8
Infinite Crisis
Chapter 3: Dinner and a Tournament
The first day at Hogwarts had come to a close, and a group of six eagerly made their way down from Gryffindor tower. Ron was nowhere to be found, and things seemed different without him. Harry and Hermione could converse with anyone they chose without Ron butting in, and even Ginny was allowed to join in on the fun, something that until that day, Ron had prohibited.
"He has to be down at dinner, I mean, you can't expect Ron to pass up on a meal. I still can't believe you pulled this one over on him on your first day! You're a natural, Gabriel!" Ginny grinned. Without Ron around, she didn't feel pressure being around Harry for some reason, and the shy girl she was before had vanished. "Harry, are you going to say anything to him about the bet at all? I mean he did try to control who you were allowed to be friends with."
Harry sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Honestly Ginny, I'm going to have to try eventually. Ron was the first friend I ever had, but he's crossed a line, and it's up to him whether he comes back from it or not. I'll give him a fair shake of course, he's been my best mate for four years." Harry looked towards Hermione, who exchanged a knowing glance. Ron had changed since he missed out on Sirius' great escape the previous year, growing cross at someone with the slightest of triggers.
Seeing the frowns beginning to form on the duo's faces, George chirped in. "Oh don't go getting your wands in a knot you two! Ron's always been a bit of a git, and you two were only around him a few times outside of school. Mum fawns over him, unfortunately. But that's why you've got the preferable Weasley brothers joining you tonight! We can feast like kings, and queens, ladies, while Ronnikins the rabbit munches on some celery!" He flashed a grin at the group. "Gabriel, mate, I've got to say, forcing Ron to eat healthy has to be one of the best pranks pulled on him. How did you know he ate like a pig?"
Gabriel shrugged, a grin on his face. "Honestly it was a lucky guess. Over in the states, unless you're on a specific diet, vegetarian, or vegan, it's somewhat of a pain to eat only health food. My mother went on a health kick once, and Da' and I about went nuts, family sweet tooth. It also helped with Ron that he had a light smear of jelly on his face from breakfast, so I took a shot and went with it!"
"Well I think it's for his own good. Besides, maybe this will teach him something about starting to become an adult!" Hermione said, matter-of-factly, smirk plastered on her face nonetheless.
Fred jumped in front of the group and held out his arms, being joined by the others in a link. Together, the six walked into the Great Hall, looking slightly ridiculous, but enjoying the change in things. They easily found a spot at the Gryffindor table, with Harry, Ginny, and Fred on one side, and Gabriel, Hermione, and George on the other.
Across the hall, Draco Malfoy looked on in disgust. "Potter, always Potter with the Weasleys, Granger, and that new student from Potions. But no sign of King Weasel? I'll have to keep an eye on this, see if I can't throw a stone in the gears even more." Crabbe and Goyle looked at Draco, dumbfounded as usual. "And you two, stop staring at me! It's unnerving."
HPHPHPHPHPHP
"So Da' tells me, 'Gabriel, fire up some chicken, I'm starved!' so I grab a package out of the fridge, toss it in the air, and hit it with a blast of fire, and BAM. The house reeked of burnt chicken for days! Da' said he had never been so proud, and never wanted chicken any less after that." Gabriel laughed, poking at a piece of chicken on his plate. The others joined in on his laughter, happy to learn more about the new wizard.
Harry hadn't felt as at ease with another student since he first met Ron, and just couldn't put his finger on why. "Gabriel, whe-" The door to the Great Hall slammed open, and in stormed Ronald Weasley, red in the face and fists clenched.
"QUINN!" He shouted, rushing over to the table where the group sat. "What did you do to me?!" Ron demanded.
Gabriel felt his trademark smirk flash onto his face. "Why Mr. McDonald, whatever do you mean?" Gabriel teased, using a Muggle idiom, knowing Ron wouldn't understand. Hermione however, who had been raised with Muggles, started to giggle lightly.
Ron's face somehow got redder, as not only was Quinn mocking him somehow, but Hermione was joining in on it! How dare she?! "You've got some nerve, Quinn! Tricking me into a binding agreement!" Ron clenched his teeth, even harder when Gabriel began to laugh.
"Oh Ron, did you not understand my words earlier? It was a simple spell really, a bit unconventional, but it seems to have worked pretty well. 'Let us both honor this wager on the honor of our magic', did you not understand that by denying the handshake, you sealed the magic that was present? It's a bit more in depth than your regular magic, but still nothing beyond our years. Having a bit of trouble trying to go against the terms of the bet?" Gabriel noticed Hermione's giggling, making a note to talk to her in private later. Without Ron's influence, even after just a day, she seemed to be opening up more.
Ron reached forward and grabbed Gabriel by his shirt collar, pulling him forwards, before he felt a hand on his shoulder and saw a wand pointed at him. George had gotten up in the commotion, giving Ron a glare that was unheard of for the twins, Fred matching him from the other side of the table. Ginny stood, wand pointed at Ron's face, and a look on her face that would scare a Basilisk. "You've got to be kidding me?! You're defending him? I'm your brother!" Ron shouted at his siblings.
George shook Ron off of Gabriel, turning him around. "Ron, you're our brother, but you agreed to a bet, and you lost. If you weren't going to honor that, then you deserve to face whatever consequences Gabriel came up with. Personally you could use the health check, as you've really been hitting the meals since this summer. Besides, Gabriel's good in our book. He pulled off an excellent prank with this, and from what we hear you tried to do to him, he could have done much worse to you."
"Ron, how dare you try to control who's in Harry's life! He's his own person, and can make his own choices in friends! I mean look at the group you interrupted! There are four of us here who don't spend time with Harry and Hermione on a regular basis, and things were going great until you stormed in! Quit being such a git before I Bat-Bogey you!" Ginny's brown eyes flashed at Ron, sending a chill down his spine that only his mother had created before.
Ron drew his wand to retaliate, but felt another hand on his shoulder, this time belonging to Professor McGonagall. "What is going on here? Dueling, in the Great Hall?! Explain yourselves, before our guests arrive!"
Gabriel motioned to speak, but Hermione beat him to it. "Professor, Ron tried to control who Harry was allowed to be friends with, after a simple incident in Potions this morning where Ron had to move to another desk. Gabriel was partnered with Harry, and he joined us after class. Gabriel jokingly made a bet, which Ron then made into a real bet about points. If Ron lost, which he did, he had to eat healthy food for the rest of the week, and if Gabriel had lost, he would have had to make new friends. Through simple charm work and wording, Gabriel created a binding, verbal contract between the two. Ron, as I said, lost, and I suppose tried to break his end of the deal." Hermione never broke eye contact with Professor McGonagall, who looked at Ron in shock.
"Mr. Weasley! To cause such a commotion over food is ridiculous! Not only that, but to try and control who is allowed to spend time with Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger? You should be ashamed of your actions." Professor McGonagall looked at him sternly. "Apologize to everyone for disturbing their dinner, and you may find a seat elsewhere, unless you would rather miss dinner entirely?"
Ron opened his mouth to protest, but closed it, scowling at everyone but Harry, not meeting his gaze. Ron shrugged Professor McGonagall off and walked to the end of the hall, taking a seat on his own, mumbling to himself.
"Mr. Quinn, I'm sorry that Mr. Weasley has made such a bad impression on you, and I hope that doesn't reflect on your opinion of your fellow Gryffindors." Professor McGonagall said, looking Gabriel in the eye with a near sad look.
Gabriel shrugged and grinned. "No worries, Professor. If Ron wants to be a git about me, I'll manage. And hey, these five have been great to me, actually everyone except Ron has." Gabriel motioned to the group around him. "If Ronald McDonald wants to continue being a clown, then so be it." His final comment earned another giggle from Hermione, with the Weasley three reminding themselves to ask Gabriel about that reference later on.
Professor McGonagall smiled at the group, nodding. "Well then, enjoy the rest of your meal, and enjoy the festivities about to begin. Oh, and your things are in the Gryffindor Fourth Year Boy's Dorm." She walked off to the staff table, earning grins from the group behind her.
Professor Dumbledore had watched the confrontation from the staff table, never jumping in or stopping things, but closely observing the mysterious new student. He may have allowed Mr. Quinn to join the ranks at Hogwarts, but only for his own purposes. This altercation with Ronald Weasley could prove quite troubling, as he needed Harry to remain close with Ron, in order to keep his informant. Dumbledore made it a point since the Chamber incident to invite Ron for tea every Sunday, getting information about Harry's latest ideas and the on-goings of his life. He would urge Ron to get back into Harry's good graces at their next meeting, as it was imperative that Harry be guided properly. "Ahem!" Dumbledore announced to the Great Hall. "Students of Hogwarts, may I have your attention please. This year, Hogwarts will be one of three schools competing in a legendary event, The Tri-Wizard Tournament!" Voices mumbled through the hall, with Dumbledore powering over all. "But before things can get underway, I need to introduce our guests! First, our friends from France, the students of Beauxbatons Academy, and their headmistress, Madame Maxine!"
A group of young men and women dressed in shades of blue filtered in to the Great Hall, with the male populace of Hogwarts taking a notice at a particular blonde student. The female students of Hogwarts frowned, as most of the boys seemed lost in their hormones, and the headmistress made her way forward, towering over all but Hagrid. Madame Maxine extended her hand to Dumbledore, who kissed it gently, before taking a seat at the staff table, and her students took seats throughout the hall.
"Next, give a warm welcome to the men and women of Durmstrang!" Dumbledore announced, and with almost militarized precision, students in crimson and fur marched in, making quite the entrance. "Also, their headmaster, Igor Karkaroff!" On that note, a gruff man marched forward, shaking Dumbledore's hand before sitting in the seat opposite him. The students began to chat with the new arrivals, before they were once again silenced by Dumbledore's announcement. "Silence! Now, the reason for our guests stay here is simple! The Tri-Wizard Tournament will consist of one student from each of the three schools, competing for the glory of the title of Tri-Wizard champion! Not only that, but the winner will also receive the Tri-Wizard Cup!"
A glowing, blue chalice popped into the Great Hall, glistening with pure magic within it. At this sight, every student in the hall went silent, all eyeing the mystical chalice that had appeared before them. Dumbledore took notice of this, chuckling to himself inwardly. "Yes, the Tri-Wizard Cup, a magical artifact like no other, bestowing honor and glory to both the recipient, but also the school the student is from! To determine which students will participate in the tournament, we have this, The Goblet of Fire!" He waved his wand, and a flaming goblet arose on a pedestal from the floor. "You must simply write your name on a piece of parchment, and place it into the Goblet to be in the running for selection, but do not do so lightly. Once chosen, there is no going back. Now, due to the nature of the tournament, we will be testing years four and higher on magical ability and knowledge. If you pass these tests, you will be allowed to enter your name into the Goblet. In the meantime, enjoy the rest of your meals, and I wish you all the best of luck."
A/N: So there's chapter 3 everyone! Ron being an ass, a new group of friends forming in his absence, and the beginning of the Tri-Wizard Tournament! With a different selection process, who will be deemed skilled enough to enter the legendary event? Stay tuned for the next chapter of 'Infinite Crisis'! Please, review and enjoy!
