Classes began the next day as usual. We had Transfiguration with Mcgonall, charms with Flitwick and Herbology with Sprout in the morning session.But the students as well as the staff were generally distracted because of the imminent arrival of the foreign students.
Morning session classes ended and we were walking to the great hall for lunch. Suddenly one of the students cried " Look to the sky, a flying carriage."
We rushed to the window and looked up and sure enough a horse drawn carriage was flying in the sky. It finally landed on the ground near Hagrid.The Bauxbaton students have finally arrived.
Just then a ship rose from the waters of the Black lake. It slowly docked on the land and thus the Durmstrang students has finally arrived.
Classes continued still. That day at dinner as the rest of hogwarts students were having dinner the Bauxbaton students entered the hall, leading them was Madam Maxime the headmistress of their school. Dumbledore embraced her and he was half the height of her so it looked quite funny. But the attention of all boys were on Fleur Delecour the half veela. Her charm was proving to be very effective on the Hogwarts students. My Occlumency helped in throwing offthe effects as did Daphne's presence as I took her hand in mine. Daphne looked around and observed the others reaction to Fleur and then smiled at me. I looked at Blaise and saw he was drooling. I kicked him on the legs and broke him out of the trance.
The Bauxbatons witches sat at the Ravenclaw table.
Another set of students came, this time the Durmstrang students. Leading them was Igor Karkaroff the headmaster of Durmstrang. But all eyes were on the qudditch star Viktor Krum.
"Dumbledore.." called Karkaroff as he embraced him
"Well with the way he is behaving you could say that he is best friends with Dumbledore rather than a Death eater." Blaise said
We laughed lightly at that.
The Durmstrang students sat with us on the Slytherin table.
"Now everyone if I can kindly have your attention please.As of this moment the Tri-wizard tournament has begun. Now each school can have one champion. This person must be at the age of sixteen or above. No others can participate in this tournament.The champiochampions will be selected by the Goblet of fire an ancient artifact which is warded to only accept of those of age. Be very sure before you enter your name, because once selected you are magically bound to participate. Now certain rules of the tournament will be explained by our ministry representative Barty Crouch and Ludo Bagman." Dumbledore said and with a flourish he ignited the Goblet
After Barty Crouch explained the rules we took our dinner. The students all left returned red to their common rooms after dinner and retired for the night.
That entire week many sixth years and seventh years began putting their names in the Goblet. I watched as Cedric Diggory put his name in the Goblet as the Hufflepuffs cheared him on. Fleur Delecour and Viktor Krum entered their names as well with much fanfare. Then the most funny thing happened, the Weasely twins drank an aging potion and entered the ward line that Dumbledore casted.Then they put their names in the goblet. At first the Goblet did not react and the twins celebrated, but then the Goblet turned into a violent red flame and blasted them away. They rolled around the floor and when they got up their hair turned greyish white and sprouted a white beards on each of their faces. They began to blame eachother and started a fist fight in the hall.
The next day everyone was eagerly waiting for the selection of champions.At dinner the Goblet will choose the champions for each schools.
"Who do you think will be the Hogwarts champion" Blaise asked me
"Cedric Diggory or Mathew Bole" I said
"I hope Bole gets selected. We can lord it over the Lions." Tracy said
"Diggory is not bad. He a strong wizard, any in our houhouse respects him." Daphne said
"Leave all that, we will know our dear champion tonight. Tell me about our situation. Can Slytherin house be dominated by us. I hve the quidditch team and the reserve players with me as well as some friendly allies in sixth year. What about you." I asked
"Many neutral famiies will flock to us. But if what you said is right then there will be problems. At the moment we are evenly matched." Daphne said in a whisper
"Next year Slytherin prefects must be from our group.We will need every advantage we can get." I said
That night we waited in the great hall after dinner for the selection of champions. Dumbledore came forward moving the goblet with a flick of his wand.
"Th e Goblet is now ready to choose the champions." Dumbledore said
With a small flash of fire the Goblet spat out a piece of parchment. Dumbledore plucked it out of the air.He read it out loud
"The Bauxbatons champion will be Fleur Delecour." He announced
There was a great applause as Fleur skipped towards Dumbledore and shook his hand, embraced Maxime and walked towards the trophy room.
The goblet ignited again and a parchment was sat out. Dumbledore caught it
"The Champion fr Durmstrang will be Viktor Krum." he announced
Krum shook hands with Dumbledore and Karkaroff and then dissapeared into the trophy room admist the applause.
Another parchent was spat out from the Goblet and Dumbledore caught it
"The champion for Hogwarts will be Cedric Diggory." He announced
Everyone cheered and the Hufflepuffs were very happy with this selection as they rarely get any recognition. Diggory shook hands with DumbleDumbledore and entered the trophy room.
"Now as the champions has been selected we..." Dumbledore trailled off as the Goblet spat out another parchment
He plucked the parchement out of the air and stared silently at the parchment for some time
"Harry Potter!" he shouted
Everyone was silent and looked towards the Gryffindor table.
"Harry Potter" Dumbledore shouted again
Ron and Hermione pushed Harry out of the seat and he walked towards Dumbledore. Dumbledore ushered him into the trophy room. The great hall descended into chaos as everyone began to voice their opinios regarding the new turn of events. The Hufflepuff table was filled with angry whispers as a Gryffindor ruined their lime light.
During all this I looked on with no emotion completely Occluding my mind. But inside I was relieved as the time line has remained intact.