Beauxbatons and Durmstrang

The next day, John was eating some porridge in the Great Hall, not thinking about anything in particular, until Sam came hurrying up to the him, breathless with excitement and carrying a stack of parchment in his arms. He practically threw himself down next to John and pushed his hair out of his face.

John raised his eyebrows. 'What's going on, Sam?' he asked.

'Well, I had this idea,' Sam said. 'Professor Sprout said I need to challenge myself, and then Professor Flitwick said it might be good if I did a research project.'

'Okay.'

'Then I thought that I could maybe do it about Seers.'

John nodded. 'That's a tough one. There's not a lot about Seers in the library.'

'Right, and I thought about that,' Sam said enthusiastically. 'There needs to be more and it needs to be easily accessible. Gabriel told me that it took Cas hours to find anything, and that was just for healing. So I thought I'd start by compiling everything we already have and looking for any similarities or common problems. Then I can put it all together in one big collection, and hopefully it'll be useful for future Seers.'

'Sounds interesting,' said John. 'Why Seers though?'

'Well, Dean and I know this Seer. Her name's Pamela, and when we met her, she told Dean he would fall in love with someone with blue eyes, isn't that right, Dean?'

Dean was sitting opposite them. 'Shut up, Sam,' he said through a mouthful of sausage.

'Anyway, Pamela's super awesome, but she was having a vision one day and she saw something that made her go blind.'

John choked slightly on his porridge. 'Blind?'

'Yeah. We don't know what she saw, and she doesn't remember, but now her powers are weird. She can only hear her visions now, so she has to guess what's going on. Dean told me before that you nearly got lost in a prophetic trance too.'

John winced. He didn't remember anything at all from his trance in the Shrieking Shack. Only the dizzying feeling of being somewhere else, far away, and Sherlock's voice calling him back.

'I don't know if any of these things are preventable,' Sam continued, 'but I think Seers should at least know the risks so they can be prepared.'

'Wow, yeah, that would be helpful.'

'So I'm hoping that I can ask you some questions, if you don't mind? Since your powers are so strong, the side-effects are much more pronounced, so they'll be easier to document.'

John considered Sam's excited face and glanced uncertainly at Dean.

'Don't look at me, man,' he said.

'I don't know how much I can help, Sam. I'm not exactly good at it.'

'But that's exactly why you will be helpful,' Sam said eagerly. 'Most of what I can find is about fully realised Seers, and only from second-hand sources. Next to nothing is known about developing Seers, and I think it could be some of the most valuable information out there, especially for new Seers.'

John had to smile at his enthusiasm. 'All right, ask away.'

'Really? Awesome!' Sam dropped some of his parchment on the floor in his excitement, and grabbed a quill and some ink out of his bag. 'Okay,' he said. 'I only have a few questions for now, until I can talk to some other Seers. First of all, how often are you getting organic visions?'

'Er- what?'

'Visions that happen on their own, that you don't force.'

'Oh, er…' John thought about it. 'It varies really, but recently I'd say two or three times a week.'

Sam scribbled frantically. 'Okay, when did you start experiencing symptoms and side-effects?'

'I don't actually know,' John admitted. 'I didn't notice anything unusual for a long time. You'd probably be better off asking Sherlock that question.'

'Interesting,' Sam nodded, writing more notes. 'Okay, I'll rephrase the question: When did you first notice the symptoms, and more specifically, when did you realise they were connected?'

'Let's see… I think I started noticing something was off just before Christmas last year. I think I talked to Dean about it a bit. People started telling me I was a Seer just after Christmas, but I didn't really believe it until that second time Sirius Black broke into Gryffindor Tower. I had a nosebleed just before and passed out in the common room.'

'Cool. Last question for now, do you remember anything from your prophetic trance?'

'No.'

'Nothing?'

'No, not at all.'

'Awesome, thanks so much, John!' Sam scooped up his parchment and dashed from the room, leaving John slightly bewildered.

Then, hysterical laughter erupted from several people at the Hufflepuff table. Heads all over the Hall turned to look at them.

A group of Hufflepuffs were clutching at each other, weak with laughter, and each holding a half-eaten chocolate biscuit. Gabriel, too, was laughing, though it seemed more as though he was laughing at them. They fell out of their seats onto the stone floor, still laughing, until Gabriel waved his wand over them. They climbed back into their seats, breathless but grinning, and put their biscuits down.

'One of yours?' John asked Fred.

'Nah,' he said. 'Gabriel's.'

'You're pulling my leg.'

'Not at all,' George said. 'Ours usually have our own personal flair. We want everyone to know it was us.'

'Gabriel is a master of making you believe it wasn't him,' Fred said. 'Rule one, by the way, never eat anything Gabriel gives you.'

'I wouldn't have believed that of him.'

'Exactly,' said Fred. 'Prefect, then Head Boy. The perfect cover. He's an inspiration, really.'

'Yeah, once he turned Mrs Norris invisible for a week. Filch was going spare when he couldn't find her. Legendary,' George said dreamily.

'And the year before you lot joined, he managed to get itching powder into Snape's robes. He was never even a suspect.'

'Yeah, we only know it was him 'cause he took our itching powder.'

'Wow,' said John, looking back over at Gabriel.

'Probably a tickling charm on those,' George noted, 'or maybe a Cheering Charm.'

'Bit tame, though, isn't it?' said Fred.

George shrugged. 'It's the first week back. Easing them into it.'

'True.'

Gabriel looked over at them and winked.

John finished off his porridge, hoping the rest of his day would not be as strange as his breakfast.

Over the next few weeks, Harry spent most of his time worrying about Sirius, no matter how much John tried to reassure him that everything would be fine.

Castiel did return to lessons, and even Defence Against the Dark Arts, now that he knew what was coming.

Then, to their surprise, Professor Moody announced that he would be putting the Imperius Curse on each of them in turn, to demonstrate its power and see whether or not they could resist its effects.

'But-but you said it's illegal, Professor,' Hermione said uncertainly, as Moody cleared away the desks with a sweep of his wand, leaving a large, clear space in the middle of the room. 'You said – to use it against another human was-'

'Dumbledore wants you taught what it feels like,' said Moody, his magical eye swivelling onto Hermione. 'If you'd rather learn the hard way – when someone's putting it on you so they can control you completely – fine by me. You're excused. Off you go.'

Hermione went very pink, and muttered something about not meaning that she wanted to leave.

Moody began beckoning students forward in turn and put the Imperius Curse on them. John watched apprehensively as, one by one, they did the most extraordinary things under its influence. Dean Thomas hopped three times around the room, singing the national anthem. Lavender imitated a squirrel. Neville performed a series of quite astonishing gymnastics he certainly would not have been capable of in his normal state. Not one of them seemed to be able to fight off the curse, and each of them only recovered when Moody had removed it.

'Watson,' Moody growled, 'you next.'

John stepped into the space Moody had cleared, his palms sweaty and his mouth dry.

Moody raised his wand and said, 'Imperio.'

It was a wonderful feeling, as if all his worries had floated away. He stood there, immensely relaxed and only vaguely aware that everyone was watching him. A loud buzzing briefly filled his head, and he flinched away from it, but then it was gone.

Then Moody's voice echoed distantly in his mind. Do a cartwheel.

He obliged without hesitation and executed a perfect cartwheel. Moody had him do it three more times until it was clear that he could not throw off the curse. He then felt the curse lift, however, he still felt strange. Though he was aware that something was wrong, he was unable to pull together enough thought to express the feeling. Instead, his mind remained weightless, and he stood in the middle of the room until Neville pulled him back into his seat. Everyone's voices after that were muffled and distant, and try as he might, John just couldn't concentrate on what they were saying. He shook his head in an attempt to rid himself of the mistiness in his brain, but to no avail.

Sherlock was already waiting outside and grabbed John by the shoulders when he exited the classroom. 'What happened?'

John blinked and opened his mouth, but couldn't think of any words to say.

'Don't worry about him.' Moody had followed them out. 'It's rare, but considering everything going on with Watson here, not surprising. People react to the Imperius Curse differently, and sometimes the effects are slow to wear off. Best help him up to the hospital wing, so he doesn't become a menace to himself.'

Sherlock did as instructed and guided John over to the hospital wing, where he sat in daze until he fell asleep with Sherlock beside him.

He was no worse for wear by the time he slept it off, and went back to being deeply amused by Professor Trelawney by their next Divination lesson. She gave Harry and Ron top marks for their homework and read out long excerpts, commending them for their acceptance of the horrors in store for them. John was slightly put out when he received low marks for his own work, but was distracted when he saw the Sagittarius constellation on the ceiling again. He hadn't had a chance to visit the centaurs yet, since he and the other fourth-years had been getting noticeably more homework in preparation for their O. . Even Hagrid was adding to their workload. The Blast-Ended Skrewts were growing at a remarkable pace, considering that no one had yet discovered what they ate. Hagrid was delighted and, as part of their 'project', suggested that they come down to his hut on alternate evenings to observe the Skrewts, and make notes on their extraordinary behaviour.

Sherlock and Castiel began struggling with their lessons. What was once Castiel's favourite lesson had turned into a nightmare, having to face the living, unpredictable embodiment of his worst fear every time he went down to Hagrid's hut. Sherlock, meanwhile, was insisting that Moody put him under the Imperius Curse every single lesson, despite not having once been able to throw it off. Both of them spent most days looking drawn and downcast.

'Hey, you okay?' Dean asked Cas one morning at breakfast.

Cas shrugged, miserably pushing his uneaten, soggy cereal around his bowl.

'I get it, these lessons are tough, but you're doing great,' Dean said bracingly.

'What do you mean?' Cas said, looking up from his bowl.

'Are you kidding? You hate the lessons but you keep going anyway. There's no way I'd still be going if I were you. You have like… a strength I guess.'

Cas stared at Dean in surprise until Sam broke in.

'What about me, Dean, do I have strength?'

'Get lost, Sam,' Dean muttered, shoving him away. Sam rolled his eyes, then Dean got up from his seat.

When he got out into the Entrance Hall, he found Harry, Ron and Hermione reading a large sign that had been erected at the foot of the marble staircase.

Triwizard Tournament

The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving at 6 o'clock on Friday 10th of October. Lessons will end half an hour early. Students will return their bags and books to their dormitories and assemble in front of the castle to greet our guests before the Welcoming Feast.

'Only a week away!' said Ernie Macmillan, emerging from the Great Hall. 'I wonder if Cedric knows? Think I'll go tell him…'

'Cedric?' Ron said blankly as Ernie hurried away.

'Diggory,' said Harry. 'He must be entering the Tournament.'

'That idiot, Hogwarts champion?' said Ron.

'He's not an idiot, you just don't like him because he beat Gryffindor at Quidditch,' said Hermione. 'I've heard he's a really good student.'

'You only like him because he's handsome,' Ron said scathingly.

'Excuse me, I don't like people just because they're handsome!' Hermione said indignantly.

Ron gave a loud, fake cough that sounded oddly like 'Lockhart'.

'Come on, Ron, he's not that bad,' said Dean.

Ron glared at him.

'What? He's not!'

The appearance of the sign in the Entrance Hall had a marked effect on the inhabitants of the castle. During the following week, the Triwizard Tournament seemed to be the only topic of conversation flying around: who was going to try for Hogwarts champion, what the Tournament would involve, and how the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students might differ from them.

Castiel asked Gabriel if he was entering, and Gabriel laughed good-naturedly.

'You're good, Gabriel. You could win.'

'That's sweet of you, but there's no way I'd beat out Cedric. The guy's damn good. I should know, I share a dorm with him. Besides, I got enough to do since I'm Head Boy, don't you think?' He ruffled Cas's hair, although he had to reach up to do so, then walked away.

Dean came up beside him. 'Would have been interesting to see him as champion.'

'Where did you get that?' Cas said, spotting the brownie in his hand.

'From Gabriel,' Dean shrugged.

'Dean, don't-' but it was already too late, Dean had taken a bite.

'What?' Then Dean hiccupped.

Cas smiled. 'Don't eat things Gabriel gives you,' he said, taking the brownie from Dean's hand and incinerating it.

'How – hic – long will this – hic – last?'

'Usually only an hour or two, but since it's Gabriel, perhaps up to a day, or so.'

'A whole – hic – day? But you – hic – fix it – hic – right?'

'Don't eat things Gabriel gives you,' Cas repeated.

Throughout the week, the castle underwent a thorough cleaning, even the portraits and suits of armour receiving a scrubbing, and all the teachers became snappy and tense.

On the morning of the thirtieth of October, they all went down to find that the Great Hall had been decorated overnight. Enormous silk banners hung from the walls, each of them representing a Hogwarts house. There was a larger banner behind the teachers' table that bore the Hogwarts coat of arms. John and Sherlock were the first down to breakfast.

'What?' said Sherlock, as John squinted at him over his bowl of cereal.

'It still isn't working, you know,' John said. 'I can't feel you. Maybe I'm doing it wrong. How do you do it?'

Sherlock shrugged. 'It's not a conscious decision most of the time. I'd describe it as being like listening but with your mind.'

'Well, at least you're listening with something. You certainly don't do that with your ears,' John teased.

Sherlock rolled his eyes, amused.

'Looking forward to tonight, then?' John asked.

'Not especially.'

'Why not? Bit of a change of pace, isn't it? I thought you'd like that.'

'Yes, but it also means the teachers are trying to show off. Professor McGonagall actually made me Transfigure a porcupine the other day.'

'Unbelievable. I can't believe a teacher would actually make you participate in a lesson. McGonagall is just so unreasonable.'

'You know, I think you've fulfilled your sarcasm quota for the day.'

'You just make it so easy,' John smirked.

'Whatever entertains you, John.'

There was a pleasant feeling of anticipation in the air that day. No one was particularly attentive in lessons.

When the bell rang early, they all hurried up to their dormitories to dump their bags and pick up their cloaks, then rushed back to the Entrance Hall.

The Heads of houses were ordering students into lines.

'Weasley, straighten your hat,' Professor McGonagall snapped at Ron. 'Now everyone, follow me, please. First-years in front… no pushing…'

They filed down the front steps and lined up in front of the castle. It was a cold, clear evening; dusk was falling and a pale, transparent-looking moon was already shining over the Forest. John felt himself being drawn towards the trees, as did Sherlock.

'Nearly six,' Ron muttered, standing next to John. 'How do you reckon they're coming? The train?'

'I doubt it,' Hermione said on John's other side.

'How then? Broomsticks?'

'I don't think so… not from that far away…'

'A Portkey?' Ron suggested. 'Or they could Apparate – maybe you're allowed to do it under seventeen wherever they come from?'

'You can't Apparate inside Hogwarts grounds, how often do I have to tell you?' Hermione said impatiently.

'Okay, that's it.' John grabbed Ron and swapped places with him, so he and Hermione could bicker quietly.

Then Dumbledore called out from the back row, where he stood with the other teachers. 'Aha! Unless I am very much mistaken, the delegation from Beauxbatons approaches!'

'Where?' several students said eagerly, all looking in different directions.

'There!' yelled a sixth-year, pointing over the Forest.

Something large, much larger than a broomstick – or even a hundred broomsticks – was hurtling across the deep blue sky, growing larger by the second.

'It's a dragon!' shrieked one of the first-years, losing her head completely.

'Don't be stupid… it's a flying house!' said Dennis Creevey.

Dennis's guess was closer. As the giant black shape flew over the Forest, the light from the castle windows hit it, and revealed it to be a gigantic, powder-blue, horse-drawn carriage, the size of a large house.

It soared towards them, pulled through the air by a dozen winged horses, all palominos, and each the size of an elephant. It landed with an almighty crash and the horses' hooves, larger than dinner plates, hit the ground. The door of the carriage bore the Beauxbatons coat of arms, a pair of golden, crossed wands, each emitting three stars. The door opened and a boy in pale blue robes jumped down from the carriage. He bent forwards, fumbled for a moment with something on the carriage floor and unfolded a set of golden steps. He sprang back respectfully, then a shining, high-heeled shoe the size of a child's sled emerged from the carriage, followed by the largest woman they'd ever seen. The size of the carriage and the horses was immediately explained. As she stepped into the light flooding from the Entrance Hall, she was revealed to have a handsome, olive-skinned face and large, black, liquid-looking eyes. Her hair was drawn back in a shining knob at the base of her neck. She was dressed from head to foot in black satin, and many magnificent opals gleamed at her throat and on her thick fingers.

Dumbledore started to clap, then several students followed his lead.

The woman's face relaxed into a gracious smile, and she walked towards Dumbledore, extending a glittering hand. Though tall himself, Dumbledore barely had to bend to kiss her hand.

'My dear Madame Maxime,' he said. 'Welcome to Hogwarts.'

'Dumbly-dorr,' said Madame Maxime. 'I 'ope I find you well?'

'On excellent form, I thank you,' said Dumbledore.

'My pupils,' she said, waving one of her enormous hands carelessly behind her.

About a dozen boys and girls – all, by the look of them, in their late teens – had stepped down from the carriage and were now standing behind Madame Maxime. They were shivering, which was unsurprising, given that their robes seemed to be made of fine silk, and none of them were wearing cloaks. A few of them had wrapped scarves and shawls around their heads.

''As Karkaroff arrived yet?' asked Madame Maxime.

'He should be here any moment,' said Dumbledore. 'Would you like to wait here and greet him, or would you prefer to step inside and warm up a trifle?'

'Warm up, I think. But ze 'orses-'

'Our Care of Magical Creatures teacher will be delighted to take care of them, the moment he has returned from dealing with a slight situation that has arisen from some of his other – er – charges.'

'My steeds require forceful 'andling,' said Madame Maxime, looking as though she doubted whether any Care of Magical Creatures teacher at Hogwarts could be up to the job. 'Zey are very strong…'

'I assure you that Hagrid will be well up to the job,' Dumbledore smiled.

'Very well,' said Madame Maxime, 'will you please inform zis 'Agrid zat ze 'orses drink only single malt whiskey?'

'It will be attended to,' said Dumbledore, bowing.

'Come,' she said imperiously to her students, and the Hogwarts crowd parted to allow her and her students to pass up the stone steps.

'I wonder how Durmstrang are getting here,' Sherlock murmured.

'In something unnecessarily ostentatious I assume,' said Castiel, teeth chattering. 'I hope they're here soon. It's cold.'

'I'm sure they won't be long.'

Just then, an oddly eerie noise drifted towards them, a muffled rumbling and sucking sound.

'The lake!' yelled Lee Jordan, pointing down at it. 'Look at the lake!'

From their position at the top of the lawns overlooking the grounds, they had a clear view of the suddenly tumultuous waters. There was a disturbance taking place deep in the centre. A whirlpool had appeared, as if a giant plug had just been pulled out of the lake floor.

Slowly, a ship rose out of the water, gleaming in the moonlight, and glided towards the bank. A few moments later, they heard the splash of the anchor being thrown out, and the thud of a plank on the bank.

The people on board disembarked and walked up the lawns, all of them wearing bulky cloaks of shaggy, matted fur. However, the man leading them up to the castle was different, wearing fur that was sleek and silver, like his hair.

'Dumbledore!' he called, as he walked up the slope. 'How are you, my dear fellow, how are you?'

'Blooming, thank you, Professor Karkaroff,' Dumbledore replied.

Karkaroff was tall and thin like Dumbledore, but his white hair was short, and his goatee did not entirely hide his weak chin.

'Dear old Hogwarts,' he said, looking up at the castle. 'How good it is to be here, how good… Vikto, come along, into the warmth… you don't mind, Dumbledore? Viktor has a slight head cold…'

Karkaroff beckoned forward one of his students and John was shocked to see the curved nose and thick black eyebrows of Viktor Krum.

Welcome back everyone! Thanks to DaughterofMagic3, Sherlock Harry Winchester and Guest for the reviews!

See you all in two weeks.