And So It Began
How was it possible for just one day of lessons to be so incredibly draining? Victoire asked herself this as she lay on the grass with a book covering her face and Tonka sunbathing on her stomach. Surely choosing the subjects you enjoy was meant to make studying less gruelling, yet she was discovering that that wasn't the case. The sun was contemplating on setting while a cooling breeze occasionally made a welcomed appearance and every time it stirred up leaves, Tonka would run into the middle of the mini tornado and catch as many leaves as possible. But defence against the dark arts cast a shadow on such a pleasant evening.
"Still attempting to know everything?" Fred sat next to her.
Victoire shoved the book onto the grass and sat up, just noticing the beautiful pinks gradually entering the sky, telling her it was soon dinner time.
"I don't know enough, Fred. You'd think all that extra studying I did would actually come in handy," she sighed as she slid the book into her bag,
"Not everyone can be an aunt Hermione; even she thinks she's a rare species of witch,"
"But I need to be."
Slowly, Victoire's brain was starting to shut down after the constant studying and the overflowing amount of knowledge it was forced to absorb. This was the state she planned on being in most days; it was a sign that she was doing enough to become the student her parents would be proud of. Fred and her friends had given up on trying to mend her ways, for she was so admittedly stubborn and had set what she believed were reasonably high standards.
"Mum and dad say congratulations on becoming head girl, they're really proud of you," Fred stroked Tonka,
"Oh, I'll write to them later," Victoire became distracted by a shadow growing on them.
Casting this shadow was Humphrey Starling. There was never much to say about the round Gryffindor, mainly because he was as interesting as a white wall, as shallow as a teaspoon and had less personality than a black board. In his fifth year, he had gained the delusion that bullying was a suitable hobby and now in his sixth year, he had acquired the nerve to make Fred his prey.
"Well, if it isn't wand lover Weasley," Humphrey strolled up to him,
"I don't see how that's an insult," Fred innocently looked at him,
"You wouldn't, but that's due to your lack of brain,"
"Let's see if you can still speak such nonsense with a lack of teeth," a strong husky voice threatened.
Though Fred attempted to contain his smile, his cheeks turned the colour of the pink sky and Victoire had to release at least one giggle. It was typical of Lucas to make these entrances. He was almost always Fred's knight in shining armour waiting in the wings ever since he started getting bullied. Humphrey's eyes widened at Lucas's voice and he became frozen in place.
"I dare you to turn around," Victoire laughed.
A firm shake of the head was the only movement from Humphrey's body as Lucas strode in front of him and folded his arms. His biceps pressed against the restraints of his shirt, adding to his threatening demeanour and attracting the surrounding swooning girls.
"If I were you, I'd take your food shovelling ass away from here," Lucas smirked,
"I understand why barbie over there stands up for him, but why would you?"
Victoire bolted up, stood to attention and looked Humphrey up and down. She had been picked on once or twice and 'barbie' had been the one label that made her switch from zero to infinity in seconds. Calmly, she guided Lucas back to stand next to Fred, so it was just her and Humphrey. She studied him. Considered her options.
"As head girl, I have multiple options. I could get Lucas to beat you up, or knowing your OWL scores, I could just challenge you to a duel and make a fool out of you," she stared at him.
"Or what wannabe French barbie?" Humphrey rudely interrupted.
In a blink of an eye, Victoire waved her wand, stopping Humphrey from speaking or making the tiniest sounds.
"Or, I could report you to professor McGonagall for bullying which is taken extremely seriously and results in the harshest of punishments. Now, listen very carefully, I'm going to put your actions down to you being brought up by bacteria and all that fat mass murdering your braincells, but if you dare talk to any member of my family or any of my friends again, you'll plead for dementors over me."
Elegantly, she spun around, picked up her bag and signalled for Fred and Lucas to follow her into the castle. Tonka snarled at Humphrey before trotting by Victoire's feet and without turning back, she swirled her wand, allowing him to speak again.
"You have been warned!"
There's nothing like a Hogwarts feast, because a Hogwarts feast replenishes itself continuously until you're stuffed. Victoire had dived into a mountain of chicken, created a valley of mash potatoes with a gravy river, moreish vegetable stones at the bottom and a Yorkshire pudding manor on the top. Of course, she had helped herself to two servings despite the Weasley average being three, but this was in effort to save at least an inch of room for dessert which had to be a chocolate brownie followed by an apple crumble with silky custard. This warm comforting banquet blanket was however second to Grandma Molly's family feasts where she'd cater to everyone's individual tastes, something Victoire knew she'd start to miss. Stuffing her face wasn't the true highlight; it was Aaron complaining that the food wasn't spicy enough and proceeding to slip our Korean condiments which burned everyone's mouths when tried, Brea attempting to look healthy by hiding sausages and potatoes under a cloak of greens and sly food fights usually started between Hufflepuffs and Slytherins.
Ten minutes after Victoire's food baby had reached its maximum size, Professor McGonagall captivated the halls' attention by simply tapping her glass with her fork. There was a seriousness in her expression, yet the excitement that joined it couldn't be hidden. Whatever she was about to announce was going to make or break the year.
"Tonight, marks the beginning of a special event returning to Hogwarts," she announced, "but before I reveal what it is, may I introduce to you the fine young ladies of the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and the incredible students from Durmstrang!"
Both entrances into the buzzing great hall did well in elevating the excitement levels of the Hogwarts students. Victoire recalled as a child, her mother describing how difficult it was to prance so elegantly in time with a sea of silk vivid sky blue and how you could never prepare for such a tall, powerful and ethereal woman to strut by you. Rumours were in constant rotation of the rugged handsomeness and the intriguing dark exterior of the Durmstrang boys, but no one had ever even mumbled about how poised and attractive the girls were. Though she wanted to, Victoire couldn't wave at the Beauxbatons like all the other girls; her stomach performed backflips when she tried, and she instead performed a flirty wave towards the Durmstrangs who craved her attention. The excitement remained, yet the room grew silent as everyone's focus moved to the front of the hall.
Covered by a silver cloak entered a centrepiece at least seven feet tall and exuding a fiendish aura that made the light recede into the corners of the hall. Though many of the teachers were eager for the spectacle to be revealed, there was a heavy dread lingering on Professor Longbottom and McGonagall's faces as the suspense grew around the mystery object. McGonagall's silence continued as she took slow steps around it with only an inch separating her hand and the fabric, but purposely no less.
"A tradition was once welcome to our castle during dark and unspeakable times," the words made Victoire's heart heavy with the realisation of what the dark time was, "but as the grey clouds clear, the sun's rays shall revive what was lost."
Another centrepiece was brought it, also covered, but this time slimmer with a pale blue glow penetrating what hid it from the students. Whispers began to spread around the hall as McGonagall stood in between the two towers with her eyes scanning the room and sympathy pouring out of them.
"The Triwizard Tournament," silenced the whispered, "is no mere game of the bold. It is a gruelling and dangerous challenge of the brave and skilled. If you wish to enter for the glory, the fame and the title, please forget I ever notified you of the tournament and remain a spectator. Those who wish to enter in order to prove something to themselves or to better themselves may write their name on a piece of parchment and drop in into-"
The goblet of fire. The words were said as the goblet was revealed with roaring blue flames rising from it. Gazing into the flames ignited something powerful within Victoire. It was powerful enough to block out all noises except from her pounding heart, morph everything but the goblet and the hypnotizing fire blurry and send tingles raging through her body. Her hand patted over her robes, searching for a scrap piece of parchment while her eyes refused to break away from the flame. Nothing felt righter than taking part in the tournament. At first, she thought it was the title that appealed to her and it was her ego taking over, but no; she need to prove that she was good enough to follow in her mother's footsteps and more than good enough to be a Beauxbaton by beating them like a drum. She would no longer be the wannabe French barbie and people would stop questioning her abilities; she'd be worthy and that's all she ever craved. She just wanted to be worthy.