The arrival of Durmstrang
Its grown dark when we step outside and the airs grown cold. Stars are starting to twinkle in the sky and I stand just a little closer to Lorcan as I shiver. Were joined outside by the Beauxbatons students who are all whispering excitedly in French, well the girls are anyway, the boys seem to stand quite distantly, very masculine and aloof. "How are they arriving?" I whisper to Lorcan "No idea" he whispers back. "Hippogriffs" James states matter of factly "Always had a feeling it would be Hippogriffs". I don't even get a chance to roll my eyes at this because a Beauxbatons girl begins shrieking excitedly at the top of her voice "Regardez! La bas, un bateau dans le lac!"
Sure enough the large mast of a ship is rising out of the lake. As the ship finishes rising out of the lake and begins sailing towards us I hear Fred whispers "Oddest looking hippogriff I've ever seen" but James is too enthralled to care.
As the ship gets close enough and the students begin climbing off, it's safe to say their the bulkiest most gruff people I've ever seen in my life. One person isn't though; a lone figure stands out from the crowd as being very animated. And i'de recognize the handsome and extremely expressive face of Aleksander Krum anywhere. "It's very nice you think?" he says amicably in his broken English to a large hulking boy beside him. The boy grunts and Alek begins nodding his head vigorously as if animated by their conversation.
"Hey! Hey! that's Alek!" James begins shouting loudly. "Who?" Lorcan asks squinting, "Krum" James reply's "Alek Krum, from the wedding". I was waiting for it even before it happened. Lorcans body tenses up, his fists clench, and I really don't know what to do with his jealousy. As a matter of fact I really don't know what to do at all.
Then an even larger hulking figure climbed out of the ship and began strutting along towards Madame Maxime. His students follow dutifully. "Professor Zukanov!" Maxime exclaims happily "Welcome to Beauxbatons!" He grunted something unintelligible to her and shook her hand gruffly. I don't think Madame Maxime dared try to kiss him on both cheeks. It didn't faze her however, and I felt a growing like for the woman. "And zis ees Professor McGonagall, headmistress of Hogwarts". She said the name as though it was legend, and I suppose it is. His eyes glanced over towards Professor McGonagall, not in greeting but in scrutiny, he then eyed all of us and I leaned back into Lorcan. It's safe to say Zukanov was an extremely intimidating wizard.
Madame Maxime gave McGonagall a significant look and then said "We shall go inside zen, you must be ungry and I ave feast prepared of course".
Beauxbatons great hall is very different to Hogwarts one, it is a palace after all. It has long gleaming polished tables and more glittering chandeliers, perhaps even grander than the others. And it had a large collection of old famous French wizards in white wigs and knickerbockers adorning the walls. Similar to Hogwarts is the staff table at the top of the hall; these seats however would be more likened to thrones. The Beauxbatons students take their seats easily and the Durmstrang students choose seats confidently while us Hogwarts kids take the last seats left beside a wall full of white haired and pompous looking wizards.
Maxime, McGonagall and Zukanov take their seats at the staff table beside other unfamiliar witches and wizards. The Beauxbatons students look very proud and dignified while the Durmstrang students look slouched and sulky, I'm pretty sure us Hogwarts students look wide eyed and incredibly awkward.
"Let ze feast begin!" Maxime exclaims loudly and decadent creamy concoctions appear at the tables. No snails or frogs legs if that's what you think, just bus loads of creamy cheesy, pastry like foods. And not forgetting the huge tiered cakes and many plates of creamy chocolate desserts. While Hogwarts students look at the food in awe, the Durmstrang students look completely petrified, staring at it in horror, not quite sure what to do with it. Their obviously not used to such decadence while were just not used to things being so... well, French.
"What's this?" James asks me while dipping his finger into something cheesy. "Just because my mothers French you think I'm an expert in French food" I retort irritably, my eyebrows raised. He doesn't answer back however as it seems he quite liked the taste of whatever it is he tried and is now shovelling it greedily down his mouth. I take a nice safe slice of quiche and Lorcan follows suit while Fred picks up one of the chocolaty desserts and begins eating cautiously.
"This place is the works" James says, still eating his food with his hands. I scowl at him and even Fred looks quite disgusted, its only Lorcan who seems completely unaffected, "Spose well get the speech after this, and then we'll find out how and when they choose the champions" he says.
I feel my stomach clench. I hadn't even spared one thought as to how they choose the champions! What if it's some test in front of everyone. No, I can't do that, i'de fail, i'de fail miserably. I push away my quiche, only hearing the distant hum of James, Fred and Lorcans conversation while I fretted. And all too soon the food vanishes and Madame Maxime rises from her seat.
"And now" she says in very clear English "It is time to begin the tournament". Cheers break out through the hall and I hear Fred whisper informingly to a confused looking James "she's used the tongue charm, no matter what language she speaks everyone will understand her". Now I know why her English is so clear.
"And now I would like to introduce to you... THE GOBLET OF FIRE!". A large silver goblet appears on the podium, blue flames emanating from it. "The Goblet of Fire" Maxime continues over the large appreciative gasps "since the first Triwizard Tournament has had the sole responsibility of choosing the champions. But be wary, this competition is not for the faint of heart. Eternal glory is promised to the winner of the triwizard tournament, but once chosen, you have entered into a binding magical contract, and you must compete". Every person in the hall is hanging on each and every one of Madame Maxime's words.
"To enter, you must write your name on a piece of parchment and drop it into the goblet of fire. You MUST" she says sternly "be 16 to enter". "Tomorrow night at the Halloween feast our champions will be chosen". She lets these last words hang in the air for a moment before saying "Goodnight to you" brightly, and reclaiming her chair.
There is a frantic scratching of quills and people are standing up to enter their names into the goblet. Roxanne makes a big show of it, striding forward and confidently dropping her parchment into the goblet, swinging her dark brown hair over her shoulder and winking at Lorcan as she sits down. An action which makes my blood boil.
I won't do it now, not in front of everyone. If I enter and don't get picked I'll never hear the end of it. My whole family would find it hilarious "Dom!" my mother would positively shriek "Ow could she possibly be champion?".
No I'll do it when I'm alone, that way if I don't get picked no one will ever know. But I don't have much time, not if the champions are being chosen tomorrow.
Tonight, I'll have to sneak down here tonight and drop my name into that goblet. And even if I don't get chosen, ill know I've tried, and I'll know there was nothing more I could do. Just then I hear a swooping applause as Alek Krum drops his name into the goblet and I imagine what it would be like to have that applause directed towards me.
It's not impossible I tell myself.
It's not impossible.
A/N: I really hope you liked it. The next chapter will be entitled Kevin De Flamme and I'm really excited about it! \please review