I don't own Harry Potter, and I'm doing this for fun, not profit. Please let that be a sufficient disclaimer!
...
Fred and George were utterly delighted. The rest of the occupants of the small side room? Less so.
"Did you put your names in the goblet?" asked Dumbledore, resignedly.
"Of course!" came the dual reply.
"How did you get both names on a single slip of paper?" Dumbledore asked, almost dreading the answer.
"Oh, that was easy"
"Little too easy, really"
"Quite right, Gred"
"Thanks, Forge"
"Misters Weasley?" Dumbledore interrupted.
"Right, right. As we were saying..."
"...all it took was a confundus charm..."
"That's not true!"
"Is too!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
"Is n..."
"Boys!" interrupted Dumbledore, again.
"...that was a little overpowered..."
"...by a very special potion!"
Dumbledore put his head in his hands. "So you enhanced your spell power with a potion, then cast a confundus at the goblet to make it think two names could be submitted together?" he asked, sounding utterly defeated.
"Exactly!" replied the twins.
"Well, Albus? It seems your students cheated, and are even admitting it! What do you intend to do?" asked Headmaster Dinchev.
"Define, 'cheating'" asked Gred.
"Because such terrible accusations might hurt our feelings!" added Forge.
"Breaking the rules by submitting your names together, obviously!" replied Dinchev, irritated.
"What rules?" asked Gred
"The tournament rules!" Dinchev half-shouted. Were these twins dense?!
"Call us pedantic..."
"But not literally"
"It would be a weird name"
"...but can you tell us..."
"...which rule was broken?"
"Maybe show us the exact wording?"
"It's just that no-one told us..."
"...there were any rules..."
"...for us to break."
Dinchev looked gobsmacked, as did Maxime. Dumbledore just had a feeling of existential dread.
"But...", began Dinchev. And also ended.
"Headmaster?" Ana asked.
After a few seconds of silence, Dumbledore spoke up. "We do not have a written copy of the rules, as they were lost decades ago. We shared what rules we knew when the goblet was lit. It was expected that students would behave reasonably during the tournament."
"So there are no actual rules?!" asked Ana; whether horrified or delighted, no-one could tell.
"That's ridiculous! 'o would enter a tournament where there were no rules?" asked Pauline. After receiving an 'are you joking?' look for Gred, she took on the mannerisms of a trapped animal.
"Well, all of that..."
"...sounds like a problem..."
"...the school heads might..."
"...want to solve!"
...
In the end, it was decided that the twins had to both compete, but only one would actively attempt each challenge. As champions could ask for help from friends anyway, this made them no different from the other champions... in theory.
As for the rules, Dumbledore hastily added a couple – such as champions not being able to interfere with, or prank, each other between tasks.
Back at the Gryffindor common room, the Weasley twins were the heroes of the hour. After explaining how they achieved the desired result, and bringing down party supplies (drinks, snacks, a Muggle stereo and some fireworks, of all things) from their room, the party could begin.
Cuddled up together on a sofa, with Fleur burrowed into Harry's side, the new couple watched the antics with amusement. "They are always like this?" Fleur asked.
"Oh no, not at all! This is pretty mild for them", Harry answered honestly.
Fleur laughed, part amused part incredulous. "But they are setting off fireworks!"
Harry smiled, nodding. "Of course! But they haven't used any of the really flashy ones yet. I wonder why?" Harry mused out loud.
Ron, who had obviously heard the question, answered from behind them. "Saving them for the tournament, I think. They'll have a proper party when they win."
"If they win", Fleur corrected. "Pauline obviously 'as no chance, from what you've said, but the Durmstrang girl – Ana? – might."
Harry nodded thoughtfully. Ron, however, had another question. "How come you're not celebrating with your school, Fleur? I mean, aside from Harry being up here?"
Fleur smiled at the question. "Pauline 'as disliked me ever since I mentioned 'arry was my friend. Let 'er celebrate, she won't want me there."
...
The next day, Harry had a mirror call to make. "Cheveu? Sis, are you there?"
Cheveu answered quickly. "Hey Harry! I was wondering when you might call! Too busy with Fleur?" she teased.
Harry blushed a little guiltily; he wasn't going to admit that she was right! "I was hoping you'd be free this weekend to meet me and Fleur in Hogsmeade", Harry asked, ignoring the question.
Cheveu smiled broadly. "Sounds great! I've missed you, little bro, and Fleur too. Saturday or Sunday?"
"Saturday! Then I can see you a day sooner!" Harry replied, eagerly.
Cheveu laughed. "Barely any contact for a few weeks, and now a day matters?"
Harry gave a sheepish and somewhat guilty smile. "I've been busy?" he offered, hoping he sounded at least a little convincing. He didn't.
"Yeah yeah, whatever bro. Just don't make me Auntie Cheveu yet, ok?" Cheveu replied, teasing her brother again.
"Cheveu!" Harry replied, embarrassed.
...
"Wait a minute. You mean this secret passage ends in a chocolatier?!" Fleur asked in surprise.
"Well, they sell other sweets and things too", Harry added carefully.
"So why haven't we been to visit before now?!" Fleur asked, astounded.
Harry gave a sheepish smile. "Because I didn't think about it?"
Fleur shook her head. "'arry, my beloved, do you know anyone who doesn't love chocolate? The house elves do not provide any, do they?"
Harry kissed Fleur's cheek fondly. "No, they don't. We can get some on the way to meet Cheveu, my cherished."
...
Some minutes later, Harry and Fleur exited Honeydukes, with magically-shrunk parcels in their pockets; Fleur was happy with her (Harry thought excessive) purchases, though inwardly she committed to taking Harry to a French chocolatier over the holidays. They had just started looking for Cheveu when two voices called out to them.
"Harry! Fleur!" "Big brother! Big sister!"
"Gabrielle?!"
A few seconds later, Gabrielle became ground zero of a giant group hug.
"Little fly! It's so good to see you! How did you get here?!" Harry asked, before placing a kiss on the crown of his sister's head.
"Magic, obviously", Gabrielle answered with a cheeky smile.
"I bet Cheveu taught you to say that!" laughed Fleur, who hugged her little sister especially tightly.
Harry, meanwhile, was hugging Cheveu tightly. "I really did miss you, even if I didn't call enough", Harry murmured quietly.
Cheveu gave a pleased smile. "Good! I missed you loads, bro", she told him again.
"But how did Gabrielle get here? Did you dual apparate all the way?" Harry asked. Fleur stopped chattering away to Gabrielle for a moment to hear the answer.
"I reckon I probably could, but best to test it on someone less important first, like Uncle Sirius", Cheveu joked with a smile.
"Hey!" complained a disembodied voice.
Harry and Fleur turned towards the sound, just in time to see Sirius and Remus magically appear.
"Uncle Siri! Uncle Remus!" cried Fleur and Harry together, who then took turns attempting to squeeze the air out of their Uncles' lungs.
"Hey pups! I heard some interesting news, and wanted to check it out myself", Sirius hinted.
"I'm less nosy, and just wanted to see my favourite cubs all together", Remus added.
Fleur turned to Harry. "Wait, you didn't tell them?"
Harry blushed. "I told Cheveu! I though you had told Uncle Siri and Uncle Remus!"
Sirius shook his head mournfully. "Keeping secrets from us, huh. We're the cool uncles, you're meant to tell us the cool stuff!"
"Erm... Fleur and I are dating now, surprise?" Harry tried.
Fleur kissed Harry gently on the lips, just to prove his point. And because she loved kissing her boyfriend.
"Congratulations!" "It's about bloody time!" came the replies.
"Anyway, let's go have fun!" Gabrielle interrupted. She was pleased for her brother and sister, but they could celebrate even better in a cafe!
...
The day was filled with fun and laughter as the group explored Hogsmeade and then Edinburgh together. Sirius regularly turned into his dog form (away from muggle eyes), proving he could still carry Gabrielle around on his back. If any bystander thought it looked odd, they didn't comment.
Cheveu found some of the places in Edinburgh she and Harry had snacked in before, so the whole group were able to experience the Scottish tendency to deep -fry everything ("Moony! They've got deep-fried crisps!" "But aren't crisps already deep-fried, Padfoot?" "Then they're double deep-fried, and they look amazing!").
Fleur found a bookshop, and after Cheveu whispered something to her, she blushed, hugged Cheveu tightly, and replied with a grateful "Merci".
Gabrielle found a lingerie shop, and found that, quite unfairly, no-one was willing to let her go in yet! She was nine, after all! Though Cheveu did whisper "I'll take you in a couple of years" when Harry and Fleur, at least, weren't listening.
Remus and Sirius then started a game of 'who can embarrass the other the most when Sirius is in dog form'. It started close – Remus talked loudly about how much better behaved his dog was after "the operation"; Sirius jumped up to slobber all over Remus' face.
But Sirius won when he peed up against a wall, right next to a grumpy-looking teenage boy... then 'missed' and sprayed the poor boy on the leg. "Padfoot!" Moony shouted, mortified. A few steps behind - so it wasn't obvious during the game that they knew the pair - the others burst out laughing.
After more fried food, and then exploring a castle ("Castles are so cool! Can we go to the very top, big bro?" "Only if you're the best little sister ever." "..." "Ok, let's go!"), the group returned to Hogsmeade. Gabrielle got the most hugs goodbye, with promises that Harry and Fleur would call them soon, but Harry made sure to hug each of his family tightly. In that moment, Harry knew that days like this would be what he would treasure most, once he and Fleur were... well, at least living together.
...
"Katie? Is something wrong?" asked Fleur one evening in the Gryffindor common room, whilst Harry was getting changed in his room.
Katie had been staring into the fire, thinking. She hadn't realised anyone had been paying attention. "Oh! Hi Fleur! It's nothing, really."
Fleur shook her head. "I don't want to pry, but it does seem like something is bothering you", Fleur gently pushed.
"It's ok, I'm just being silly", Katie evaded.
Fleur hazarded a guess. "Are 'arry and I kissing too much in public? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be inconsiderate" Fleur guiltily confessed. They had been kissing a lot, and whilst they tried to be restrained in public areas, they weren't always successful. Like yesterday when...
Katie sighed. Did it have to be Fleur who asked? Though maybe it was for the best. Unknowingly interrupting Fleur's pleasant memory, Katie replied. "No, it's not that. It's silly, it's just – I haven't seen as much of Harry this term. I miss my best friend a little, that's all. I've not even seen him at practice, since the Quidditch tournament hasn't been announced yet and the Gryffindor team hasn't even been able to train."
Fleur felt both a little relieved and a little ashamed. She hadn't wanted to deprive Harry of time with his friends, though with the newness of their relationship... well, both of them had probably been a little engrossed in the other. And without Quidditch training, that was even less time Katie had spent with Harry.
Pulling Katie into a hug, Fleur replied. "I am sorry, Katie, I 'ave been taking much of 'arry's time."
Katie rushed to disagree. "No, it's not a problem! You're his girlfriend, you should..."
Fleur interrupted. "Non, I know 'ow much 'arry cares about your friendship but I 'ave not given 'im time to enjoy it this term. And my own friends are likely feeling a little abandoned as well. I'll go tell 'arry 'e should spend time with 'is closest English friend tonight."
Katie gave Fleur a surprised look. "Do you mean that?" Fleur nodded.
Katie squeezed Fleur's arm gently. "You're the best, you know that?"
Fleur laughed lightly. "Non, just wanting the best for my friends and boyfriend."
Getting up, Fleur went to suggest to Harry a new plan for the evening.
...
Sat in the kitchens next to each other, a hot chocolate in their hands and her head resting on his shoulder, Harry and Katie were catching up.
Harry had to admit he had missed Katie. Whilst he hadn't heard Fleur call Katie his best English friend, if he had then he would have had to admit she was probably right (assuming Cheveu didn't count, which she didn't as she was family).
"I've missed this", sighed Katie, clearly reading Harry's mind.
Harry, though, played dumb to tease his friend. "What, hot chocolate? How often do you raid the kitchens?!" he asked, mock-outraged.
Katie giggled and nudged him with her shoulder gently. "No, silly, I meant this", and she motioned between the two of them for emphasis. "Time with my best friend!"
Harry grinned. "I know, I know. I've missed you too, Katie. Maybe we can spend a day together in Hogsmeade one weekend, and pretend it's the summer?"
Katie smiled at the thought, but there was a problem. "I thought you already had the next Hogsmeade weekend planned? I don't want to steal away the time you've promised Fleur", Katie insisted.
Harry shook his head, smiling mischievously. "Who said anything about a Hogsmeade weekend?"
Katie blinked twice. "Erm... You did?"
Harry gave Katie an affectionate squeeze. "No, I said we could spend a day together in Hogsmeade at the weekend, not that it had to be a Hogsmeade weekend", Harry replied.
Katie turned to look at Harry, excitement in her eyes. "Do you mean we're going to sneak out of Hogwarts together?!"
Harry nodded, eyes shining with mischief. Katie's response was to hug Harry tightly. It was a bit of a challenge, as they sat side-by-side with hot chocolates in their hands, but she managed it.
Harry had been aware of Katie's distracting strawberry scent – she really did just smell (and look) too good – but Harry had become an expert at ignoring his attraction to his close friend. But in that moment, sat in the kitchens together, a sudden thought stormed his brain.
"Katie?" Harry began.
"Yes, Harry?" she replied, not quite willing to let go of him yet.
"Strawberry hot chocolate", Harry stated, sharing his epiphany.
"Strawberry hot chocolate?" Katie repeated, curiously.
Harry nodded, more certain by the second. "Definitely. Can you imagine?"
Katie thought about it, then concluded it really did sound delicious. She just had one question. "What made you think of that, Harry?"
"...no reason, Katie", came the reply.
...
It was a couple of weeks before the first task, and Harry was excited. The details for the additional competitions had been announced a week prior, and Harry had keenly signed up for both the Quidditch and the Potions tournaments.
The Potions tournament was simple – next term there would be the opportunity to brew the most advanced and complicated potion you could, with the winner declared at the end of the term. This meant that even potions that took a few weeks or even a couple of months to brew could be attempted. Fleur also signed up for the competition, eager for some friendly rivalry with her boyfriend. The twins, however, did not; it was decided that Tri-wizard champions should stay focussed on the main tournament – something the twins begrudged a little but we're resigned to... at least, that's what they claimed.
The Quidditch tournament was even more straightforward – each school would have one team, and the three schools would play each other over the next two terms. For Hogwarts, the players would be chosen based on previous performance, with the expectation that an inter-house team would be formed. Fleur noted that once Harry signed up, the other Hogwarts seekers groaned, with Cho Chang from Ravenclaw not even bothering to submit her name.
That led to today, and Harry's state of excitement, as the names for the Quidditch teams were about to be announced. Sure enough...
"The Keeper for the Hogwarts Quidditch Team will be... Miles Bletchley" Dumbledore announced to cheers from the Slytherin table. After the cheers had died down, Dumbledore continued.
"The beaters for the Hogwarts Quidditch Team will be... Maxine O'Flaherty and Anthony Rickett", Dumbledore again announced, to dramatic applause from the Ravenclaw table.
"The chasers for the Hogwarts Quidditch Team will be... Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet and Katie Bell" Dumbledore announced, to delighted shrieks from the Gryffindor table; Katie found herself sandwiched in a hug between both Harry and Fleur, who were delighted for her (and to a lesser extend Angelina and Alicia too).
"The seeker for the Hogwarts Quidditch Team will be..." Dumbledore began
"Harry Potter!" cheered the twins, pre-emptively. Several people from across the houses laughed out loud at the Twins' antics.
Dumbledore closed his eyes for a moment. "...Harry Potter", Dumbledore announced, slightly less dramatically than he had wanted to. That led to further laughter from the hall, and loud cheers from the Gryffindor table again. Harry found himself hugged violently by Katie, possibly in revenge for the hug-wich from a few moments ago.
"I'm so glad we'll have Quidditch together again this year", Katie mentioned over the noise. Harry grinned and nodded his agreement.
But Dumbledore was not yet finished. "That leaves one position remaining", Dumbledore continued, to the surprise of many.
Katie mouthed "One more position?" to Harry, who shrugged in reply.
"The captain of the Hogwarts Quidditch Team is... Maxine O'Flaherty!" Dumbledore announced, and the Ravenclaw table went utterly wild in excitement. Katie and Harry looked sheepishly at each other, having forgotten about captaincy.
...
It was the morning of the first task. Ana Petrova looked determined. Pauline Vachon looked pale. And the Twins? They looked terrifyingly excited.
"Are you two alright?" Alicia asked.
"Dear Alicia..."
"... we're doing absolutely wonderfully..."
"...this fine morning!"
Alicia peered at the twins, trying to discern any half-truths. "You're not nervous at all? The first task is a surprise, after all. You could be facing anything."
The twins laughed allowed.
"Definitely a surprise!"
"Absolutely a surprise!"
"There's no way..."
"...we could possibly..."
"...have figured out..."
"...the task!"
Alicia looked shocked. "You haven't!"
"We solemnly swear...
"...we may have found out..."
"...during one wonderful evening..."
"...we were up to no good!"
From nearby, Harry, Fleur and Katie burst out laughing, having recognised the reference to the Marauder's Map. Well, if the twins were going into the task informed and excited, it promised to be entertaining! Harry was glad he had got his hands on some popcorn.
...
The temporary stands were packed, with Katie, Harry, Fleur, Neville, Hermione and Ron all sat in a row, looking down on the enclosed area.
"What's that they're bringing into the arena?" Hermione asked.
"It looks like a mountain troll!" exclaimed Ron.
"No, it looks like two mountain trolls!" Neville corrected, pointing to the second one.
"Is that an egg, over at the far end of the arena?" asked Harry, pointing.
...
Inside the arena, a few minutes before, Pauline was internally panicking. She wanted to win, and regain the respect of her peers, but this was too much! She had expected to have to face a troll, but...
"Now, you will all have to face at least one troll", explained the Englishman excitedly. "But you will gain extra points the more trolls you face... if you can still complete the task! And bonus points if you incapacitate the trolls, rather than just avoid them."
"What breed of troll?" Ana had asked.
"Mountain Trolls!" the man had excitedly answered, as if they weren't the most dangerous type!
"Define 'incapacitated'", one of the twins had asked.
"If they aren't attacking you, it counts, including if you manage to... permanently deal with them", the Englishman again answered.
Ana had nodded grimly, and announced she would challenge twotrolls! Two! Pauline had almost fainted, and knew she was trapped; she had planned for one (and was very thankful Madame Maxime had pre-warned her!), but now she had to opt for two, or she risked being behind on points! Plus, she couldn't just avoid them as she had planned!
Of course, the twins were clearly suicidal. "How many trolls do you have?" they had asked.
The man had chuckled at the question, before answering, "Plenty for you all! Around ten or so."
"We'll take them all!" the twins merrily declared together.
...
Ana entered the arena, wand in hand and determination on her face. The two mountain trolls, each more than twice her height, were waving clubs angrily.
"She looks so small", Hermione worriedly noted.
Ana cast a couple of spells, and then she was holding what looked like a blood-red sword. Another cast, and a rock was transfigured into a large dog, that barked angrily at the trolls.
Hearing the sound, both trolls turned angrily towards the dog, waving their clubs and advancing slowly towards it. Seeing the attention was off her, Ana struck. She stalked towards the nearest troll, keeping out of its sight and being careful not to make too much noise. When she was a couple of metres away, she ran, jumped eight foot into the air, and plunged her sword into the spine of the first troll.
The sword glowed, cutting through the troll with ease, and the large creature fell to the floor, dead before it realised anything had happened. Unfortunately for Ana, the second troll had just successfully brained the dog with its club, and was now only a few metres away from her.
Lumbering towards her, the troll raised its club and slammed it down, missing Ana by a metre. Ana transfigured another rock, but the troll was too close, too focussed on her for that to distract it. The troll bellowed in rage, closed the distance with Ana, lifted its club up again, and slammed it down; had Ana not dived to the side, she would have been crushed.
The crowd were getting worried; several students were crying out for her to run, or attack, or something! But Ana stood, waiting. The troll bellowed again, lifted up its club one final time, and slammed it down towards Ana.
Having studied the troll's movements, Ana was ready this time. She managed another inhumanly large leap, this time her sword slashing out. Whilst the troll was slamming its club down, Ana was cutting through the troll's right side. And after she landed, Ana span around and dived back at the troll, her sword slicing through the troll's legs. The creature collapsed into the floor, bleeding, and Ana put it out of its misery with one final thrust through its back.
Panting heavily, Ana cancelled her spells, and the sword she was carrying disappeared. Walking to the opposite end of the arena, the crowd cheering wildly as she did, Ana picked up a golden egg and exited.
...
"That was awesome!" Ron exclaimed, Neville nodding at his side.
"That was dangerous!" Hermione countered, wondering what had possessed the tournament's organisers to put students up against the worst kind of troll – and two of them!
"Of course it was – that's why it was awesome!" Ron elaborated.
"Look, another two trolls", Katie commented, as the arena was set back up.
"Looks like it's two each", Harry mused.
...
Pauline was the next to enter the arena, and the more eagle-eyed students noted she looked nervous.
Pauline started by firing several curses at the first troll, but that only seemed to anger it as it lumbered towards her, club raised menacingly... and the other was not far behind. Pauline then tried transfiguring a rock into a dog, but in her panic it didn't quite work, and the result was more of a dog carving than an animate object.
The first troll was now close, and had slammed its club into the ground, two metres from Pauline. In that moment, she panicked and ran. The sounds of two trolls chasing her only aided her terrified shrieks, as she practically fled to the opposite end of the arena, keeping as far from the trolls as she could. She just had the presence of mind to pick up her golden egg, before she fled the arena, her body shaking in fear.
...
The crowd were underwhelmed, especially after Ana's performance. The trolls tried chasing Pauline out of the arena, but were stopped by a magical barrier that caused them to rage; at least seeing an angry troll was mildly entertaining.
"Wow", said Neville.
"Wow? What was "wow" about that?" Ron asked.
"Wow, that was so bad", Neville clarified.
"What on earth are they doing down there?" asked Katie, pointing.
"How many trolls are they letting into the arena?!" Hermione asked, horrified.
Eight, it turned out.
...
"Before the next champion begins, I will remind you all that only one of the Weasley twins will be competing. Due to the rules of the tournament, the other twin will have to enter the arena, but they will not aid the primary competitor", Dumbledore announced.
The twins entered the arena, and they were thrilled. Eight! That was two more than they had calculated!
Before the trolls had noticed them, George cast a quick sonorus then started talking to the crowd.
"Welcome, Ladies, Gentlemen and Ron to your entertainment!" he began. "I will be narrating this afternoon, and wish to state at the beginning that any product you see used today can be bought from myself or my twin. I'm sure after this show you will wish to purchase these, and many other products!"
Dumbledore groaned. He'd allowed this – actually allowed both twins to be in the arena – and the consequences would be at least partially his fault.
Fred stepped forward, and made a show of horror, pointing at the nearest troll.
"Oh no! Something's terribly wrong! That troll looks ill!" George announced dramatically.
The crowd stared, but all it could see was an angry troll advancing towards Fred; it looked quite healthy. A few murmurs of confusion were heard.
"No, look! I think it's about to be sick!" George announced, as Fred blatantly levitated a small... something... into the trolls mouth. Only a few seconds later, the troll was on its knees, violently vomiting onto the arena floor.
"Oh dear, let's skip that one. Now, does anyone know what you get when you cross a troll with a canary? No? Well, let's find out!" George merrily narrated.
Fred took something out of his pocket, levitated it into the air, then sent it flying into the next trolls mouth. A few seconds later a very large, angry and confused canary-troll hybrid was in the arena, and it squawked quite dramatically... until it was clobbered by troll number three.
"The transformation usually lasts longer!" George happily noted, as the canary-troll reverted back to troll form on its death.
"Now, I think that third troll might have injured itself attacking that canary – look, it's got a nosebleed!" George continued.
Another levitation later, and the troll was bleeding rapidly out of its nose... and eyes. "Right, I'll admit that one is still in the experimental phase – you don't want to buy that yet", George clarified.
"Now, ever wondered why grown ups tell you not to play with fireworks? Because grown ups are boring. Ever wonder why Fred and I tell you not to put fireworks up your nose? Watch."
Fred had managed to lodge a rather long firework up the fourth troll's nose, and the result was both messy and spectacular; a trolls head had never flown so high, or been so colourfully lit.
By now, the students were either shocked, amazed, or laughing. Harry and friends shared popcorn, watching with amused fascination.
"Of course, we sell other fireworks. Better fireworks. Let's test to see if these are any good to put up your nose."
Fred tested quite generously on the fifth and sixth trolls. The results were unanimous – don't put fireworks up your nose, no matter how pretty they make your head.
"Now, who likes toffee? Everyone! Which makes this next one a great gift... at least until the side-effects kick in."
Troll number seven quite enjoyed his treat, and was pleasantly distracted from attacking the wizard in front of him. But then his tongue started to grow. And grow. And grow. The troll didn't like it. The troll wanted to get his tongue out. The troll tried pulling, but that wasn't nice. The troll tried clubbing his tongue out; that was even less nice, and left the troll unconscious.
"Well, I hope you've all enjoyed yourselves!" George asked, as the final troll got quite near to Fred. "This next one combines two products in a way we really wouldn't normally recommend. Let's see what happens when you combine explosive diarrhoea with industrial strength constipation, shall we?"
The result looked unremarkable initially, as the troll merely rolled around in pain, clutching its stomach. Then, with a tremendous bellow, the effects of the laxative won out, and the troll collapsed with exhaustion as it's bowels were emptied.
"Well, that was gross. But at least now you know!" George cheerfully remarked. "Ladies, Gentlemen, Ron – you've been watching Fred and George Weasley; come find us to buy some stuff!"
The twins bowed, and the crowd stormed to their feet in applause. All except the teaching staff, who utterly dreaded what chaos would be unleashed in the school over the coming weeks.
...
Author notes:
I hope you enjoyed reading through the first task as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Huge apology: for anyone who has messaged me but not got a reply – I recently found out a small number of messages were sent to this website's app's inbox, which is different to the website's inbox. I hadn't checked the app inbox, so had missed some. If you message me and I don't reply, ping me via the web browser, or come say hi on the Flowerpot discord.
Thank you so much to all who have favourited or followed this story. I'm thrilled that over 800 people have favourited this story and over 1000 have followed it – thank you. And a special thanks to those who review: Kiriel921, Scott the Wanderer, dclark04, Wynn Silver, and autumngold; and to the troll-slayers who are TBWL713, iamshinydragonmist, Mitkon2001, Mando-Vet, SKFF, Urgazhi, Spider of Dreams, bahnannah, Ronin Kenshin, Arnie1701, magitech, rishi547, PhantomKnightPercival, seaweedbrainwisegirl07 (x2), Wynn Silver (x2), Magnus Whitlock, alix33, James Birdsong, MauserTeleri, amortentiate, The Prime Cronos, Red Renera (x a few) and mike3308 (x25) for additional reviews since last chapter.
Kiriel921 – story will end after seventh year, with a few more chapters to cover this year. Do feel free to say hi on the Discord, too!
Mitkon2001 – all genuine French terms of endearment according to Uncle Google, directly translated as I thought they sounded cute
Urgazhi – exactly the way Sebastian intended :-)
Magitech – clarified in this chapter :-)
seaweedbrainwisegirl07 – I lowered Fleur's age by one, but kept Krum'd the same, meaning he was too old for the tournament in Harry's fifth year. Mainly so this tournament looks even more different to canon