The boat harbored off the coast of France at the major seaport of Le Havre. The early morning sun had turned dim as clouds formed overhead, matching the mood of the Hogwarts students and headmistress. The students dragged their trunks off the small vessel and along the seaport docks to several glossy carriages drawn by fancy white horses. The strange thing about the horses was that they were huge. Peeves was surprised they weren't drawing the attention of Muggles, but figured out they were probably invisible to non-wizards, considering most Muggles' eyes seemed to slip past them as if they weren't there. The Hogwarts students, who were becoming very sick of having to lug heavy trunks around, filed slowly but eagerly into the carriages. Peeves was beginning to feel a bit tired from the former catastrophe and would have liked to take a long nap in the stagecoach, but the ride was too bumpy and short. Peeves and his companions were very sick of the ride by the time they arrived at yet another train station.

Peeves moaned as he pulled the bothersome trunk up the steps to the train. He had a horrible headache, his hands were still shaking from the headmistress's fit, and every joint in his body hurt. Why did I do this? he thought to himself.

The second train ride was uneventful, Peeves wasn't in the mood to cause trouble. He slept off and on through the ride, starring out the window at the passing fields and cities. Finally during mid afternoon the train stopped to refuel. All the students, with the exception of Peeves, loaded off. Peeves was fiddling with his wand, amusing himself by making purple sparks fly from it. He was about to doze off again when Sherman plopped down beside him and offered him another candy bar.

"I'm growing quite fond of these," he said, flashing his chocolate stained teeth. "Too bad they don't have cards in 'em, though." Peeves nodded and unwrapped his, ate it, and went back to sleep.

₪

At last the train stopped for the last time close to dark not far from the town of Carcassonne. Again they were escorted by white horses in elaborate carriages to Beauxbatons. Peeves, who was beginning to feel himself again, noticed he was getting strange glances from Professor Sourdine.

Let her look, he sighed. When I'm ready to do no good, I'll make certain she's not in the room.

The carriages wound through the mountains that had just seemed to appear from nowhere. Peeves felt sweat running down his face and realized how hot he was. Being in southern France meant the weather was warmer also. He took off his thick Hogwarts cloak and wiped his face with it. The carriages emerged from the mountains and along a long strait paved road. The setting sun caused the skies to turn purple and the night to become dreamy. The tangy scent of salt was in the air, and in the distance the sea could be heard rushing against rocks. Peeves's eyes followed the coast that appeared on the horizon. It was beautiful with the sun's many setting colors reflecting on the hastening foamy surface. And suddenly, on the coast, set perfectly on a cliff jutted out over the water, sat a magnificent fortress. Peeves gazed in admiration and wonder at the glorious creation shining in the sun. The castle seemed to glow in the light, illuminated by the reflection of the sun on the hundreds of windows set into the walls. Peeves heard some of the others gasp in awe at the gleaming marvel. The carriages jolted up to the entrance and stopped in front of the castle, made entirely of windows and marble. Hogwarts could not compare with the fortress's high, white columns and sparkling panes. This building was a phenomenal masterpiece.

Brilliantly carved oak doors swung open as the Headmaster of Beauxbatons swept out of the entrance and down the steps to his guests. The Beauxbaton students silently streamed out behind him. Headmistress Sourdine stepped gracefully out of the carriage. She looked much better than before, she had changed her clothes, redone her hair and adjusted a beaming fake smile on her lips.

"Influencia!" she cried.

"Sourdine! Comment allez-vous?" called the headmaster, running towards her, arms open. Sourdine politely hugged the headmaster and then batted her eyelashes faintly. "I'm fine, thank you. Are we late?" she asked courteously. The headmaster laughed.

"Not at all," he replied with a thick French accent. "Come in! Durmstrang has just recently arrived before you." He and his students filed back into the fortress followed closely by the eleven Hogwarts students and headmistress.

The entrance hall was almost more intricate than the exterior. Immediately opposite from the doors was a magnificent marble staircase adorned with royal blue drapes and shining gold garland. A wondrous chandelier hung from the extremely tall ceiling and glittered with shining candlelit crystals and gold vines.

"Come! Join us in out Hallows Eve feast!" the headmaster beckoned as he opened the entrance to the Great Hall, located to the right of the staircase.

The Great Hall was above outstanding. It was jaw dropping in wealth and exquisiteness. Floor to ceiling windows covered three whole walls and were sparkling in the light of the still setting sun. The same virtuoso chandeliers hung from the ceiling to hang over twenty snow white lace covered round tables set with gleaming crystal plates and goblets and alluring gold utensils. The tables were placed a bit off to the side so a long blue carpet could be spread from the entrance to the Great Hall and all the way up to the rectangular head table, sparkling with it's own gold tablecloth. Peeves decided he knew why he had never liked Hogwarts; it was too plain.

The headmaster of Beauxbatons gently touched Professor Sourdine's elbow as he escorted her up to the head table. The Hogwarts students were instructed softly to stand in a bunch by a house elf on the right side of the carpet, opposite from another bunch of children, presumably Durmstrang pupils.

Peeves was surprised at the condition of this house elf. She was wearing a plain light blue serving dress and sliver apron. None of the house elves at Hogwarts looked so fine.

The Beauxbatons students were standing at their seats and did not sit down until their headmaster had. Professor Sourdine settled herself in the chair to his right. To his left sat a tall, lanky young man with smooth dark hair and a childlike face. It was impossible to see his expression from so far away. The Beauxbatons headmaster stood up again, motioning for his students to remain seated. He opened his arms wide in a gesture of welcome and beamed.

"Velcome to Beauxbatons! One and all!" he rich voice rang through the room. He beckoned for the young man seated to his left to stand up. "My pupils," he went on grandly. "Zis iz Headmaster Juven of Durmstrang!" A polite applause flickered through the room. "And zeez are hiz studentz," he waved a hand towards the back of the room. Another house elf grabbed the hands of one of the students and dragged him up the carpet. The Durmstrang headmaster cleared his throat.

"Lambert Totalway!" he declared, introducing his student, who, after being led all the way up to the head table, was then seated at one of two empty tables. Another student was escorted up by a house elf.

"Armand Dregary!" Peeves began to feel his stomach growl. He hadn't eaten since breakfast.

"Amy Giotisa!" He was beginning to get a cramp in his leg.

"Baird Baraway!" Peeves looked over at Sherman who was fidgeting uncomfortably.

"Daisy Clyte!" He fiddled with his wand, twirling it between his fingers.

"Yachi Gala!" By the time all fifteen Durmstrang students had been presented, Peeves was very tempted to turn his wand into a carrot and eat it. Finally the Headmaster Juven sat down, all his students seated at one of the round tables. Headmaster Influencia motioned for Professor Sourdine to stand up. She did so and eyed her pupils, fingering a jewel at her throat. A hose elf rushed up to Lawson and snatched his hand.

"Lawson Amus!" the headmistress bellowed. Everyone covered his or her ears.

"Farrah Elson!" Farrah sat down at the other empty table next to Lawson.

"Scarlett Bolviand!"

"Sean Idealian!" A house elf grabbed Peeves' hand.

"Peeves Radley!"

"Sherman Tilford!" Peeves sat down at the table, closely followed by Sherman.

"Adrian Malfoy!" Adrian Malfoy sat down next to Sherman glowering slightly.

"Barlow Bignose!"

"Emmeline Everway!"

"Joyce Imogen!" and finally "Haywood Worts!"

Professor Sourdine sat down delicately. Headmaster Influencia stood up again, all smiles.

"Yes, vell, my pupils, you vill 'ave a chanze to get to know zeez studentz later. But now, ve eat!"

"Ve eat!" rang the chorused reply. The headmaster clapped his hands three times and from a room off the side of the Great Hall swept hundreds of fragrant, steaming platters flying through thin air. Peeves heard gasps from his fellow classmates and the Durmstrang students. He jumped in his seat as one of the platters swooped to a stop in front of him. Taking the hint, he dished himself an orange from it. Before long the room was buzzing with the clinking of silverware, conversation, and refined laughter. Peeves noticed that the Beauxbatons students seemed very well behaved, sitting strait up in their chairs and having napkins on laps. He promptly started eating and before long felt much fuller than he had in days. The platters still roamed around the room, serving students here and there, always offering more.

"'T's very nice 'ere," Sherman said between a mouthful. Peeves nodded through his pudding. "'Ary clean," he mumbled.

The feast was very uneventful and in time the platters stopped coming and the students sat back in their chairs, full. Headmaster Influencia stood up again after dabbing his mouth with a cloth.

"Now, to business!" he declared. "'Ogvarts and Durmstrang 'ave been invited 'ere tonight on ze topic on ze Trivizard Tournament." Again he clapped his hands and a house elf marched up the aisle to the head table, in its arms an oak container the size of a breadbox with delicate carvings imbedded in the wood. The house elf bowed as he handed the headmaster the box and stood off to the side.

"Every school 'as zey're own vay of picking ze tournament champions. 'Ogvarts uses ze famed Goblet of Fire and Durmstrang ze Champion Cards. Ve at Beauxbatons use a very peculiar vay—ze Dice of Decision." With a flourish of his wand, the headmaster lifted the box to reveal three large dice, each the size of a fist. Using his wand he lifted one of the three and plucked it out of the air, holding it for all to see. "Every year Beauxbatons hosts ze tournament, a dice is specially made for each school. There is one die for every school and each die 'as ze names of ze contestants inscribed in zem. Zeez dice take a considerable about of magic and time to make certain every contestant 'as an equal chance. Each die zat is made contains a piece from ze first Dice of Decision ever made. Ze dice pick visely who is ze bravest from each school."

Then he gestured to the one he held in his hand, the crystal gleaming like a rainbow in the light of the chandeliers. "Zeze one iz ze 'Ogvarts one. Ze color iz multicolored representing all of ze 'ouses in zat school. Zis year zere are eleven sidez to it, representing all eleven contestants zis year."

He replaced the die and magicked up a second one. "Zis one iz ze Durmstrang one. It iz made of ruby, representing ze school's color. Zis year zere are fifteen contestants from Durmstrang."

He replaced the second and lifted up the last. "And finally, ze Beuxbaton's die iz made entirely of sapphire, sinze blue iz the school'z color. Ziz year zere are nine contestants from Beauxbatons."

He put the last one back and closed the case. "According to tradition, ze dice vill be rolled tomorrow evening. I vill see you zen." The headmaster lifted his hands in an upward motion, motioning his students and the others to stand up. "Until zen, my pupils vill lead you around ze school. However, now my house elves vill show you to your rooms. Have a pleasant night." Some students nodded their thanks as they were led out of the room.

₪

Peeves laid back and sighed, relaxing against the soft, cool pillows of the Beauxbaton's guest room.

"Can't wait for tomorrow," he said aloud, his eyes flickering to the bunk above his. "Eh, Sherm?" A soft snore was his only answer.