Chapter Three

Welcome to Hogwarts

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry out did Victoria's expectations by a long shot. Nestled between rocks on top of a cliff was the huge stone castle. Victoria would always remember her first sight of it. The last of the golden evening sunlight had streamed in between the great towers making the school appear as if it had been faintly glowing upon the hill, giving the castle a truly magical appearance.

Victoria, Ludo and Mr. Crouch had been invited into the castle by a large man who had a dark brown bushy beard, long, tangled hair and a Scottish accent. They were lead through a two-story-high door that look like it could belong in a chapel; then down a few corridors with walls accented with portraits that welcomed them. The interior of the castle had a medieval touch. Along with the paintings there were suits of armour and standing flame-torches lining each side of the stone corridors. Eventually, they reached a long hall filled with hundreds of students. They were sat at four, equally spaced, long tables stretching down the length of the room; eating, drinking and talking about whatever held their interest. Very few had noticed the new guests enter and the ones that did payed little to no attention.

The Great Hall was something both muggle and magical architects would marvel at. It belonged in a cathedral more than it did a school. To illuminate the room someone had charmed what must be thousands of candles to float a few of meters above the students. Although the most impressive part was the ceiling; charmed to look like the night sky, stars and wispy clouds included... The whole room was absolutely magnificent.

Victoria's roaming eyes were brought back to the men in front of her as they were greeted by an aged wizard who wore a silver robe with a simple pattern embroidered on the open collar. He had long, white hair with a small hat on top, a silver beard and half-moon glasses that sat low on his nose.

"Welcome, Bartemius, I hope you had a pleasant journey?" The silver haired wizard asked, offering his hand in greeting.

"Albus. As pleasant as it could be, thank you," Barty replied, shaking the man's hand. "If you would allow me to introduce my company. I believe you already know Mr. Ludo Bagman our Head of Magical Games and Sports Department"

"Ah, yes. Ludo. Welcome." Dumbledore shook his hand. After releasing Ludo's hand he turned to Victoria, who was standing rigidly. "And you my dear, must be Miss Nightingale?" Most surprisingly he didn't offer his hand, instead he gave a small nod in recognition, almost as if he knew she would not like it.

"Wonderful to finally meet you." Victoria genuinely was happy to meet the wizard. She had read about Dumbledore and heard rumours of his grand abilities.

"And you my dear, I have heard many things about you," he said. Victoria was thrown off-guard, the cryptic sentence along with the Headmasters shrewd smile could have meant many things. She panicked internally, what did he know?

There was a sound of a small commotion occurring behind them. A long haired, grumpy looking man in a mouldy, brown tail coat had pulled up three chairs to the staff table.

Victoria had been so mesmerised by the rest of the room she had not thought to look behind herself and it could not have shocked her more. There sat at the other end of the table were two men she never thought she see again. Alastor Moody and Severus Snape. Her breath caught in her throat, she wanted to run to Alastor, her mentor, but at the same time she wanted to avoid the dark haired professor. She could not be more conflicted.

However, her dilemma was resolved (sort of) when Mr. Crouch pointed to the seat on the end of the table and instructed her to sit.

"Why, didn't you tell me he would be here?" Victoria whispered angrily at who took the seat next to her.

"I assumed you'd know. It was in the Daily Prophet a couple of weeks ago - a whole article." He shrugged and plated himself some of the food that was in front of them.

"An article in the Daily Prophet about Alastor Moody. Do you still have a copy? I could do with some entertainment."

"In the eyes of the Ministry he is still as dangerous as those articles say he is. Most do not trust him current position at this school, his paranoia could bring harm to the children," Mr. Crouch argued.

Victoria looked at him disbelieving. "You trusted him with me."

Mr. Crouch put down his food and gave Victoria his full attention. "You are different. If he were to snap, you are far more capable of defending yourself. A group of untrained fourteen year olds are not." He ended the small argument by turning away to eat and speak with the company on his right.

Left in alone, Victoria served herself some food and ate quietly as she looked around the room once more this time focusing on the pupils. She had noticed that some of the students were wearing different robes to the others, some in blue and others were in fur lined with red. Victoria presumed they were the students from the visiting schools. Beauxbatons Academy and Durmstrang Institute, if she remembered correctly.

The witch watched and slowly picked her dinner until the attention of the entire population of the hall was brought to Dumbledore, who was stood in front of the staff table.

"Good evening Hogwarts and Guests, I hope you have enjoyed your meals. I'd like to begin by welcoming our Ministry friends, Mr. Barty Crouch, Mr. Ludo Bagman, and finally Miss Victoria Nightingale. All of which are here to organise and monitor the Triwizard Tournament."

The students did not have a massive reaction to the news of the tournament, Dumbledore must have announced it earlier when the other schools arrived, before they had come.

"The casket, if you please, Mr. Filch." Dumbledore gestured towards the main doors of the hall. A few seconds later, the grumpy man from earlier walked in carrying a jewel covered case.

The headmaster smiled at his students excitement and started to speak over their volumes. "There will be three tasks, spread out over the school year and they will test the champions in many different ways... their magical powers – their daring – their powers of deduction – and of course their ability to cope with danger." He paused for a moment as the hall fell silent at the mention of danger.

"As you know there will be three champions; one per school. They shall be marked on their performance and the highest scoring champion at the end of the three tasks shall win the Triwizard Cup. Our champions will be chosen by an imperial selector; the Goblet of Fire." The wizard tapped the top of the casket with his wand and the top creaked open. Dumbledore reached in and pulled out the Goblet of Fire. It was a large wooden goblet with blue flames burning out of the top, rather unimpressive if anyone asked Victoria. He explained how to enter and the age limits of the competition as he placed it on top of the now closed chest.

"Finally I wish to impress upon any of you wanting to compete that this tournament is not to be entered lightly. Once a champion has been selected, he or she must compete to the end of the tournament. The dropping of your name in the Goblet constitutes a binding, magical contract. There can be no change of heart." He stood silently and watched his students and guests alike, letting his words sink in.

"Now I think it's time for bed. Goodnight to you all," Dumbledore said lightly. On his word, the students got up from their places and begun to make their out of the hall.

Victoria took her chance, whilst the students and some of the teachers left their seats the witch shot up and jogged down the table to her old mentor. She was eager to speak with Alastor, it had been months since she had last heard from him.

The estranged man was something of a father figure to her. His inability to maintain a good social status was something she shared with him. In the first weeks of her stay at the Ministry, people would tip toe around her, nervous that the wrong move would cause an unwarranted and violent reaction. Alastor was the only one with the balls to approach her with more than a wary smile. And despite his reputation for hating anyone even remotely associated with Death Eaters, Alastor firmly believed that a child could not be capable of such monstrous acts. He understood her fear and anger, and pulled her out of her stupor, showing her a world she never knew existed. His insanity was her saviour, the connection she needed.

Without warning someone stepped into Victoria's path. Her fast reflexes were the only thing that stopped her from crashing into them.

"So you're name is Victoria," said Viktor Krum

The famous quidditch player was wrapped up in a large fur robe, his close shaved head hidden under a matching fur hat. He wore a grin too, crossing his arms at the witch as if he had revealed a monumental piece of information. Victoria fought hard not to roll her eyes.

A pair of large hands clamped down of Krum's shoulders with a little shake, the owner coming to stand behind him. The white robed Bulgarian fixed his eyes onto Victoria, looking her up and down. There was a small glint in his eye, something that made her marginally uncomfortable.

"Igor Karkaroff," he introduced himself, offering his hand.

Victoria ignored his greeting, looking him directly in the eye she said, "I know who you are."

Igor was not insulted by her dismissal, he dropped his hand and then glanced at her covered marked forearm. The witch followed his gaze and tucked her hands behind her back under her cloak.

He leered at her, "I hear you're a remarkable dueller, Miss Nightingale. Able to take on more than one opponent at a time." He stepped into her space forcing her to look up at him. "Quite the achievement for a witch so young. How did you come to learn such skills?"

She did not back down. Holding her ground she and keeping a firm eye contact spoke lowly, "I think you already know, Karkaroff."

His smirk grew, "Yes. I see it now, that darkness within the blue." The Bulgarian headmaster moved away with a quiet laugh, "Now I see why Hehad such faith in you."

Her confidence dropped. Artic eyes widening as the air left her lungs. She gulped a breath fearful of his next move.

"Come, we must return to the ship." Igor seem pleased with her reaction as he directed his prized student away from the table, passing a few farewells on their way out.

She watched him leave, he had only meant to taunt her. Victoria felt her temper flare. Her teeth clicked together, jaw locking tightly. He dared to say such things in front of this many people? With the Ministry so close?

The witch felt weak, his words had got under her skin too easily. She looked back at the table occupants. There was one person who would make her feel in control again and he was gone. Alastor's chair was empty. Victoria scanned the gradually depleting sea of students and found him hobbling out of the hall on his old wooden leg.

How can he move so fast with a leg like that? She slipped back down the table and out of the side door being careful to avoid the attention of anyone. The halls were flooded with students all heading in mixed directions. Victoria stuck to the edges as she wormed her way through the groups after Alastor.

She chased him down through what felt like half of the castle only to loose sight of him around a corner. When the witch made the turned she blew a frustrated sigh. He was gone. There were no doors in the passage but an intersection that went in two different directions. With no sign of him down either corridor, she had no idea where he could have gone.

"Looking for something?" A familiar monotonous voice drifted from behind her.

"Nothing that concerns you, Severus," she spat. Victoria had no interest in staying for a conversation with this particular man from her history. She swivelled on her heel and strode past him. The moment she was in line with his shoulder Snape's hand shot out to grab her arm.

The witch immediately yanked her appendage free and jumped away from the professor. Her eyes narrowed into bitter blue slits, "Don't touch me."

"You -"

"I don't want your words," she interrupted him, "so keep them to yourself."

Her legs carried her away, around bends and through the long corridors. Her head hurt, the ache caused by too many unwanted surprises. After a few wrong turns and quick corrections she found herself approaching the main doors to the Great Hall. There were no students left just a few mingling teachers and the obnoxiously loud Ludo Bagman.

Victoria did not return to the table, opting to sit on the steps. She let her head fall into her hands as she massaged the side of her sore mind.

"Where have you been Nightingale?" Asked Mr. Crouch's in his usual commanding tone. She was far too tired and rattled to be affected by him.

"Nowhere, Sir," she sighed and contemplated what the hell she had got herself into.