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Harry Potter and the Smallest Change.
Chapter 21. Fourth Year, Part 3. 1994
Moments after his watch vibrated, a younger student in Gryffindor, maybe a second year, pointed up into the sky above the Forbidden Forest.
'Something is coming.' the Gryffindor shouted.
Most of the assembled students followed the young Gryffindor's pointed finger.
'It's a dragon.' shouted another Gryffindor.
'It's a plane.' called a Ravenclaw, which drew confused looks from the pureblood students around them.
Susan elbowed him.
'How is Fleur getting here?' she whispered to Harry.
He grinned, his eyes didn't leave the object that came toward them.
'No idea. Fleur told me it was going to be a surprise.' Harry said before his grin widened.
'Whatever is coming, it's coming in fast.' He nodded his head toward the oncoming object and Susan's eyes widened.
Harry couldn't keep the smile off his face as he made out the pure white wings of the Abraxans as they came into view.
'They're beautiful.' Susan whispered beside him.
Harry saw the powder blue carriage behind the elephant sized horses. The carriage was the size of a house and he expected it was far larger on the inside.
Magic was awesome.
With a grace that belied their great size, the Abraxans landed, and the carriage followed behind the massive horses with barely a sound.
The students of Hogwarts stared in amazement as the carriage trundled along behind the giant horses, their size now obvious as they stood between the Forbidden Forest and the school. Finally, the carriage -and its massive steeds- came to a stop beside the Forbidden Forest, a few hundred metres away from the greenhouses.
Harry didn't know Hagrid too well; the large man was friends with Neville and Ron and their friends. The man had a soft spot for Hermione, but Harry wasn't sure if Hagrid was aware of the current rift between his favourite Gryffindors.
Harry smiled as he watched Hagrid rush down to the carriage and hold the reins of the front Abraxan. The man adored his animals, especially the big ones, it seemed.
The door to the carriage opened to reveal a boy. He looked to be a seventh year, Harry reminded himself they all would be. Only the top twelve students at the school were chosen to attend the Tournament.
Harry watched as the boy, dressed in a smart powder blue suit with a cerulean blue robe over the top, opened the door to the carriage and out from it stepped the largest woman Harry had ever seen.
She stepped down onto the grass and appeared to be about the same size as Hagrid. Behind the large woman stepped eleven students, roughly half boys and half girls.
The girls all wore powder blue knee-length skirts over leggings, and tailored jackets with flared cuffs and slanted hats, all in the same powder blue. Over that, they wore the same cerulean blue robes as the boy who had opened the carriage door.
What truly held Harry's attention was Fleur. He would recognise her anywhere, and she was the first student out of the carriage after the large woman. Her shining silver hair contrasted with the blue of her robes.
Susan elbowed him.
'Is Fleur there?' she whispered, and he nodded.
His eyes didn't leave his friend.
'Yeah, she's right behind the large woman.' Harry said.
The procession walked up the path toward the castle and the large woman stopped in front of Dumbledore. The Beauxbatons students shivered in the cold, and none looked happy about the climate.
Only Fleur had a smile on her face. She clutched the pendant Harry had given her years before.
Dumbledore and the large woman spoke amongst themselves for a moment before Dumbledore raised his voice enough for everyone to hear.
'Students of Beauxbatons, please make your way inside where it is warm, and we will await the arrival of the students from Durmstrang. Mister Filch will guide you.' Dumbledore said and the shivering Beauxbatons students hurried inside after the ill-tempered caretaker.
Harry made eye contact with Fleur and winked; she beamed, her face lit up and she clutched her pendant tighter. A moment later, she was inside the castle.
Susan elbowed him and gestured to the boys in Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, the two houses closest to the entrance where Fleur had been standing.
Harry saw them and narrowed his eyes. Most of the boys were staring at the massive doors leading into the school with longing in their eyes. Some were restrained by the girls beside them and the rest just stared with stupid expressions.
Harry sighed.
'This is going to be a long year if, everywhere Fleur goes, she's followed by love-struck boys.' Susan whispered.
Harry growled.
He froze, a surprised expression on his face. Susan patted his arm and gave him a small smile.
While Harry stared into the distance, deep in thought. A few minutes passed and the Black Lake bubbled like it was boiling.
'Look at the lake.' called a Gryffindor girl she pointed at the bubbles frothing at the surface.
A moment later, an old ship, like the ones from the grand age of piracy, burst out from the lake in a spray of froth.
Harry blinked, torn from his thoughts at the sight. Durmstrang sailed a ship, underwater, into a landlocked lake.
He marvelled at magic and watched in bemusement as a man in his fifties with shoulder length black hair and a long-pointed goatee led a group of heavily fur clad students up to the castle.
Along with the students strode a celebrity, a fierce scowl in place. The star seeker for the Bulgarian International Quidditch Team, Viktor Krum.
Harry chuckled as the same boys who ogled Fleur so obviously now ogled Viktor. But this time, the surrounding girls also followed suit.
It seemed it was going to be a very long year, and Harry was ready to retire to the Room of Requirement.
But first, the feast.
After Durmstrang entered the castle, the Hogwarts students entered, and Harry found that the Beauxbatons students all sat at the Ravenclaw table. He figured the blue made them feel comfortable.
Durmstrang sat at the Slytherin table, and he watched for a moment as Draco almost ran to sit beside Krum.
Harry smirked and turned to see Fleur sitting in the middle of the Ravenclaw table, with seats on either side of her. The other Beauxbatons students stayed clear of her, the boys stared at her, and the girls glared.
Harry felt the urge to hurt somebody, but held it back.
Instead, Harry took a seat at the Hufflepuff table, directly behind her so their backs faced each other. He sent a quick glance at Holly, who beamed at him, Harry smiled.
A moment later, Fleur had Holly on one side of her and Luna on the other.
Harry smiled at the three girls.
'Oh, Fleur, your uniform is so pretty. Hogwarts robes are so bland.' Holly complained.
Harry heard Fleur's laugh and smiled. He was glad to hear it in person once more.
He wanted to say hello, but rules were rules and catching up would have to wait until after the feast.
Once all the students were at their seats, Dumbledore stood.
'Welcome friends, students and heads of both Beauxbatons and Durmstrang.' He proclaimed.
The Hall burst into cheers. The Headmaster patted the air for quiet and the assembled students settled.
'May I introduce everyone to Bartemius Crouch and Ludo Bagman. They represent the British Ministry of Magic and will be judges for the three events of the Triwizard Tournament, along with the three heads of the schools.' Dumbledore continued, gesturing toward the two Ministry officials.
'May I also introduce Madame Olympe Maxime, the Headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. Beside her is Igor Karkaroff, Headmaster of the Durmstrang Institute. They are to be afforded every curtesy, from all three schools.' Dumbledore smiled, then turned toward the Gryffindor table, and to Harry, it seemed he looked at Neville.
'No student under the age of seventeen is permitted entry into this Tournament. It is a requirement from the ICW after the last time this Tournament was held, over two hundred years ago.' The old man spoke, and groans went around the Hall.
Harry wondered why they even bothered; they'd already been told this when the Tournament was announced.
'The winner of the Triwizard Tournament will receive full marks on their end-of-year exams, one thousand galleons' prize money and the eternal glory of winning this prestigious Tournament. Not to mention showing the other two schools that their own is the best.' Dumbledore said, and a handful of chuckles echoed around the Hall.
'Now without further ado, I present the impartial judge that will select the Champions for the Tournament, the Goblet of Fire.' He announced and with a flourish, removed a Disillusionment Charm on a stone pedestal in front of the head table.
The pedestal stood at five feet tall and was made of the same stone as Hogwarts itself. Upon the pedestal sat the Goblet of Fire. It was carved from a single piece of wood and looked positively ancient.
Harry stared at the Goblet, he wondered if anyone else felt the intense magical energy of the Goblet.
It was only surpassed by the Heart of Hogwarts.
As Dumbledore continued to speak, Harry ignored him and wondered what the true purpose of the Goblet of Fire was. It couldn't have been made for a Death Tournament for school children. After a few moments of thought, he figured that whatever its original function, it was now being used for a lesser purpose than intended. Unless the Tournament itself held a greater purpose than a simple competition between schools.
'You have twenty-four hours to place your names in the Goblet to enter. It will remain right here until after dinner tomorrow, where the Champions of the schools will be announced during the Halloween feast.' Dumbledore continued.
Harry blinked and wondered how much of the announcement he'd missed.
Harry saw writing along the outside of the cup but was too far away to make it out. On either side of the cup, three great carved dragons were embossed, two reared up to form handles for the cup, and the third formed the stalk and base of the cup. The Headmaster levitated it high above the head table, visible to all the assembled students.
'The winning school will hold this cup, the Triwizard Cup, until the next Tournament. Upon its side are engraved the words, Honour, Pride, and Humility.' Dumbledore paused for a moment.
'These three words are written in Futhark Runes, the same runes that all three schools' study. A common bond that unites us.' He explained, then drew his knobbly wand.
He pointed it at the Goblet of Fire.
Before the eyes of the students, Dumbledore placed a ward around the cup.
'This is an age line; it will prevent any student who is under the age of seventeen from entering their name into the cup. Now, fellow judges, please examine it for any flaws that may have crept through my wand work.' Dumbledore offered, gesturing for the other schools' heads to examine the ward.
'Now, while they are examining my work for quality, I believe it is time for bed. Tomorrow, our Champions will be selected.' Dumbledore said and whispers filled the Great Hall.
The students, as one, stood and made to leave. Harry stood and turned around to find Fleur doing the same, and they met in a tight embrace.
'I've missed you so much, I'm glad to have to you close by.' He whispered in her ear, and she nodded into his shoulder.
She squeezed him tight.
'Unlike the summer a few years ago, we will not have much free time to spend together. But you can show me around?' She whispered.
He pulled back with a wide grin.
'I have lots to show you.' His eyes shone and he couldn't take the smile from his face even if he'd wanted to.
Harry was a few centimetres taller than Fleur, who was taller than most of the girls in the castle.
Their embrace was interrupted as Fleur's Headmistress, Madame Maxime, coughed and sent Fleur a level stare.
Fleur's cheeks flushed red for a moment, and she released Harry, reluctance evident in her small huff.
Harry released Fleur with equal reluctance and turned to the Headmistress.
He gave her a small bow.
'Welcome to Hogwarts Madame. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.' He said, and the large woman stared at him for a moment.
'What connection do you have with Miss Delacour, young man?' she asked, and Harry smiled.
'I am an old family friend, ma'am.' He replied, and the Headmistress looked him up and down with narrowed eyes.
Madame Maxime turned to Fleur, who nodded to her, a bright smile on her face.
The Headmistress sniffed.
'Come along, students, back to the carriage now. Let us get you all warm.' The large woman said and turned from Harry, she took massive strides toward the exit of the Great Hall.
Harry blinked, feeling snubbed.
Fleur darted in for one more hug.
'I'm sorry, she's protective of me after my time in school. Mirror call later?' she whispered in his ear, and he grinned.
'Of course.' Harry said as she released him and rushed after the Headmistress, like the other Beauxbatons students.
Susan put a hand on his shoulder.
'We should probably go; the room is clearing out.' She said and Harry turned away from the door Fleur left through.
Harry turned to Susan and smiled.
'I'll see you in the morning.' He said, and she blinked.
Susan stared for a moment and blinked again.
'Really?' she asked.
'I can't very well ignore the other schools on their first day here.' He said with a smirk and Susan sighed before she rolled her eyes.
'Will I even see you after breakfast?' she asked, and Harry ran a hand through his hair.
'I'm not sure yet. But we'll see what happens.' He said, and she grinned.
'Have a good night, Harry.' She pulled him in for a hug, then let him go, then walked toward the exit.
Harry let out a breath and left the Great Hall, headed for the seventh floor.