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CHAPTER FOUR: A Variety of Visitors
The Gryffindor common room was extremely lively the next morning and, as could have been predicted, there was only one topic of conversation. "It's bound to be you,"Tracey told Nymphadora. "Grandad was chosen and Auntie Lily…"
"I haven't said I'll put my name forward yet,"Nymphadora reminded her niece. She felt several pairs of eyes on her, obviously waiting for her to complete the thought. "But I will,"she conceded.
"Might as well give up on being Hogwarts Champion, everyone,"Maxwell Jordan called out. "Nymphadora Potter is putting herself forward."
Beverley gave him a gentle shove of admonishment. "Don't pay attention to him,"she told everyone. "If you think you can do a good job, then put your name in. Let the people running it decide."
"You should do it,"Nymphadora told her.
Beverley gave a laugh. "No, I'm definitely not champion material. I'll be your coach if you get picked." She turned to Maxwell. "Or you, if you're planning on putting your name in."
"I might do,"Maxwell considered.
Aishi Patel gave an exaggerated sigh. "I wish I could put my name in but I'm not old enough."
"Same here,"agreed Tracey sadly.
Nymphadora gave them an indulgent smile. "Well, I think this family's got enough daredevils as it is."
Nymphadora met up with Bradley on the landing and they headed downstairs together. "You're definitely putting in then?"Bradley asked.
"Yes,"Nymphadora confirmed. "Is that a problem?"
"Well, I don't want to tell you what to do…"
"Good to know."
"…but it could be dangerous."
"Are you putting your name in?"
Bradley faltered a bit at that. "Maybe,"he conceded.
"Well, I guess if one of us is picked, then the other's going to worry." Nymphadora looked challengingly at Bradley who reluctantly gave a nod of agreement. "I'm pretty sure Gemini will put her name in as well. She's as mad as Tracey, that one."
"I dunno. If you think about what she was like in first year, she's pretty settled."
As if the mention of her had somehow called her into being, Nymphadora caught sight of Gemini among a group of students gathered near the entrance. But the person that the students were gathered around was even more surprising. "Lily?!" Nymphadora bounded down the rest of the steps towards her sister, Bradley close behind her. "What are you doing here?"
Lily smiled. "Turns out I'm coming back to Hogwarts this year."
"Did they work out you haven't passed your exams?"Gemini asked cheekily.
Lily gave her step-niece a mock glare before continuing. "No, I'm an adviser on the tournament. The ministry decided to send an ex-Champion to keep an eye on the Hogwart contender."
"Do Mum and Dad know you're here?"Nymphadora asked.
"They do,"Harry confirmed as he and Hermione approached. He gave his older daughter a hug. "Well, I never thought I'd see you here again."
"They've made up a room for you in staff quarters,"Hermione added. "We can show you if you want to go there now."
"Although I understand that the Great Hall is nearly out of breakfast,"Harry commented. That was enough to get most of the students present scurrying on their way, with only Nymphadora, Bradley and Gemini staying behind.
Lily gave a grateful smile. "Thanks. I was beginning to feel like a sideshow at a carnival. Is Uncle Neville here? I thought he'd be the one to greet me."
"He would have done,"Hermione assured her. "But he and Professor Macmillan have something else to do at the moment."
Neville and Ernie, together with Ernie's wife Angela, were waiting at the landing area as the large house-drawn carriage containing the Beauxbatons delegation came into land. Two women exited, both of them wearing pale blue robes similar to that worn by the students. Neville embraced the older of the two women. "Madame Laurent! Welcome to Hogwarts."
"Call me Henrietta, please,"she invited him. "And I believe you know our special adviser?"
Neville turned his attention to the other woman. "Hello, Gabrielle. It's good to have you back here."
"I think they really wanted Fleur,"Gabrielle admitted. "But I'll do my best to keep an eye on our contender."
Neville and Ernie both looked awkward. They'd been with Fleur and Gabrielle at the Battle of Riddle Mansion, when both Fleur and her husband Bill Weasley had been killed fighting against the resurgent Death Eaters led by Rodolphus Lestrange. Ernie had even been present at the time. "I'm sure you'll do fine,"Ernie said at last.
Angela broke the tension slightly by gesturing towards the carriage. "That was some flying."
Henrietta Laurent, the deputy head of Beauxbatons, smiled appreciably. "Thank you. The students do the actual flying, under my direction, of course."
"I wonder if you wouldn't mind giving lessons to some of our students here during the tournament. All in the spirit of international relations."
"I think perhaps I should give you some first, then we can teach them together."
Angela nodded. "I'd be honoured."
Henrietta turned back to Neville. "Where do you want our students?"
"Well, we can sort out living arrangements later, but for now, we should get along to the Great Hall for the applications. The Durmstrung students are meeting us there."
The Goblet of Fire was lit in the middle of the hall. Harry eyed it suspiciously. He couldn't help being reminded of his own experience, when Barty Crouch Jr had arranged for him to be selected as a fourth champion. Hermione noticed his attention and he gave her a quick smile to assure her he was all right.
Neville and Ernie had returned from meeting the Beauxbatons representatives and were sat with the rest of the staff at the head table. James had been selected to fill the role of master of ceremonies. "The goblet will now accept applications from Hogwarts students."
A large number of the sixth and seventh years came forward with their names. Harry checked off names and faces. Nymphadora, Bradley and Gemini had all come forward of course, along with Maxwell Jordan, his fellow Gryffindor Amanda Willis, the other Slytherin Prefect Gareth Daker, and Flavia Lupin of Hufflepuff, the daughter of Harry's godson Teddy and his wife Victoire, and several others Harry knew from classes.
The process was repeated with students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrung before James spoke again. "The goblet will announce the successful candidates in two days' time. We will all gather here then."
As the gathering broke down into relaxed chatter, Harry glanced over the newcomers, giving a wave of greeting to Gabrielle as he did so. Then his gaze fell on one of the Durmstrung students and he froze. He hadn't noticed the boy before, since he hadn't been one of the ones to put his name forward, but now he noticed it a lot. One of the Durmstrung students was Philip Nave.
