"When I call each champion, they will come up here, meet me, and the other champions," Siamoen spook like it was a great privilege, "Don't you fret! You may return to your current seat afterwards, dear champions! Now… first off, my school's champion. Tisroc Hwin, will you please step up here?"
A tall boy with long, shoulder-length blonde hair stood up from the Dryconderoga table. He wore robes of a dark burgundy brown too, like the other Dryconderoga students. His table made a great amount of noise, making to cheer him up. He smiled rather nervously at his friends, and started down the row, almost tripping on his robes. Silversmith watched him in pride as he approached, and came to a halt at the front of the stage. Hwin, shivering noticeably from head to foot, scanned the Hogwarts and Nockdernia tables expectantly.
"Wonderful, Tisroc!" squealed Siamoen in excitement, clapping a hand on Hwin's shoulder, "And now, Nockdernia's school champion, the lovely Marindernia Cuapauil."
Hermione looked around, and saw a girl rise from the Nockdernia table. She had long, silver hair and pink robes, unlike the other Nockdernia's. Hermione looked over at Ron, and saw that he was set into a trance, watching her. She grumbled. Marindernia almost floated to the stage, took Hwin's hand, shook it, and stood next to him. He hadn't noticed she touched him. As Marindernia searched the Hogwarts table, Hermione noticed another thing- her eyes were purple.
"Ah, yes, the beautiful Marindernia," said Siamoen happily, seizing her hand, and kissing it, "I've heard a lot about you," he resumed his place at the front of the stage, "Which brings us to the last champion, from Hogwarts. Please welcome Harry Potter."
The hall was then filled with the cheers and hollers from the Hogwarts table, mainly from the Gryffindors around them. The Nockdernia and Dryconderoga tables were silent, and every head was turned to them. Harry looked temporarily frozen.
"Come on, Harry!" urged Hermione, nudging him slightly, "Go on!"
He snapped back into reality, and looked around him. Ron poked him hard in the ribs, a sinister smile on his face. Harry stood up reluctantly, glaring at Ron and rubbing his side. He took one last look at them, and started down the row to the stage. Every eye was on him, watching in interest and awe as he quickly walked up the rows. Marindernia and Hwin stared at him as he approached, mouths hanging open.
"Welcome, Harry Potter, to Dryconderoga," said Siamoen enthusiastically, ringing Harry's hand, "So glad you could come."
Harry shook Hwin's hand, trying his best to ignore the staring at his forehead, and did the same to Marindernia. Hermione flushed, and looked away when she noticed what she was doing. Then, Harry stood next to her, watching all the faces pointed in his direction.
"Here you have it! Out three champions!" cried Siamoen, gesturing to the front of the stage, "These brave souls will participate in three skill testing tasks. One will test strength. Another will test agility, and the last, power," he scanned the now silent crowd with his eyes, "Tisroc, Marinderia, and Harry will require respect and gratitude from their schools. If and when one of them shall win, they will receive fifty thousand galleons for their school."
Hermione glanced over at Ron, and he looked back. There was no way Harry was going to believe it- fifty thousand galleons for the champion. That wasn't going to happen. Slytherin were sure to give Harry a hard time.
"And now," announced Siamoen, "You will have your champions back. Don't feel to worried, now!"
Harry, Hwin, and Marindernia stumbled off the stage, and headed back to their seats, Harry having the hardest time. He concentrated of his seat rather than the people staring at him as he walked by the Nockdernia and Dryconderoga tables. He threw himself into his seat between Ron and Hermione, looking around at Fred, who were making a thumbs-up sign in his direction, and George, pretending to sob into his robes. He laughed weakly, and Hermione glowed.
"So," she said, "What next?"
"Dunno," he mumbled, looking around at the front, earnestly avoided the eyes in his direction. Siamoen threw his arms into the air, and shouted-
"Now, for the delectable feast!"
Ron jumped up, as though struck by a sudden thought.
"Finally," he groaned, peering expectantly in front of him, "I'm starving!"
Hermione looked in front of her too. Where there was once nothing but green tablecloth was suddenly a silver plate, fork, knife, and a goblet. The next moment, the far doors near the staff table banged open, and what Hermione saw nearly made her fall back onto the ground.
Platters after platters of food game zooming into the hall in mid air. They each settled onto the staff and student tables, and after that, they sat silent.
"Whoa," gasped Ron, as a tray of steak and kidney pie landed in front of him, "What is this, invisible house elves?"
After dozens of platters landed onto the tables, the doors closed, and everything was quite silent again.
"Is it okay to eat?" said Dean in a startled voice across from Hermione, poking at a tray of baked potatoes. At the Dryconderoga table, they were already eating. Hermione could hear the clings of their goblets hitting their plates. Harry, however, eagerly forked a chop, and stuffed it into his mouth.
"It's o-ay," he said in a mouth full, and at once, Ron gave out a triumphant 'ha', and pilled everything onto his plate along with everyone else at the table. Hermione did the same. There was fish, stuffing, Yorkshire pudding, and great heaving platters of turkey, roast beef, and curry sauce. Before Hermione was about to help herself to a bowl of baby carrots, Fred had taken the liberty to eat them first. Before he had a chance to stuff one into his mouth, what looked like a small rip opened where the steam would have been. Then the carrot actually spoke- "Keep your hands off me, scruffy! I'll bite your head off!"
Harry and Ron were overcome with such a fit of laughter that they nearly toppled off their seats and Ron was spraying the table with mashed potatoes. Everyone stared at them as though worried for their sanity. Hermione saw Marindernia look over the heads of people to watch Harry from her table. She almost smiled, hair shining, and Hermione glowered. She didn't speck for the rest of their meal.
Once they had finished, the platters, goblets and everything else was lifted from the table as though with invisible strings, and they streamed down the tables and through the open door in which they came from. Ron watched with wide eyes.
"Your attention please," Siamoen spoke up, standing up from the staff table, "Both Nockdernia and Hogwarts students will spend their nights there, in the castle," a rush of whispers coursed through the hall, "In the temporary sleeping dormitories for you all. Hogwarts to the east of the castle and Nockdernia to the south. There are boys and girls dorms, don't worry, and my prefects will lead you to them. Off you go now!"
There was the sound of hundreds chairs scrapping the stone floor and Harry, Ron and Hermione followed the stream of Hogwarts students leave through the east door. They passed the giant door and into a wide corridor, it too lined with green drapery.
"That was so good," sighed Ron happily, patting his stomach in a mock manner, "I could just sleep like a baby now."
It was then when Hermione realized how tired she was; her legs felt like lead and it took great effort to heave them up the marble staircase that lead to the upper floors. They passed corridors after corridors with the same green curtains draped over the doorways of what looked like the classrooms, lining the halls. Portraits of warlocks and mocks and witches with shawls over their faces whispered behind their hands, peering eagerly and them as they marched by. They went up at least five stone staircases and through seven different rooms until the pack of Hogwarts students finally came to a halt. They were in an enormous circular room, with plenty of armchairs and desks. All four Hogwarts house flags were hanging high up above a crackling fire. Somewhere up ahead, a voice floated over them-
"The boys dorms are to the left, and the girls, the right. Each house gets your own dorm. The room you are standing in will be the place where you spend your free time. Your feasts will be in the grand hall with the other two schools. If you need help to find anything or if you're lost, ask one of the portrait people. They will gladly help you, only, stay away from the Hags. They drink a little to much Butterbeer…"
Then, the boys and girls split up and preceded in different ways down a different corridor. Hermione said goodbye to Harry and Ron, and followed Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown. They came to a small, circular room with very little light coming in from the tiny windows above. Hermione's trunk was sitting at the foot of one of several four posters, so she walked over to it, and pulled out her pyjamas.
"Did you see that Tisroc guy?," said Lavender across the room.
"Yeah, he's ever so handsome! Harry'll have such a time competing against him!" cried Parvati. Hermione drew the hangings around her four-poster, and climbed into bed, rather to drown their voices.
"I don't know. Harry's changed, in looks," said Lavender, and they exploded into fits of giggles, "Don't you think so, Hermione?"
Hermione bit her lip, not saying a word. Yes, she thought, blushing, he has changed…
…~'*'~…
A/N: I told you this chapter would be coming out sooner than the last one. I really hope your enjoying this story! It takes a lot to write them, getting writers block and all. But listen… I need some ideas for two of the tasks (the power and agility. I've got an idea for strength! Just you wait! It'll be AWESOME!) so, if you have an idea email me at harrys_gurl@hotmail.com *email changed to Lady_darkshine@hotmail.com! Please don't write it in the reviews! It would take up too much room, and I simply don't want anyone to know about the tasks in the future chapters! Oh, and I made up- with much difficulty- Marindenia Cuapauil and Tisroc Hwin's name.