Chapter 36
Hogwarts - September 5
Albus Dumbledore watched the students sitting in the Great Hall. He was aware that they were only a few dozen minutes away from the start of the Triwizard Tournament. From the beginning of the integration part of it. Delegations from the two schools they hosted were due to arrive at the end of breakfast.
- I am curious how our students will integrate with the guests. We are a rather closed community. - Minerva again acted as if she was reading his mind. - What do you think ... They will appear in a civilized way or will they make a show of it?
- Professor McGonagal… I would be disappointed if they hadn't made a show out of it. After all, this is a special event. Each memory is worth its weight in gold.
Albus really meant it. He didn't know if the Triwizard Tournament returned to the magical world for a long time or it was a one-time incident. This is why he wanted this tournament to go down in history.
- I trust that our students will behave with the culture and show others why Hogwarts is considered one of the best, if not the best, school of magic in the world.
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Durmstrang - September 5
Aleksiej Ivanovic looked at the students of his school. He knew that he would visit them often, because he couldn't imagine neglecting his duties. However, he still felt as if he was leaving them. Standing in the center of the audience, he sighed and magically louder his voice, delivered his short speech.
- Today begins a new era in the history of our school. Today we start showing the world that Durmstrang, not Hogwarts, is the best magic school in the world for a long time. Not because we are perfect, but because we strive for change. We correct our mistakes and expand our possibilities. Let others see that we are no longer just a school attended by Gellert Grindelwald. We are a school that cares about its students, employees and their families!
A smile bloomed on his face as he heard the cheers at the end of his speech. He felt it would be a new beginning for them. And he hoped he was right.
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Elsa Schwarzerwald looked sadly at her friend and her boyfriend. She wasn't the only one hoping that both Helen and Severus would decide to travel to Hogwarts on the same date as they did. Unfortunately, they will appear only after the Goblet of Fire chooses a representative. Sev stated that he would appear whether he was elected or not, but she feared it was just a dodge to avoid returning to place from where he escaped.
- Will you keep your word? - she asked with a smirk on her face.
- Words about ...? - Helen was clearly teasing her. After a while she added. - I would go with you, but I don't want to leave Severus alone. He'll chicken out yet and won't join us.
Michaił laughed at that moment. - If he is chickened you will drag him by force. You are one of the few people who he really listens to.
- I'm not henpecked. - Severus looked offended despite the amusement in his eyes. - It is simply my rights and responsibilities to listen to the greatest woman I have ever met in my life.
Elsa brightened up. Looking at Snape, she remembered that it was possible to heal herself from a bad past. Maybe "heal" was a bad word. Better was the phrase "learn to live with." The strength of this dark-haired wizard gave her hope for the future.
She walked over to her Ivanna and slipped her hand imperceptibly into hers. The girl tightened her fingers on her palm.
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Lucius Malfoy could see how upset his friend was. Severus denied it, but he knew he was right. It was difficult for him to return to a place where most of his fond memories were overshadowed by the Marauder's behavior.
- You don't have to worry. You are no longer the same boy who left Hogwarts. You are different emotionally, magically and physically.
Severus sighed standing in front of him. He looked like he wanted to say something but he was holding back. After a while, he finally began to speak.
- I'm just afraid that everything I have achieved in terms of self-confidence will collapse as soon as I cross the walls of that castle. Here I am free. I would rather not go there at all, but I am aware that I have to defeat my demons.
- Sevvy, just show them what you can do. I doubt anybody's going to raise a hand on you now.
- I know I can handle it magically. I was always able to cope but I was afraid of losing my place at Hogwarts. Anything was better than living at my house. I don't know if I can handle talking to James.
Lucius raised his eyebrows in surprise. For the first time he heard his friend's name come out so freely from his friend's lips. - James?
- There are too many of these Potters in my life lately. I have to distinguish them somehow. I had time and came to a disturbing conclusion. I only argued with Petunia Evans around Lily. I was arguing with James too just because of Lily. Have you ever heard that a witch can unconsciously influence others?
Malfoy couldn't remember that. By orders from his father, he had read nearly all the books on magical creatures in their library. It was quite a feat considering that the Malfoy Library was one of the largest private collections in the magical world.
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The Ice Wizard approached the Grangers. He gave them time to think about their proposition. He explained all possible side effects. Both the negative and the positive. Jean looked at him confused. To his surprise, it was in Richard's eyes that he found the certainty he expected of Helen's mother.
- I have only one question. - the man was firm in almost every situation. Richard knew what Iskrem was capable of and he treated them as equals anyway. - Will this affect the next child conceived by us?
He hadn't expected such a question. Fortunately, he knew the answer. - You are both able to beget a magic child. The magic that runs through your veins for the next year will not prevent any child from having magic or having more of it. Just if it happened that Jean would get pregnant, this pregnancy will be easier than the previous one. There will also be a lower risk of miscarriage.
Spark saw relief on Jean's face. The Ice Wizard thought the couple were considering enlarging their family. Perhaps they are already in the process of rehearsing. Perhaps they were afraid that this spell would prevent them from fathering another child.
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Hogwarts - September 5
Narcissa Black has been restless all night. She couldn't sleep because she was excited to see her fiancé again. Uneasy because in the letter she had received from him the day before, Lucius had revealed to her that she had many surprises after the arrival of the Durmstrang delegation.
- Narcissa... Do you feel the same as me?
The witch looked at her younger cousin. Regulus has always been very sensitive to small changes in the magic around him. This was why he was so good at judging the strength of a wizard's magic core.
- What's going on, Reg?
- I have the impression that something big is going on. - The boy looked towards the door of the Great Hall and a smile appeared on his face. - I was right again.
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Albus Dumbledore felt a sudden change in energy in the Great Hall.
- Albus… Flame!
Smoke was pouring into the Great Hall from under the door. And behind him a blue flame moved in. Gellert's face appeared before Dumbledore's eyes. - Relax, Minerva. I assume this is the entrance of one of the schools. - At least that's what he hoped for.
He could not be sure of the further imprisonment of Gellert Grindelwald. The new prison supervisor assumed that due to a conflict of interests, he could no longer have access to information about this prisoner.
He couldn't move. Someone has magically blocked every wizard in the Great Hall from moving. The flame began to be visible not only to the teacher's table but also to the students. It spilled onto the floor like water.
And when the door was opened, a dozen or so figures in red robes entered to the Great Hall.
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Malfoy Manor - September 5
Abraxas Malfoy burst into his office with satisfaction on his face. He has already got used to the fact that his friend already lives with him, so he immediately knew where to look for him.
- Is it on fire or what? - Tom snarled over the newspaper he was reading. - You go in like it was your place.
- I am at my place.
- Sorry. I am nervous about the front page article of the afternoon edition of the Daily Prophet. - Riddle's voice was surprised and nervous at the same time.
- How did the afternoon edition get into your hands? We only have breakfast. - Abraxas was genuinely surprised.
- I took yours. - he replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. - I always knew Albus Dumbledore was an idiot, but now I know that he is a complete idiot. He released such a student from his hands.
Tom's long fingers moved the Prophet towards him. It was a clear signal to Brax. He was about to read a text that interested the dark-haired wizard. - "THE DRUG ON LYCANTROPE GET CLOSER? Today Wolf's Cure has appeared in pharmacies and hospitals in the Old Continent. A drug of hope for freshly bitten werewolf victims… ". - he didn't read the entire text of the article aloud. - Snape? Severus Snape? - he laughed out loud.
- Don't act like a fool.
- This is really funny. Do you want to see Albus Dumbledore's reaction to the article with me? I'm going to be at Hogwarts on behalf of the Board of Governors.
Abraxas Malfoy needed no answer. It was enough for him to smile on his friend's face.
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Hogwarts - September 5
Evan Potter felt his heart tremble. He hasn't been in the Great Hall for so many years and this place hasn't changed at all. He couldn't hide the fact that he felt satisfied with the reaction of the Hogwarts students to their entrance.
- Iksrem … - he whispered to the wizard standing next to him. - Are you ready?
He didn't even answer. The Great Hall shook first and then he felt the wind blowing through the center of the room. The flame grew higher and higher. He knew how it would end. The explosion and then the loss of magic by almost everyone in the room. Hogwarts students and teachers will be squibs for a few minutes.
- Łukasz! Now it's your turn! - Evan saw the smile on the wizard's face.
Luke threw a stone up. A simple spell was enough to make the falling stone look like a landing dragon.
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Aleksiej Ivanovic knew that the last word in this very simple show of theirs belonged to him. He stopped, closed his eyes, and knelt down. He needed focus for performing Illusion Magic. He put his hand on the floor and began to recite the words of the spell without hesitating. White coils of energy were pouring out of his hand. This is how his students saw it. But Albus Dumbledore and his school saw something completely different.
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The headmaster didn't believe what he saw. Hogwarts was falling apart before his eyes. And he couldn't even do anything. Pieces of stones broke off the wall ... The wind was getting stronger and yet it didn't put out the fire, which was so characteristic of his former lover ... He failed. He failed again.
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Iskrem prepared for the epilogue. A simple hand movement was enough to make everything magical disappear. Everything that was outside the previously designated circle.
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Aleksiej walked to the front of the Great Hall. To the place where the professors' table was located. He took off his hood and introduced himself. - My name is Aleksiej Ivanovic. I am the director of Durmstrang. I heard that it is a tradition to put on a show at the entrance to this school.
Albus Dumbledore, hesitantly put his hand in his direction. - Show!? - the older wizard suddenly thundered in nervousness. - A show, not a full show of your strength!
- If you think that it was a full show of our strength, I start to worry about the level of teaching in this school.
- He turned to his students and friends - Come. I would like, Mr. Dumbledore, to introduce you to Helen and Richard Granger, Łukasz Łagoda and… I don't need to introduce these two to you. Lucius Malfoy, an intern at my school and ... The best anti-dark magic specialist I have had the opportunity to work with. Evan Potter.
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We are approaching the end of the first part of this story. Did you like this chapter? I know you've been hoping for something more effective, but you can't be disgusted by throwing all your cards onto your table. Regards, katie-krum
