Chapter Seventeen: The Triwizard Tournament:
Once more a new school year had begun and with it there was more security at the school than ever before. This was why in addition to the heavily armored and armed centaurs there were witches and wizards that helped guard the school. Among those guarding the school was Sirius Black and Harry knew from Remus talking to him that Snape and Sirius did not like each other at all. In fact Harry was expecting to see a duel any time once he got to the school. The sorting had been fun and he had enjoyed the shocked looks on many students face as they learned for the first time the Tri-Wizard tournament was going to be hosted at Hogwarts that year. In one month Durmstrang and Beauxbatons would come to Hogwarts and everyone was looking forward to that.
On the appointed day Harry was standing with his house waiting for the schools to show up. Luna Lovegood pointed to the sky and everyone looked to where a dozen winged horses pulled a carriage the size of a small house. It landed gracefully on the lawn and the door to the carriage opened and a boy in powder blue woolen robes exited and dropped down the stairs. A woman nearly as tall as Hagrid exited the carriage. She was clad in a gown of elegant black and walked with twenty students behind her. She was very pretty even though she was so tall and she looked over the students of Hogwarts and smiled graciously.
"I am honored to be here Dumbledore." She said in lightly accented English.
"It is an honor to have you here Madame Maxine." Dumbledore said.
"Look at the lake!" Neville said pointing to it.
Everyone did and the top of a mast could be seen rising up out of the water. In a very few short minutes a three mast ship complete with billowing sails bobbed up onto the lake. It sailed up close to the shore, dropped anchor and the gangway was dropped to the shore. The students exited the ship and Harry thought for a moment they were all built along the lines of Crabbe and Goyle. As they came closer he saw they were clad in cloaks of furs and walking in front of them in robes of silver fur was a tall lean man with short gray hair and on his weak chin was a goatee. Harry did not like him as there was something about him he knew was evil. He walked up to Dumbledore and bowed stiffly.
"I honored to see you again Dumbledore." Karkaroff said.
"It is good to see you again Igor." Dumbledore said. "Let us go in and have the feast."
"Look it's Krum!" Ron said as Victor Krum walked by.
"Brilliant, I was not aware he was still in school." Harry said grinning.
They walked into the great hall, the Beauxbatons took seats at the Hufflepuff table and Durmstrang took seats at Slytherin, once everyone was seated the feast appeared. Harry saw the Bouillabaisse almost at the same time Hermione did and let her take her share first. He had had this when he visited France a few summers ago and had liked it then and found it very good this time around as he had then. Once the feast was over and the plates were sparkling clean Dumbledore rose again to address the great hall.
"I would like to welcome our guests who have traveled far to be with us." Dumbledore said. "In a minute the goblet of fire will be brought out, however in light of keeping this tournament safe only those of age will be allowed to enter their names."
"What we are seventeen in April!" Fred said.
"Yea why can't we enter?" George said.
"As such an age line will be put around the cup." Dumbledore said. "Those champions of age will put their names in and may the best witch or wizard win!"
"An ageing potion would work, we only need to be a few months older." Fred said.
"With that I wish you a good night!" Dumbledore said.
To Harry entering the Triwizard tournament was not a big deal, he had enough of fame and looked forward to watching the champions this year. He went to bed with his house and got up early the next morning. He walked down and saw Fred and George walking to the cup and knew they had taken the potion. He watched with baited breath as they walked over the line and for a moment it seemed as if it had worked. Then with a sizzling sound they were cast from the circle and landed on the floor. At once they sprouted identical white flowing beards. They saw each other and laughed and the flash of a camera went off. Harry turned to see Sirius there grinning at the two boys.
"Mr. Jordan is up in the hospital wing getting his beard removed." Dumbledore said walking up, "but I must say your beards are the finest examples!"
"I am going to blow this up." Sirius said as Dumbledore walked away. "Put it up on Gryffindor house wall."
"You will allow me to have a picture." Remus said walking up. "No I need more than that, Severus needs a laugh."
"He is too evil to have a since of humor." Sirius said not aware that Snape was right behind him.
"Be careful Black." Snape said softly getting Sirius to turn quickly. "I may turn your hair green."
"The headmaster would not let you!" Sirius said.
"It would of course be an accident." Snape said silkily. "Besides who do you think the headmaster will believe? You or the respected head of Slytherin house Black?"
Harry watched as Snape walked off in a billow of fine woolen black robes. Sirius hated Snape but knew if he fought Snape he would be in trouble and he did not want that. He saw the fear and awe the students had of Snape had he had read the astounding stats on the man. Snape had more students get NEWTS in potions than any potions master before. He was a tough teacher but he expected his students to do well and most did. He was just as tough on himself as Sirius knew all too well. Snape had been small in school but he had been a strong skilled fighter and Sirius had found out quickly that Snape could defend himself quite well. He had ended up beaten up quite a few times and each time he was blamed not Snape.
"I really don't like that man." Sirius said to Harry.
"He really is not that bad." Harry said.
"He makes my medicine." Remus said referring to the Wolfsbane. "He is a very private, solder-like man."
"I thought he was a vampire." Neville said walking up. "I really did, I mean he looks like one."
"Well he is brilliant at potions." Hermione said.
"He calls you an insufferable know-to-all." Ron said walking up.
"Well I am." Hermione said. "I do take pride in being smart Ron."
Harry knew better than to laugh, if he did he was sure Hermione would hex him. Instead he headed away from breakfast and to his classes for the day. He was too exited to pay much attention and the day seemed to go slow as he was looking forward to the choosing of the champions that evening. Finally it was dinner time and Harry wished for the first time that it would go by faster, he was looking forward to who would be called for Hogwarts. Finally the last dish was cleared away and the hall went quiet as the cup was taken to the head table. There was a flash and a piece of parchment flew out of the cup and Dumbledore caught it and read it.
"Victor Krum!" He said and Krum got up, walked by the head table and walked through the door behind the great table.
"Brilliant, he will do well as a champion." Fred said newly de-bearded by Ron.
"Look another parchment." Neville said just as the next one flew out and Dumbledore caught it.
"Fleur Delacour!" Dumbledore said and a Veela-like girl got up and went through the doorway next.
"Oh look her classmates are not happy." Hermione said and it was true, several were crying.
"Our turn." George said and he was right, the last name flew out and the goblet went dark.
"Cedric Diggory!" Dumbledore said.
There went up a cheer from all houses as Cedric Diggory got up from the Hufflepuff table and headed to the anti-chamber. Harry was grinning, he wondered what tasks the champions would have to do and he was looking forward to it. Hufflepuff deserved this glory and Harry could not have been happier about Hogwarts champion. He went to bed that night very happy knew the year was going to be great.
A few days later he was heading for Care of Magical Creatures when he saw Sirius walk down the stairs looking relaxed. He came to the bottom of the stairs just as Snape was striding along the balcony above them between two wings of the castle. Sirius gave him a rude sign and Harry gasped, how could Sirius do that to Snape? Snape's response was not one that anyone was expecting. Snape stepped up to the top of the balcony, waved his wand and jumped. Harry's jaw was on the floor as Snape floated down to them quite easily and landed right by Sirius who was speechless. Snape got in his face and Sirius wondered if he was going to be blasted with a terrible curse.
"Boo." Snape said softly and brushed by Sirius and saw Harry standing there, jaw nearly on the floor. "What Mr. Potter?"
"Sir that was the most amazing thing I have ever seen." Harry said.
"If you are looking for me to award points Mr. Potter you are going to be disappointed." Snape replied.
"No sir, I don't expect points sir." Harry said. "You are brilliant sir."
"Then off to class with you." Snape said.
"Yes sir." Harry said grinning as he walked out to his class.
"How did you do that?" Sirius asked Snape, "no-one can do that."
"Then I am no-one." Snape said smirking, then aware of the students gathered he looked up. "If I find one of you out of class in the next five minutes its ten points from your house each!"
"Wow." Sirius breathed as the students scattered. "You really enjoy your power don't you?"
"That is because I earned it." Snape said coolly. "Now I have students to teach, you have a school to protect."
"Right." Sirius said.
Both men walked off and Snape smirked as he knew he was the better wizard than Sirius and Sirius knew it! What good did Sirius being a pureblood do him? Snape knew he ran circles around Sirius in power and Sirius could never touch him in brains or anything else but looks really. In the end what did Sirius' good looks really do him? Snape walked down to his next classes knowing that his little "stunt" was going to get around. Score one more for the dour potions master as he would be even more respected and feared once the day was out…
Yea a bit hurried but I wanted to put in a bit of fun at the end. Snape could "fly" and he of course would want to show off. Sirius is an old rival and of course Snape would want to put him in his place. Harry being there would be icing on the cake. Sirius is slowly learning that Snape is not the man or wizard to mess with at all.
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