Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or Harry Potter. I just like them...a lot.
Hogwarts Secret Scandal 14
Heads Up
Serena was reliving what happened at the ball in her dreams. The spectacle she made in front of everybody. How she felt so humiliated. How she felt that she could no longer trust Professor Shields. She was even reliving the moment he gave her detention—and all over a stupid fight with Malfoy? He was the one who should've gotten detention!
She could see Malfoy's face so clearly it was as if she was really there. The grin on his face would not disappear. Something was weird about this dream. It wasn't the same thing that really happened. Their conversation was different and Serena couldn't see Hogwarts. It was like she and Draco were in some strange new world. This dream she was having was wilder than ever, that was sure.
"You dirty rotten snake!" She was shouting. "How dare you mess with my cousin's love life! You care more about winning than her feelings!"
Draco laughed as he stepped forward. "There's nothing wrong with winning, Serena. I just wanted to win. So did Mina. She's a real Slytherin."
"You're wrong!"
"It's true. You see, Serena, when I want something I'll do whatever it takes to get it. That's what Slytherins do. I'll never stop until I'll get what I want…and right now…I want YOU!"
"Oh no!" Serena shouted, jumping back in shock.
Draco suddenly changed. In his place was a scary and huge dragon. Serena screamed and began running for her life. Serena somehow wished she could fight but she wasn't strong enough to fight against a dragon all by herself. As she looked ahead, she saw her hands fly up ahead of her. They were gloved and her legs wore dark pink boots. Serena was not in her costume in the ball either. So much of this did not happen at the ball so why was she dreaming it now? Just because Draco means dragon doesn't mean Draco is one!
Then SWISH!
Something plunged hard into the monster's eye. It howled in pain. Serena looked back to see it shaking his head. A rose was lodged into is eyeball.
"How?" Serena began.
A person jumped down from a rock, picked her up and leapt out of the way. It was Professor Shields in that same costume. Yes, he did throw a rose but he only did that to break u a fight. He wasn't saving Serena from anything.
"Are you all right, Sailor Moon?" said Professor Shields.
"Oh, Tuxedo Mask, you saved me!" Serena praised.
'What the heck?' the sleeping Serena thought, trying to make sense of all this.
"We'll take this overgrown lizard!" shouted a brave girls' voice.
"Yeah, let's fight fire with fire!" said another.
"I'm with you!"
"If we work together we can do it!"
Serena looked to the sound of the voices and saw four girls dressed in really funny clothes. Yet, she seemed to know them. "Sailor Scouts!"
Serena sat straight up, totally weirded out. She looked around her dorm and everyone was still asleep. The sun was just beginning to rise and dim light seeped in through the windows.
"I think I had too many sweets at the party last night," Serena said to herself, laughing slightly. "That's what it is. Heh-heh."
Unable to go back to sleep, Serena got up and tried to wash out her hair. She couldn't take the hairstyle down, even when she washed her hair three times.
'I need to get a haircut,' she thought, feeling the meatballs in her hair. She walked out of the shower only to find another memento of last night.
"Oh no!" she groaned, staring at the mirror. Somehow, Serena had an allergic reaction to the gold paint and the gold symbol was still there.
"No, no, no!" she fumed. "This just can't be happening. Everyone will know it was me. Oh, just perfect! Everyone's going to laugh at me!"
Draco leaned over a piece of parchment, wearing a grimace. There were crumbled pieces of parchment littered around his chair. His efforts in writing his "TEN POSTIVE THINGS OF GRYFFINDOR" list were futile.
"I can't come up with anything," he muttered, tossing another parchment behind his shoulder. "His is the worst detention I ever had to do! Having Moody turn me into a ferret and bounce me around the hall was better than this!"
He heard footsteps coming up from the girls' dormitory. Hopeful, he looked up to see who it was. "Hey, Mina is that—oh—nevermind. You left the common room a mess last night, you know."
"Good morning to you too, Draco," Rini grumbled.
"And we lost the trivia game. Your stupid costumes weren't good enough!"
"Oh, I'm sorry," Rini said "would you rather wear the mad doctor costume?"
"You know," said Draco, rising from his feet. "I never had to give detention to anyone in Slytherin before and you're about to break the tradition."
Rini laughed. "You'll give me detention, because you lost?"
"Hey, Draco, knock it off."
Mina just entered the common room. Rini and Draco looked at her.
"It's not her fault we lost, you know," Mina said coolly. "We cheated on that trivia game. The judges did like our costumes enough so we could play."
"Really?" Rini asked. "You were picked as one of the couples?"
"Yeah," Mina said with a smile. "And we would've won if we hadn't cheated."
"We would've won if Potter and Professor Shields didn't conspire against us!" Draco shouted. "I've never been so insulted! Just wait until my father hears about this!"
"Draco, your father's in Azkaban," Mina reminded. "What could he do?"
"Well…" Draco said, screwing his face up in thought. "Well, he could…"
"It doesn't matter, all right Draco?" Mina demanded, groaning. "It's too early for this. I'm happy for Serena and Harry."
"But Potter didn't really win!"
"Wait a minute, what happened?" Rini asked.
"Oh, well, Professor Shields was wearing the same costume Harry was wearing," Mina explained. "I think it was one of your drawings. The guy with the top hat and the cape?"
"That would be Tuxedo Mask," Rini said proudly.
"Potter looked like an idiot in that thing," Draco muttered. "Anyway, let it go, Mina. I'd like to forget all about Potter making me look like an idiot last night. I need help writing this list for Professor Shields."
"What list?" Reenie inquired.
"You mean that list on Gryffindor you're supposed to do?" Mina asked. "When do you need to turn that in?"
"Before breakfast," he replied.
"Why are you writing a list for Professor Shields?" Reenie asked. "What'd you do?"
"I did nothing," Draco said defensively. "And it's really none of your business."
"If it concerns my Daaaa--," Reenie stopped abruptly, realizing what she was about to say. She recovered herself quick as a flash. "Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher, it concerns me."
Draco snorted. "We all have the same teacher."
"Draco and Serena had a fight," Mina explained, "and Professor Shields made them write something good about each house for punishment."
Reenie laughed, holding her sides. Draco narrowed his eyes. Mina looked slightly confused.
"Well, good luck with that!" said Reenie, waving at Draco as she left the common room.
"That girl's…odd," said Draco. "Here, Mina, you've got a cousin in Gryffindor. Has she said anything positive about it?"
"Um…no, not really," she admitted.
"Oh great," Draco groaned. "There's got to be something!"
"Hey, wait, red's one of their colors!" Mina said quickly.
"Mina, you know I hate red!"
"But I love it!" Mina insisted. "A lot of nice things are red. Roses, hearts, this pretty ribbon!" She pointed to the ribbon in her hair. "I like it so much I decided to keep wearing it!"
Draco sighed. "Well, I'll put the red thing to the side incase I can't come up with something else. Gold is one of their colors. I like it better than red."
"Yeah, that's a good one," Mina agreed as Draco recorded it down.
"Any thing else, Mina?" Draco asked.
"Their mascot's a lion," Mina stated. "Lions are cool."
"Mina…" Draco began wearily.
"Hey, don't say you don't like lions either!" Mina scowled. "Think of all those cool fantastic beats that have lion parts! Sphinxes, and chimeras and manticores."
"Mina, do you know what manticores are?" Draco questioned. "And chimeras aren't any better."
"Okay, so maybe they're very dangerous," Mina added with a slight grin. "But hey, it's better than a housecat, isn't it?"
"True," Draco said, shrugging as he recorded Gryffindor's mascot as a trait. "What else?"
Mina almost said Gryffindor was cool because Harry Potter was in it. However, since Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy were the worst rivals Slytherin and Gryffindor probably had in ages, that wouldn't' be a wise thing to say. Mina shrugged her shoulders.
"Well, I'm not sure," she said.
"Come on, Mina!" Draco muttered. "You've got a cousin in Gryffindor!"
"That doesn't mean I know all about Gryffindor, Draco!" Mina hissed. "Why don't you look something up about Gryffindor in Hogwarts, A History? Maybe you'll find something in there!"
"Fine, I will!" Draco groaned.
"Hmph!" Mina huffed, walking out Slytherin House to leave her boyfriend to his detention assignment. "I'm getting really sick of his attitude!"
Serena wasn't having much luck in writing her list either. She asked Hermione to borrow her copy of Hogwarts, A History to get all she could on Slytherin House.
"I don't think you'll find much in there," said Hermione. "They left out everything about house-elves working at Hogwarts!"
"Well, she's writing about Slytherin House, Hermione," Ron said dismissively. "Not house-elves."
"I'll take my chances," Serena said before things got ugly between Ron and Hermione.
"Well, you've got a cousin in Slytherin," Harry said helpfully. "Has she given you any ideas?"
"All she's told me was how great Draco is," Serena muttered. "Thank goodness I don't have to write about him!"
Serena skimmed through the chapter on Salazar Slytherin and his house. She didn't find anything that stood out about him. So what Salazar was a Parselmouth? That was usually was a sign of a Dark Wizard. Big deal. She couldn't use that. Serena stared at the coat of arms for Slytherin, trying to think of something.
"Oh yes, of course, silver's one of their colors!" she said after a while. "Silver's a pretty color."
"I guess it's a start," Ron stated.
"You and Harry snuck into Slytherin Common Room, right?" Serena questioned.
"Yeah," Harry replied, "but I wouldn't recommend you doing that."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Serena groaned, "but was there anything nice about it?"
"Dunno, we were too busy trying to find out if Draco was the Heir of Slytherin," said Ron.
"And even if you commented on what the Slytherin Common Room was like," Hermione pointed out. "You couldn't use it because Professor Shields would ask you how you knew about it."
"I could say I heard it from Mina," Serena said.
"The mantelpiece on the fireplace was kind of sophisticated," said Harry. "And the chairs have high backs."
"I'll use it," Serena agreed. "Oh man…this is the worst detention I ever had to do for Professor Shields!"
Dumbledore was not all surprised to see a visitor in his office when he entered it the next morning. It was the same person he spoke with the day Darien said he'd take the Defense against the Dark Arts job.
Dumbledore smiled warmly.
"I thought you'd be coming by," he said.
"We need to talk," said his visitor urgently. "It is not going as I had planned. The Masquerade Ball was a disaster."
"On the contrary," Dumbledore said thoughtfully. "I'd say it went rather well. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, the music was superb and I feel a lot smarter now after that game of wizard trivia."
Dumbledore's visitor scowled. "I am serious, Dumbledore. I do not have time for games."
Dumbledore sat behind his desk but the person was too angry to sit. When asked to be seated, she just started pacing.
"Relax, Professor Shields is still working here if that is what you're worried about. You need to be patient."
"I don't' want to be patient!" his visitor shouted. "You have any idea how long I've waited for this?"
"My dear," Dumbledore said calmly. "Professor Shields does not know his true identity and nor does Serena White. You came to me for help and now I'm doing it. I've offered he job to Darien and he's accepted. You wanted them to have a chance to remember their true identities and have a moment with each other so I suggested the Masquerade Ball."
"But there's more to do, Professor," said the mysterious female. "The others need to be found. We had not come up with a way for them to meet."
"I have," said Dumbledore smiling.
"What would that be?"
"I've received a letter from the headmaster of Durmstrang," Dumbledore explained. "He's invited Hogwarts and Beaxbatons for a stay in Durmstrang."
"Now w'ere talking!" laughed the visitor. "What is it? When will we depart? How long are we going to be there?"
"I'm afraid you'll have to wait until breakfast to hear the details," said Dumbledore.
"Dumbledore!" groaned his visitor. "You've got to tell me!"
"I'll give the announcement in breakfast," Dumbledore insisted. "I'm sorry, young lady, but you'll just have to hear the news the same as everyone else."
"But I'm not the same as everyone else!"
"Move along now," Dumbledore told her.
"Just give me a hint, Professor, what are we going to be doing?"
"This is a lesson of patience," Dumbledore insisted. "You'll need to learn more of it."
"Oh, fine, but whatever this plan is, it had have a better outcome than the Masquerade Ball!" the young lady yelled as she exited Dumbledore's office, fuming. Dumbledore sighed and shook his head.
"Kids these days."
"Had a good time last night, Shields?" Snape asked Darien as he entered his classroom.
Darien groaned as he continued to grade last minute papers. "Not now, Professor Snape. I'm pretty busy. I have to get these papers graded."
"You could've done that last night if you weren't wooing the female students!"
"I was doing no such thing!" Darien hissed, rising to his feet so quickly he knocked his chair back.
"I saw you dancing with that girl, Shields," Snape said with disgust. "I'm very disappointed in you."
"You're not the headmaster, all right?" Darien said wearily. "I spoke to Dumbledore already and obviously bo the looks of things, he didn't sack me."
"Perhaps I'm not," Snape said, folding him arms. "But I was your Head of House once."
"That was over three years ago!" Darien groaned, walking around his desk. "I'm not a student anymore, Professor Snape and you can't give me detention."
"I never had too," said Snape.
"You never gave anyone in Slytherin House detention!" Darien exclaimed. "Even when they deserved it!"
Snape looked curtly at Darien. "So, you know how to discipline my students?"
"Yes," Darien said, picking up his fallen chair. "I've given Draco Malfoy detention, in fact."
"That's what I've heard," Snape said. "And all he was doing was talking with White."
"They would've torn each other apart had I not stopped them!" Darien cried. "I only had them write ten positive aspects of each other's house and turn them into me this morning. They should be here any minute."
"Well, good, Shields," Snape said, "at least you're trying to act like a professor. But remember, that's all you are to these students, understand?"
"I know that," Darien said defensively. "Professor Snape, I wasn't trying to court Serena or anything. I was only dancing with her!"
"You danced with her for a good two hours," Snape said, "and you competed in the trivia game, making everyone believe you were Potter."
"Two hours?" Darien said in disbelief. "It was that long?"
"Yes."
"Oh my," Darien whispered, falling into his chair. He felt dizzy all of a sudden. He didn't realize they had danced together that long. He thought it was just a minute. He bought his hands to his face. "What was I thinking?"
"You probably weren't," said Snape bluntly.
Darien nodded. "Yeah, that was very irresponsible. I had only meant to just…observe the dance. I didn't intend on dancing with anybody."
"Why did you dance with her, Shields?"
Darien lifted his eyes from his desk and looked at his old Head of House. "I don't know. I honestly don't know."
"Just don't do something like that again," Snape said, "you're here to teach. Don't forget that."
"I won't, Professor Snape," Darien promised. "I'll be the best damn Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Hogwarts ever had!"
"You'd better," Snape threatened, "because Potter and his friends still think Lupin was the best."
"Actually, Lupin was pretty good," Darien said simply.
Snape shook his head and exited the room just as Serena entered. Darien almost laughed when he saw her hair was still up in the same style. He fought back the name he was about to call her.
"Good morning, Serena."
"Morning," Serena said bitterly. "Here's my list."
Serena set it on the nearest desktop and turned back to the door.
"Wait," said Darien.
"What?" snapped Serena, looking back over her shoulder.
"You're not to just hand them in," Darien explained.
Serena turned around fully, glaring at her teacher in disgust. It was more uncomfortable than ever to be alone with him. She didn't want to hear anymore requests.
"You want a dance too?" Serena demanded.
"No," Darien said, feeling ridged. "I'd like you to read your list to Draco when he gets here."
"You're kidding," Serena said.
"Just have a seat," Darien told her.
"Fine," Serena said, sitting at the desk where she had placed her list. "Draco better get his Slytherin butt here quickly. I'm starving."
Darien didn't comment but went back to his own desk to finish grading papers. Every now and then, he'll look over at Serena. He wanted to apologize and explain himself more but he knew that would just make her more furious with him. Serena looked over her list a couple of times and Draco finally entered the room.
"Took you long enough," Serena hissed.
Draco grinned as he walked up to her. "Didn't have time to take your hair down, princess?"
"Shut up!" Serena growled. "I couldn't get it down, all right?"
"Draco, Serena," Darien said, rising from his desk. "Please move your desks so you're facing each other."
Serena groaned as she shifted her desk to Draco's. Draco didn't seem bothered at all.
"Serena, if you can tell us your list first, please," Darien stated.
"Why do I have to go first?" Serena complained, jerking her head at him. "Draco started it!"
"I didn't start anything," Draco grunted. "I was just trying to have a conversation with you."
"You used my cousin!" Serena shouted at him.
Serena and Draco continued to argue and Darien whisked forward. "That's enough!" he shouted at the both of them to shut up. They gasped in surprise. Darien looked at Serena. "Just read the list, Meatball Head!"
Serena's mouth dropped open and Darien knew he had said something very stupid indeed. Draco erupted into laughter.
"Good one, Professor Shields!"
"I'm sorry," Darien said softly.
"Meatball Head?" Serena echoed, her voice rising. "MEATBALL HEAD?"
"Forget I said it!" Darien muttered. "You are wasting time. Read your list and then Draco could follow and then we can be done!"
Serena turned her eyes to her paper and straightened it out. She took a breath to relax herself. Then she began to read down her list, her voice monotone to keep from shouting.
"TEN GOOD THINGS ABOUT SLYTHERIN.
SILVER IS ONE OF THEIR HOUSE COLORS."
"You wrote about our House colors?" Draco asked. "Is that the best you can do?"
"Hey, a lot of cool things are silver!" Serena retorted. "Unicorns, Sickles, mooncalf dung--,"
"Mooncalf dung?" Draco demanded.
"It's silver, I swear!" Serena exclaimed. "And mooncalf dung is really valuable. Makes a better fertilizer than that dragon crap we use in Herbology!"
Draco still looked unconvinced. Darien smiled slightly.
"It's true, Malfoy. It makes everything grow rapidly."
"Okay," Draco leaned back in his chair. "What else is silver?"
"Well—uh—the stars—the moon," Serena said thoughtfully. "the Silver Imperium Crystal."
"What's that?" Draco asked eagerly. "Sounds valuable!"
"Sounds familiar," Darien said softly.
"Well, it's a lot better than mooncalf dung!" Draco exclaimed. "What's this crystal?"
"I don't know," Serena answered. "It just popped into my head."
"Continue, Serena," Darien prompted.
"Oh, right," Serena said, looking back her list.
"2. GREEN IS ALSO A HOUSE COLOR.
"3. THE COMMON ROOM HAS A VERY NICE FIREPLACE, HIGH BACKED CHAIRS AND GREEN LIGHTS HANGING ON CHAINS."
"How do you know that?" Darien and Draco demanded.
"Mina told me," Serena lied.
"She never told me about your common room," Draco muttered, looking at his own list. Serena continued, smiling slightly.
"4. SLYTHERINS ARE AMBITIOUS.
"5. THEIR MASCOT IS A SNAKE.
"6. MY COUSIN IS A SLYTHERIN.
"7. THE SLYTHERIN TABLE IS CLOSER TO THE DOOR IN THE GREAT HALL
"8. PROFESSOR SNAPE IS HEAD OF SLYTHERIN AND HE NEVER GIVES SLYTHERINS DETENTION."
'Even when they deserve it,' Serena added mentally.
"9. THE BLOODY BARON IS THEIR HOUSE GHOST AND HE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN KEEP THE POLTERGEIST UNDER CONTROL.
"10. SALAZAR SLYTHERIN WAS A PARSELMOUTH."
Serena groaned. Evidently, she had to use Salazar's being a Parselmouth because she had no more ideas.
"Well," Darien said, "that was pretty good, Serena. Your turn, Draco.""Right."
Draco straightened up his list and cleared his throat. "TEN POSITIVE THINGS ABOUT GRYFFINDOR.
GOLD IS ONE OF THEIR HOUSE COLORS."
"Hey!" Serena exclaimed, rising to her feet. "You gave me a hard time about talking about your colors and you're doing the same thing?"
"Sit down, Meatball Head," Darien and Draco said at the same time.
Serena gasped, glaring at them. She sat down nonetheless. Draco continued.
"2. GYFFINDOR'S MASCOT IS A LION.
"3. THE GRYFFINDOR GHOST WAS HIT IN THE NECK FIFTY-SEVEN TIMES WITH A BLUNT AXE AND THOUGH HE ONLY HAS HALF AN INCH OF NECK LEFT HE STILL TRIES TO JOIN THE HEADLESS HUNT."
Seeing the confused looks on Darien and Serena's faces, Draco chuckled lightly. "Come on, you have to admire that determination. And how many wizards actually had that happened to them?"
"Good point," said Darien. "Please continue."
"4. SOME OF THE BEST PROFESSIONAL QUIDDITCH PLAYERS WERE GRYFFINDORS.
"5. SOME OF THE BEST CURSE BREAKERS WERE GRYFFINDORS
"6. SOME OF THE BEST AURORS WERE GRYFFINDORS.
"7. GRYFFINDORS LIKE ADVENTURE
"8. GRYFFINDORS ARE BRAVE
"9. GODRIC GRYFFINDOR WAS A LION ANIMAGUS
"10. RED IS ALSO A GRYFFINDOR COLOR."
"Well," said Darien softly once Draco had finished. "Very good you two. You may keep the lists as a reminder not to badmouth other houses."
"Thanks," Serena muttered.
There was a small silence. Neither Serena nor Draco dared ask Darien if they could leave. He was looking at them sternly, trying to come up with something else, to add to their punishment. Darien found it hard but he had to do it. Not just to discipline them and to end the rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin, but to act more like a teacher and an infatuated schoolboy. He couldn't let his feelings for Serena stop him from doing his job. Darien took in a deep breath.
"Now, I want you…I want you to…"
"Yes, Professor?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Now what?" Serena demanded.
"Mr. Malfoy…Miss White, I'd like to…to…" he sighed, regretting what he was about to say next. But he had to. He had to. "I want you to hug."
"WHAT!" Serena shouted.
"Just do it before I change my mind!" Darien ordered.
Serena looked into Draco's cool gray eyes. There was a spark dancing in them. A smile spread across his pale face and he came to his feet. Serena groaned and got to her feet as well. The two approached each other and very awkwardly, for Serena anyway, hugged. Serena's arms were limp around Draco's shoulders but Draco enjoyed it and he embraced her tightly, patting her back.
'Well, at least one of us is enjoying this,' thought Serena.
"Okay, that's enough," Draco said, cringing a little. "Now, the next time you insult someone from the opposite house, you are to hug them."
"WHAT!" Serena and Draco demanded.
"Potter really gets on my nerves! We insult each other all the time! You can't expect me to hug him!"
"Yes, I do Mr. Malfoy," Darien said with a small smile. "I think it's about time you two bury that seven-year hatchet and become friends."
"But he doesn't want to be my friend," Draco said almost pleadingly. "You weren't there! I offered to be his friend but he made a total fool out of me!"
"Well, yeah," Serena muttered, folding her arms. "You told him he had to ditch the first real friend he made that day—Ron."
"But Weasley's poor and--,"
"Enough," said Darien coolly. "We are already at a difficult time with Lord Voldemort back."
Draco and Serena gasped. Darien sighed.
"We can't be fighting amongst ourselves," Darien continued, "we have to bind together, despite out differences. Now Malfoy, you had better watch your tongue around Potter or you will have to hug. And Miss White, if you're ever around, make sure they do it."
"All right," said Serena.
"You're going to make me hold his hand too?" Draco asked.
"Well, if I have to," Darien said with small smile.
Draco's mouth fell open.
"Yes, well, if you fight more even after hugging," Darien said, "then expect to walk around the Quidditch field holding hands, Mr. Malfoy. You won't want me to catch you having an argument with any of the Gryffindors. Understand?"
"Yes sir," said Draco softly.
"You may go to breakfast," Darien stated, "and there will be no need to hold hands. I think you've solved your differences now." He added as Draco looked like he was about to do just that.
Serena decided not to tell Harry and the others at the Gryffindor Table how things went in detention. Harry could tell it wasn't all that great the way she hardly touched her breakfast. Before anyone left the Great Hall, Dumbledore stood to his feet and cleared his voice thoroughly. Everyone stopped talking and looked at him in surprise. He did not say he had an announcement for them before breakfast.
"Well now," he said, "I can tell that many of you had a late night last night. I trust you all enjoyed yourselves at the Masquerade Ball. Now, I have another surprise for you all." He smiled brightly and Reenie leaned forward in her seat.
"Oh, here it comes," she whispered to herself. "Here it comes!"
"You may remember the Triwizard Tournament when Beaxbatons and Durmstrang were visiting with us," he began, "and in due time we will be seeing each other again."
Dumbledore was not surprised by the students' reactions. Some talked amongst themselves, others stood up and looked at Dumbledore.
"No way!"
"They're coming back here?"
"No, no," said Dumbledore, holding up his hand. "We will not play host for this event—but Durmstrang."
"YES!" Draco Malfoy shouted gleefully, rising so quickly he nearly lost his balance. "We're going to Durmstrang!"
"That's right, Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore said, "but this will not be the Triwizard Tournament of course. Nothing like it. What will be approaching is the Winter Wizard Olympics. Professor Oleg has kindly allowed us to stay at Durmstrang for this event. The grounds on Durmstrang are larger there and the weather will be more suited for what we will be doing. Fourth Years and up are invited to enter the Olympics while third years and under must remain here at Hogwarts."
The underclassmen looked as if they just had Christmas taken away. Reenie almost wanted to strangle Dumbledore.
"No!" she said, a low growl in her throat. "You've got to let me come!"
"There will be many different 'tasks' for the Olympics," Durmstrang explained, "we will use both Muggle and Wizard sports. There will be ice skating, skiing, hockey, as well as a broomstick relay race. Lists will be posted around the school for anyone to view. Tryouts for these sports will take place on the first of December. Use this time to practice in all the events you may be interested in. During tryouts we will chose who may compete against the other two schools. Also, there shall be a list of both Beaxbatons and Durmstrang students available as a pen pal service. I encourage you all to choose a student to write to regularly before and after our departure. We shall leave Hogwarts on the eighteenth of December and remain there for three weeks."
Some people thought this wasn't a long enough time while others, like Hermione, worried how she was going to survive without doing homework that long.
"There shall be more details to follow," Dumbledore said. "Now then, I suggest you all go to your lessons!"
The students of Beaxbatons were excited to hear of another competition but they were very upset about the location. Grégoire somehow felt that this was going to happen. He dreamed last night of being at a foreign place with many young witches and wizards during winter. People were skating, skiing, flying, playing hockey. There was an ice melting and an ice sculpture contest. Aimee had been one the people competing in the ice sculpture contest—and she ended up winning.
"Durmstrang?" said a girl in shock. "But it was already freezing at Hogwarts! We shall catch cold before even competing!"
"I do hope the Durmstrang students will send us fur cloaks," another said. "How do they even survive there?"
Aimee left the dining hall of Beaxbatons with a group of friends. "Will you tryout, Aimee?"
"I think I will," said Aimee, "the ice sculpture contest sounds really interesting. I just hope I do well."
"Oh, you will," said Grégoire suddenly.
"Grégoire," Aimee whispered, "I haven't even tried out yet."
"Trust me," Grégoire said, "you'll be picked to compete in the ice sculpture contest against Hogwarts and Durmstrang. You'll do great. You'll even win."
"B-but," Aimee began.
"Aimee," he said with a grin. "You're the best ice sculpture in this whole school. Every year at Christmas you make the ice sculptures. Durmstrang and Hogwarts probably never even made ice sculptures before. You're going to win that competition, trust me. You've got to have more confidence in yourself."
Aimee smiled faintly, rather touched. Her other friends were also surprised.
"Iz zis another prediction, Grégoire?" asked Adelaide.
"Not just a prediction," Grégoire said, "but a promise."
Grégoire smiled back at Aimee and turned around another corridor.
"Aimee, I may not be psychic like Grégoire," said Adelaide, "but he certainly has feelings for you."
"What? Grégoire?" Aimee asked, blushing a little. "Oh no, I don't think he does, we're just friends."
"Beaxbatons and Hogwarts shall be arriving on the eighteenth of December," Professor Oleg announced, "yes, yes, I know that doesn't leave us a whole lot of time but it is the start of winter holidays and we won't have to take too much time out of our teaching schedule."
"Oh man," Lita said, "I was looking forward to less homework."
"But how are we supposed to get Durmstrang ready for all this?" Raye wondered out loud.
"Now, I know you are wondering how we are supposed to prepare for the Winter Wizard Olympics," Professor Oleg said, "and that is why we shall start right away. We must expand Durmstrang, build a paddock for Beaxbatons horses and set up all the events that shall take place. This will be the first time in many decades Durmstrang has had visitors and I want our guests to feel welcome."
"I just hope we won't have to clean up after these horses," Lita groaned. "That's all I have to say.
"I hear ya," said Raye with a nod.
TO BE CONTINUED
Who do you think it was that spoke to Dumbledore in his office? It's the same person from the first chapter. I put some clues in this time. You all should be able to guess it.