Chapter 40
Hogwarts, September 10
He didn't like the smile on Iskrem's face. He looked as if he knew what was coming. As if he knew exactly what was coming. Evan Potter had some experience with an fierce wizard, so he was sure that the Lord of the Ice Kingdom was up to something.
"Let's go." - he growled, then, ignoring the other professors, pulled his old tutor from Headmaster Dumbledore's office. Without a word, he walked over to a door that was known not to open to anyone other than a house elves.
There were exceptions. They opened when someone really needed it. Just like him right now.
"What are you planning?" - he asked unbeaten after a few seconds of embarrassing silence. Seconds that allowed him to calm down.
"Nothing special." - The wizard smiled. The frown on his face looked more like a smirk than a real smile. - "I just activated the Goblet of Fire the way it was intended."
Potter sometimes wondered how he was still holding on to Iskrem's mysterious way of speaking. This wizard was sometimes more evasive than the Centaurs, who are very famous for it.
"Speak." - Evan growled with clenched jaw. - "Tell me what's going on or I'll break your nose."
"Do you know what the Goblet of Fire is? It isn't only a bowl used to draw tournament participants. Let me tell you something. The Goblet of Fire was displayed on the Pedestal the day after the end of the Games. Throughout the year, those willing to participate in the next tournament threw parchment with their candidacy into it. We didn't have ONE day when the draw was taking place. There was no gala organized during which we got to know the participants. Each candidate had to take a written oath. Signed with your blood."
Evan couldn't help but ask a question. "What happened when someone was absent when their name fell out of the Goblet of Fire?"
"The Goblet of Fire is an artifact that works similar to a Portkey. Let me give you an example. If Helen Granger were to represent Durmstrang in the Triwizard Tournament, she would have appeared near the Spell. And not even the Hogwarts anti-apparition spell will prevent her from doing it."
"What will happen when the draw ends?"
"The Goblet of Fire will be back where it should be from the day it was stolen."
It was at this point that Evan Potter realized that the Triwizard Tournament might be remembered for completely different reasons than he assumed before returning to Hogwarts.
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The day has finally come. The day has finally come when they will find out who will represent Hogwarts. James Potter was lost in thought and tried to distract from them. He missed Petunia and didn't know how to deal with it.
When he sighed again, he heard an angry question that fell from Sirius' mouth. - "How much longer will you sigh to the girl that isn't around? There is another one that would gladly fill this void.
"And who is that" - he stretched the next word so that it was clearly heard what he thought about it - "ANOTHER ONE?"
"Lily. Lily Evans still looks at you like a beaten dog. It's not fair that you suddenly reject her after all these years of courtship."
"Sirius... I never took any courtship to her. I wanted to go out on a date with her. I court to her sister, because it is Petunia that I want to marry."
Black looked surprised. Stuttering, he asked, "To marry? But she is a Muggle."
James stood up abruptly. After a while, he leaned against the table and leaned in he could say to his friend in the ear - "Muggle? Yes Petunia is a Muggle. I didn't know you were prejudiced." - The boy knew that he had to calm down because he wanted to break his friend's jaw.
"I don't. But your grandparents are."
"If they object and my father supports them, they will lose another family member."
xxx
"Professor! Professor!" - James shouted after the man he saw in the hallway after leaving the library. - "I'd like to talk to you."
The dark-haired wizard turned and a shadow of a smile appeared on his face. "How can I help you, Mr. Potter?"
He felt surprised. He didn't think the Durmstrang professor would know his name. He didn't know what to say. The silence probably lasted too long, and the reason for his confusion must have been too obvious.
"You look like a miniature of my brother. It's clear what your family name is. The only thing I don't know is your name."
"James. My name is James Potter. Why didn't I know you existed?"
"Ask your grandparents about the exact circumstances. I don't have time for it. My dear father and precious mother didn't like my choice of wife. I fell in love with a Muggle. I was brave enough to marry her. Goodbye, Mr. Potter. Maybe we'll still have a chance to talk."
"My name is James. We are Family."
There was a hint of pain in the professor's eyes. He straightened, he put his face a mask of indifference. Before he left, he made one sentence. - "By my parents' will, WE ARE NOT FAMILY."
xxx
Not only James Potter waited for draw representatives who will take part in the upcoming Triwizard Tournament. However, only Lily hoped the tournament would bring a little change to her day routine. She never thought that a broken friendship would break ties with other students. She was sure James was interested in her. She was counting on it. However, since the beginning of this year, any mention of a dark-haired gryphon ended in an argument with her friends in the dormitory. They said he was out of reach since he started courting another woman.
"Ah..." - she sighed, staring at the void.
She sat at the Gryffindor table in the still almost empty Great Hall. She was lost in thoughts, so she didn't expect that someone would hug her while standing behind her back.
"Where are your mind running away?" - Alice Bones was clearly amused.
The red-haired girl turned and looked into her friend's eyes. - "What do you think? Where could I run my mind away? I wonder when my life changed so much."
After a moment of silence, the girl sat down and looked at Lily with surprise clearly visible in her eyes. - "Are you still about it? Can't you let go?"
"Let go? Really? This year I lost my friendship with Maraduers. Even Sirius doesn't talk to me."
"Are you surprised by him? He had a choice. You or James. It's obvious he chose James. He chose his friend. Unlike you."
Lily still hadn't realized that her decisions in the past had an impact on her present.
xxx
Durmstrang, September 10
He couldn't look away from the drop of juice dripping down her wrist. It's not the first time Severus has seen Helen eat oranges. It wasn't the first time he had watched a drop of juice slide down her smooth, fair skin. However, for the first time he thought he would like to lick off that drop. He was embarrassed about it and he hoped that his beloved wouldn't notice it.
"Today there is a draw for tournament participants. Are you just a little nervous?" The brunette asked a question and then she bit her lower lip still looking at him.
He tried to focus on something behind her. - "What should I be nervous about?" - To his surprise and relief, his voice DIDN'T tremble.
"Returning to Hogwarts, drawing participants, meeting some Gryffindors..." - she sighed loudly - "Or maybe because..."
He didn't know what she wanted to say, because instead of finishing her thought, she quickly moved closer to him and touched his lips several times. Each kiss was less and less gentle. Instinctively, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close enough that he could feel the rhythm of her heartbeat. After a moment he heard a groan that escaped her lips.
"Severus..."
His name was just a whisper in her mouth, but she still managed to surprise him enough that he didn't realize when she slipped her hands under his shirts. He could feel her fingers running over the scars of the past.
He broke the kiss regretfully. It was clear that she felt disappointed. The expression on her face changed quickly as she saw that he begin to take off his clothes.
"Severus Snape. Severus Snape is the champion of Durmstrang." - in his head he heard the voice of the headmaster of the old school.
It was a hunch. He quickly embraced his fiancée, and after a while he felt the stone floor of the old castle under his feet instead of grass. He was furious. Not caring about being half-naked, he screamed so loud that he could be heard.
"Has anyone talked about me?"
xxx
Hogwarts, September 10
He saw the Great Hall fill up. He wasn't surprised by this. The drawing of the representatives was a symbolic beginning of the Triwizard Tournament. The Weighing of Wands is considered the official start. During that event, dignitaries from the Ministries of Magic, a representative of the ICW and journalists will appear.
He waited a moment to wait for those students who managed to be late despite the announcements posted on the Notice Board in the Common Room of each House.
"Dear students and guests. The draw is about to begin. You can take care of eating dinner, but those who will be selected are asked to approach the teacher's table."
xxx
Albus Dumbledore didn't believe what he had just seen on the parchment. The first participant in the Triwizard Tournament was someone he didn't expect. He didn't think the boy would want to return to Hogwarts only a few months after he escaped from it.
"Severus Snape. Severus Snape is the champion of Durmstrang."
"Did anyone talk about me?"
The headmaster of Hogwarts heard the whispers of his students. Severus Snape returned to Hogwarts.
The old wizard looked at the door to the Great Hall. There was a man who looked like and didn't look like Severus Snape. Skinny Slytherin was push over not only in his own home. The boy who nearly died because of one of his favorite students.
He had to admit that he was surprised by the condition of the former Slytherin's wardrobe. He possessively held a girl in his arms, who seemed to be pleased with it. The young man himself looked furious. But why?
"Yes, Severus. You have been named as Durmstrang's representative at the Triwizard Tournament."
The boy snorted. - "You think too much of yourself. We aren't so familiar that you call me bymine first name."
There was almost complete silence after his words. He was definitely not a student who, despite the battles with the Marauders, was unable to openly oppose him.
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I wanted to add chapters every Monday. It didn't work out last week. I hope you will be patient as I want to introduce adding Veela Sev to my weekly routine. How do you like this chapter? From the next one, almost the entire story will be held at Hogwarts. Regards, katie-krum