Chapter 55- Announcing the Triwizard Tournament
Harry, Ron, Hermione and I casually slipped through the barrier at Kings Cross to Platform 9 and 3/4, after the worse journey I'd ever taken to London, and revealed the gleaming scarlet train that was the Hogwarts Express. Charlie, Bill and Molly helped us all get our stuff on the train with enough time to spare for once. We hopped back down onto the platform to say good-bye to Mrs. Weasley, Bill, and Charlie.
"I might be seeing you all sooner than you think," said Charlie, grinning, as he hugged Ginny good-bye.
"Why?" said Fred keenly.
"You'll see," said Charlie. "Just don't tell Percy I mentioned it... it is 'classified information, until such time as the Ministry sees fit to release it,' after all."
"Damn it! I'm going to go mental unless somebody tells me what's going on!" I pouted getting annoyed again. Charlie just winked at me.
"Ash!" I heard someone call from behind me. I grinned recognising him. I span around and ran to him, my arms flying around his neck. The answering wolf-whistle's and cat-calls did nothing as I kissed him in greeting.
"Hey, Ced." I grinned up at him. "I did miss you just that little bit."
"Yeah yeah." He smirked before swooping down and pecking me on the lips again. "How about I sit with Harry and your friends on the way to Hogwarts and when we come back at the end of the year, you'll sit with me and my friends?"
"Sounds like a plan." We linked hands and walked back to the Weasley's as they got on the train.
"Mum!" Ron was saying irritably. "What d'you three know that we don't?
"You'll find out this evening, I expect," said Mrs. Weasley, smiling. "It's going to be very exciting — mind you, I'm very glad they've changed the rules —"
"What rules?" said Harry, Ron, Fred, and George together.
"I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will tell you... Now, behave, won't you? Won't you, Fred? And you, George?" The pistons hissed loudly and the train began to move.
"Tell us what's happening at Hogwarts!" Fred bellowed out of the window as Mrs. Weasley, Bill, and Charlie sped away from them. "What rules are they changing?"
"That's ridiculous. I want to know." I whined as the twins nodded in agreement, they left with stormy face off to find their friends.
"At least we'll find out tonight." Hermione pointed out. I just sighed and pouted as we got into a compartment.
"Ced's going to sit with us." I informed them.
"Excellent!" Hermione grinned. "You can tell us about the O.W.L.'s, we've not long left before we have to do them." I rolled my eyes and collapsed onto the chair, putting my legs over Ced.
"Don't forget, it was your idea to sit with my friends." I smirked.
"I'll tell you everything you want to know. How's the animagus training going Harry?" Ced asked curious. Harry blanched and looked at me.
"Course I told him. I plan on telling him everything." I looked at him seriously, he frowned slightly but nodded.
"Well, my hair can go the same shade of Ron's and it can go longer and I can grow my claws and fangs." Harry explained.
"He's not far off... he should have it be Christmas I think." I added.
"Very impressive. I am speechless at how you've both done such advanced magic." Ced grinned as Harry blushed a little.
"Shhh!" Hermione said suddenly so we all listened. I rolled my eyes as I recognised the drawl.
". . . Father actually considered sending me to Durmstrang's rather than Hogwarts, you know. He knows the headmaster, you see. Well, you know his opinion of Dumbledore — the man's such a Mudblood-lover — and Durmstrang's doesn't admit that sort of riffraff. But Mother didn't like the idea of me going to school so far away. Father says Durmstrang's takes a far more sensible line than Hogwarts about the Dark Arts. Durmstrang's students actually learn them, not just the defence rubbish we do. . . ." Hermione got up, tiptoed to the compartment door, and slid it shut, blocking out Malfoy's voice.
"So he thinks Durmstrang's would have suited him, does he?" she said angrily. "I wish he had gone, then we wouldn't have to put up with him."
"The entire school wish he had gone." I added dryly.
"Durmstrang's another wizarding school?" said Harry.
"Yes," said Hermione sniffily, "and it's got a horrible reputation. According to An Appraisal of Magical Education in Europe, it puts a lot of emphasis on the Dark Arts."
"I think I've heard of it," said Ron vaguely. "Where is it? What country?
"Well, nobody knows, do they?" said Hermione, raising her eyebrows.
"Er — why not?" said Harry.
"There's traditionally been a lot of rivalry between all the magic schools. Durmstrang's and Beauxbaton's like to conceal their whereabouts so nobody can steal their secrets," Cedric informed them.
"Come off it," said Ron, starting to laugh. "Durmstrang's got to be about the same size as Hogwarts — how are you going to hide a great big castle?"
"But Hogwarts is hidden," said Hermione, in surprise. "Everyone knows that... well, everyone who's read Hogwarts, A History, anyway."
"Just you, then," said Ron.
"I've read it." Ced mentioned off-handly. "You have to for your N.E.W.T.'s in History of Magic."
"I have too... I just can't remember all of it." I winked at 'Mione who was looking at Ced appraisingly about reading her favourite book.
"Anyway... so go on — how d'you hide a place like Hogwarts?" Ron asked.
"It's bewitched," said Hermione. "If a Muggle looks at it, all they see is a mouldering old ruin with a sign over the entrance saying danger, do not enter, unsafe."
"So Durmstrang'll just look like a ruin to an outsider too?" Harry asked.
"Maybe," said Hermione, shrugging, "or it might have Muggle-repelling charms on it, like the World Cup stadium. And to keep foreign wizards from finding it, they'll have made it Unplottable —"
"Come again?" Ron asked.
"Well, you can enchant a building so it's impossible to plot on a map, can't you?" Hermione continued.
"Er . . . if you say so," said Harry.
"But I think Durmstrang must be somewhere in the far north," said Hermione thoughtfully. "Somewhere very cold, because they've got fur capes as part of their uniforms."
"Ah, think of the possibilities," said Ron dreamily. "It would've been so easy to push Malfoy off a glacier and make it look like an accident. . . . Shame his mother likes him. . . ."
"Someone had to." I sighed dramatically as Cedric choked up in laughter. "You're not supposed to laugh, Prefect." I informed him. He winked and pecked me on the lips again. I decided I was knackered so had a nap leaning against Cedric.
-.-
"We saw Krum right up close, as well," said Ron. "We were in the Top Box..."
"For the first and last time in your life, Weasley." I woke up to Draco Malfoy in the doorway.
"Don't remember asking you to join us, Malfoy," said Harry coolly.
"Weasley . . . what is that?" said Malfoy, pointing at Pigwidgeon's cage. A sleeve of Ron's dress robes was dangling from it, swaying with the motion of the train, the mouldy lace cuff very obvious. Ron made to stuff the robes out of sight, but Malfoy was too quick for him; he seized the sleeve and pulled.
"Look at this!" said Malfoy in ecstasy, holding up Ron's robes and showing Crabbe and Goyle, "Weasley, you weren't thinking of wearing these, were you? I mean — they were very fashionable in about eighteen ninety. . . ."
"Eat dung, Malfoy!" said Ron,
"Excuse me, I'm a Prefect Malfoy, if you don't leave you'll be in detention before we even get to Hogwarts." Cedric growled.
"Diggory. I should have known you'd be here... so the rumours are true." Malfoy sneered, eye-balling Cedric and I.
"Get out Malfoy." I ordered.
"Oh I'm going... I just don't know why Diggory could possibly want you." He sneered.
"Because I have taste." Ced retorted.
"Of course I'm no Pansy Parkinson." I smirked.
"And we all know how much you like her, Drakey." Harry grinned.
"At least I can get a girlfriend, Mr. Malfoy, not still afraid girls have cooties are you?" Ced joked as Malfoy went slightly red.
"My Father will hear about this." Malfoy grumbled as he left the compartment slamming the door.
"That was brilliant!" Ron was choked up in laughter while Harry high-fived Cedric.
"We'd better get changed, we'll be at Hogwarts soon." 'Mione grinned as she pulled me out of the compartment to the toilets.
-.-
We arrived at the Great Hall hours later, completely drenched from such awful weather and water balloons thrown by Peeves the Poltergeist. We sat through the sorting and a suspiciously empty DADA teacher's seat at the front of the Hall and through dinner which after the revelation that unpaid house-elves cooked the feast, Hermione wouldn't touch a bite, all thanks to Sir Nick and his big ghostly mouth.
"So!" said Dumbledore, smiling around at them all. "Now that we are all fed and watered," ("Hmph!" said Hermione) "I must once more ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices. Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to tell you that the list of objects forbidden inside the castle has this year been extended to include Screaming Yo-yos, Fanged Frisbees, and Ever-Bashing Boomerangs. The full list comprises some four hundred and thirty-seven items, I believe, and can be viewed in Mr. Filch's office, if anybody would like to check it." The corners of Dumbledore's mouth twitched. He continued, "As ever, I would like to remind you all that the forest on the grounds is out-of-bounds to students, as is the village of Hogsmeade to all below third year. It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year."
"What?!" Harry and I shrieked fairly loudly together, we looked to eachother and the rest of our fellow Quidditch team in shock, none looked best pleased.
"This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy — but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts..." But at that moment, there was a deafening rumble of thunder and the doors of the Great Hall banged open. The soaking wet deformed as always figure of none other than Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody was revealed in the doorway as he strode done the hall with his ever moving magical eye and wooden stump of a leg. I had briefly met the man at age Nine while visiting my Father at work in the ministry just before he retired as an Auror, and his general bad-ass like and no nonsense attitude made me want to be an Auror myself.
"May I introduce our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher?" said Dumbledore brightly into the silence. "Professor Moody."
"Brilliant." I hissed.
"Moody?" Harry asked. "The bloke that your dad had to go help this morning?"
"Yeah. Mad-Eye Moody. He's mental. I've no idea what Dumbledore is thinking." Ron replied, still in shock.
"It is brilliant. He's completely paranoid, yes, but he's the best Auror there ever was. Half of Azkaban is in there because of him." I told them excitedly.
"As I was saying," he said, smiling at the sea of students before him, all of whom were still gazing transfixed at Mad-Eye Moody, "we are to have the honour of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event that has not been held for over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year."
"You're JOKING!" said Fred Weasley loudly. The tension that had filled the Hall ever since Moody's arrival suddenly broke. Nearly everyone laughed, and Dumbledore chuckled appreciatively.
"I am not joking, Mr. Weasley," he said, "though now that you mention it, I did hear an excellent one over the summer about a troll, a hag, and a leprechaun who all go into a bar . . ." Professor McGonagall cleared her throat loudly. "Er — but maybe this is not the time . . . no . . ." said Dumbledore, "where was I? Ah yes, the Triwizard Tournament . . . well, some of you will not know what this tournament involves, so I hope those who do know will forgive me for giving a short explanation, and allow their attention to wander freely. "The Triwizard Tournament was first established some seven hundred years ago as a friendly competition between the three largest European schools of wizardry: Hogwarts, Beauxbaton's, and Durmstrang. A champion was selected to represent each school, and the three champions competed in three magical tasks. The schools took it in turns to host the tournament once every five years, and it was generally agreed to be a most excellent way of establishing ties between young witches and wizards of different nationalities — until, that is, the death toll mounted so high that the tournament was discontinued."
"Death toll?" Hermione whispered, looking alarmed.
"There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the tournament," Dumbledore continued, "none of which has been very successful. However, our own departments of International Magical Cooperation and Magical Games and Sports have decided the time is ripe for another attempt. We have worked hard over the summer to ensure that this time, no champion will find himself or herself in mortal danger. The heads of Beauxbaton's and Durmstrang will be arriving with their short-listed contenders in October, and the selection of the three champions will take place at Halloween. An impartial judge will decide which students most are worthy to compete for the Triwizard Cup, the glory of their school, and a thousand Galleons personal prize money."
"I'm going for it!" Fred Weasley hissed down the table, his face lit with enthusiasm at the prospect of such glory and riches.
"Definitely." I agreed grinning.
"Did you not just hear death-toll?" Hermione hissed.
"Faced Voldemort." I replied grinning. "Some poxy competition is nothing." Hermione sighed in exasperation.
"Eager though I know all of you will be to bring the Triwizard Cup to Hogwarts," he said, "the heads of the participating schools, along with the Ministry of Magic, have agreed to impose an age restriction on contenders this year. Only students who are of age — that is to say, seventeen years or older — will be allowed to put forward their names for consideration. This" — Dumbledore raised his voice slightly, for several people had made noises of outrage at these words, and the Weasley twins were suddenly looking furious — "is a measure we feel is necessary, given that the tournament tasks will still be difficult and dangerous, whatever precautions we take, and it is highly unlikely that students below sixth and seventh year will be able to cope with them. I will personally be ensuring that no underage student hoodwinks our impartial judge into making them Hogwarts champion." His light blue eyes twinkled as they flickered over Fred's and George's mutinous faces. "I therefore beg you not to waste your time submitting yourself if you are under seventeen.
"No fair." I grumbled loudly with a pout, Hermione however looked pleased.
"The delegations from Beauxbaton's and Durmstrang will be arriving in October and remaining with us for the greater part of this year. I know that you will all extend every courtesy to our foreign guests while they are with us, and will give your whole-hearted support to the Hogwarts champion when he or she is selected. And now, it is late, and I know how important it is to you all to be alert and rested as you enter your lessons tomorrow morning. Bedtime! Chop chop!" After being dismissed we made our way out to the hall, I decided to wait to say good night to Ced and my three best friends decided to stay with me.
"I am entering." I stated to the other three while waiting.
"Yeah, I'm sure you'll get though whatever Dumbledore puts up." Ron scoffed.
"Fine... I won't help you then." I stuck my tongue out. "You know, my cousin goes to Beauxbaton's and she's of age, maybe she'll come to Hogwarts that would be epic. She is brilliant."
"You have a French cousin and we're just hearing about her?" Ron asked grinning before I whacked him. "What do you think Harry, will you try to enter?"
"No thanks. I want a nice quiet year with no attention on me." Harry laughed as Ced appeared behind me, covering my eyes with his hands.
"Guess who?" He asked.
"Apart from the fact I recognise your voice and no other idiot would attempt that, I recognise your smell Cedric Amos Diggory. Animagus nose baby, that's how I can run faster too." I grinned as I span around and planted a kiss on his lips. "I just thought I'd wait and say good night, being a couple and all."
"Well good night babe." He kissed me again before we were interrupted.
"Disgusting." Malfoy sneered as he walked past.
"Am I going to have to kick his ass?" Ced asked me.
"No sweetie, men can't hit little girls." I said loudly while Malfoy was still in earshot. "I'll have to do it... Again." He disappeared relatively quickly then.
"My girlfriend, ladies and gentlemen." Ced joked before I planted another kiss on his lips.
"Oi! What did I tell you about kissing my sister?" Abe asked as he slapped Cedric on the back.
"Good night guys." I rolled my eyes as Hermione dragged me off to the Gryffindor tower and bed, starting a new year at Hogwarts.