large quantities of what appeared to be grease of some king. Perhaps he tried to put it back into a ponytail but he had too much hair.
". . .Where are the skrewts?" Rastaban finally said.
"Out by the pumpkin patch." He said gleefully, "They're gettin' massive, mus' be three feet long now. Only trouble now is that they started killin' each other."
"Really? Why? Are they battling for dominance, is it the male or females that are fighting?" Rastaban frantically asked, "Does it have something to do with mating rights or perhaps the right to lead?"
"Whoa, whoa." Hagrid raised his hand, "Calm down there lad."
"How many are left?" Hermione asked.
"Abou' twenty are left now." Hagrid answered, "I put 'em in separate boxes now."
"Well that's lucky." Ron said sarcastically.
"Hagrid can I go and feed the winged horses?" Rastaban asked.
"O' course lad." He reached down and pulled out a large bucket full of a brown liquid, "Give 'em a drink."
Rastaban took the heavy bucket in his hands, "What is it?"
"Single Malt Whiskey." Hagrid answered, "'s all they drink."
Rastaban nodded before he stumbled away from the house and towards the paddock. He cringed at the smell of the whiskey. Eventually he made it to the half empty tank. The winged horses began to trot towards him at the smell of the whiskey. He used all his strength to lift the large bucket over the railing and dump the whisky into the tank.
He hung around the winged horses until lunch time. Instead of going inside he decided to take a leisurely flight around the castle. He walked to the edge of the Forbidden Forest and hid behind a tree before he transformed in his raven form. He flew high above the castle grounds, over the Quidditch pitch, the Black Lake and finally over the castle. He soared in the sky before he finally landed on the roof of the clock tower.
If only I could do this everyday.
He sat there for a while, allowing the autumn wind to pass through his feathers. Once the sun began to set he spread his wings and allowed a particularly strong gust of wind to carry him off the roof. He rode the wind high into the sky before he dived down the side of the Astronomy Tower before he pulled up and flew back to the Forbidden Forest.
He sat there for a while, allowing the autumn wind to pass through his feathers. Once the sun began to set he spread his wings and allowed a particularly strong gust of wind to carry him off the roof. He rode the wind high into the sky before he dived down the side of the Astronomy Tower before he pulled up and flew back to the Forbidden Forest.
Landing behind a tree he returned to his original form and shook his whole body. Peaking through the tree line to see if the coast was clear he finally made his way up towards the castle. He hesitated as he saw Hagrid walking beside Madam Maxime with three Beauxbatons students in tow. He made sure not to be seen by them as he walked away from the Forbidden Forest.
"Rastaban?"
Rastaban flinched as he heard Harry's familiar voice, "What were you doing in the Forbidden Forest?" Hermione asked accusingly.
He turned around to face the trio, "I was looking for something." He replied.
"Looking for what?" Ron asked.
"Bowtruckles." He answered.
"Why?" Hermione asked suspiciously.
"To give them away as a gift." He replied.
"To who?" Harry asked.
"Professor Hagrid." His gaze darted between the three if any of them had anymore questions to ask him, "We should head back, don't want to miss the Goblet of Fire choosing the champions." He said changing the subject.
"Right." Harry nodded, "We should get going."
Rastaban felt Hermione's gaze boring into the back of his Skull as they made their way up to the castle, "Look its them!" Ron exclaimed pointing at the Durmstrang students.
Viktor Krum walked beside Igor Karkaroff as the rest of the Durmstrang students trudged up the lawns behind them.
"Something about Karkaroff puts me off." Rastaban said as they continued into the entrance hall.
"It's probably the teeth." Ron said gaining a laugh from Rastaban and Harry and a snort from Hermione.
Entering the Great Hall they separated to their respective house tables. Rastaban quickly found Mafalda and sat next to her. She quickly informed him of every Hogwarts student who entered their name, "Cedric Diggory from Hufflepuff, Angelina Johnson from Gryffindor and finally Cassius Warrington." She took a deep breath.
The feast seemed to take longer than usual. Perhaps it was the anxiety and anticipation for the champions to be announced. Rastaban ate twice as much as before since he skipped lunch to fly around the castle and the grounds. Mafalda noticed this but said nothing, given that Rastaban was obviously starving. His appetite was finally sated when the second course nearly reached its end.
When the plates were spotless once more the Great Hall was abuzz with chatter. It immediately died down once Dumbledore got to his feet. All the students looked at him expectantly as did the two headmasters at either side of him, "Well, the goblet is almost ready to make its decision." Dumbledore said, "I estimate that it requires one more minute. Now, once the champions' names are called I would ask them please come up to the top of the Hall, walk along the staff table, and go through the next chamber." He gestured to the door behind the staff table, "Where they will be given their first instructions."
Then with a mighty swing of his wand the candles around the room, except the ones in the jack-o-lanterns, blew out. The room was now illuminated by low candle light. Now the blue flames in the Goblet of Fire burned brighter than any others in the room. Everyone sat in anticipant silence.
The blue flames suddenly bled red as sparks began to fly out from the goblet. Suddenly with the sparks of embers a charred parchment shot out from the cup. Gasps could be heard around the room as the parchment fluttered through the air. Dumbledore caught the parchment and unfolded it.
Dumbledore held the paper towards the light of goblet which had returned to its original blue color, "The Durmstrang champion is. . ." He paused for dramatic effect, "Viktor Krum!"
The entire Great Hall erupted in thunderous applause, cheering and whistling. Rastaban watched Viktor Krum rose from his seat from the Slytherin table. He marched his way up to the staff table before he made his way to the other chamber.
"Bravo, Viktor!" Karkaroff's cheering could be heard above all the others, "Knew you had it in you!"
The applause died down as everyone paid attention to Goblet of Fire once again. Seconds later the blue flames turned red once again. A second burst of ember shot out the second parchment which Dumbledore caught. He read the parchment as the flames turned blue once again.
"The champions for Beauxbatons is. . ." He spoke loudly and clearly, "Fleur Delecour!"
A second round of applause erupted in the Hall as the blonde girl made her way to the chamber. Now all that remained if the champion for Hogwarts. The goblet burned red once the applause died down. The third and last burst of embers launched out a price of parchment. Rastaban's heart stopped at he recognized it.
"The Hogwarts champion. . ." Dumbledore paused, "Cassius Warrington!"
What happened next was utter chaos. The Slytherin table erupted in applause, cheering, whistling and fists pounding the table and the Gryffindor table countered with booing, insults and rude hand gestures. The Ravenclaw students only gave courteous applause while the Hufflepuffs remained silent. Cassius kissed Daphne Greengrass, his girlfriend, on the lips before he stood up and made his way to the other chamber.
The chaos ended when Dumbledore pressed his wand to his throat to make his voice boom over the commotion, "Excellent!" He exclaimed causing the students to fall silent, "Well, we have our three champions! I'm sure I can count on all of you, including the remaining Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students, to give your champions every ounce of support you can muster." A few scoffs were heard from the Gryffindor table, "By cheering your champion on you will contribute to very real. . ."
Dumbledore was interrupted by the roar of fire. Everyone froze as the Goblet of Fire once again burned red. Embers burst out of the flames before a fourth piece of parchment flew into the air. Everyone sat frozen ad Dumbledore caught the paper and unfolded it. The Headmaster remained silent for a frustrating amount of time before he cleared his throat.
Rastaban's heart nearly stopped when the fourth name was announced.
"Harry Potter."