Hello people! I am back! Sorry this update took so long, but I was busy over Easter break. I hope you all had a wonderful fun-filled Easter. And now on with the story!
As the company of six, led by Dumbledore, headed down there staircase to the Great Hall. Al and Rose hung back a bit however, and were whispering fervently to one another.
"Triwizard Tournament?" Al said, eyes widening apprehensively. "I heard Dad talk about that once. I think he was in it!"
"Al, onto more important manners," Rose said breezily. "This is your Dad's fourth year, which means that it's your Mum's third year! Our year."
Albus stared incomprehensively at her. His mother, his age. Creepy thought.
As they reached the mean staircase, Dumbledore turned around. "Please wait out in the hall. I will call you in. Potters," he looked swiftly to where James and Lily were standing. "I will introduce you as Porters, while the Weasleys will become the Wilsons. These are both common, indistinguishable names. I will see you soon."
And with that, Dumbledore swept into the hall where the children could here the chatter and laughter of the students waiting for the feast to start.
"Attention!" They could here Dumbledore announce, as the hall began to quiet down and listen to him. "Yesterday you were introduced to the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students. Today we welcome five young children from Leakwort's Academy of Magic in America that will be observing the tournament. They are a family, which is why they were chosen to come. Please welcome James Porter, who will be joining the fourth-year students this year, in Gryffindor house!"
James gulped and pushed open the door to the hall. Albus could hear applause coming from inside.
"Now we must introduce James's brother, Albus Porter, a third-year student, also in Gryffindor."
Al bit his lip and walked in. He could hear applause from all sides of the room as he headed over to the Gryffindor table. He took a seat next to James, who grinned cockily at him.
"James and Albus also have a little sister. Please welcome Lily Porter, a first-year, sorted into Gryffindor with her brothers."
Albus craned his neck to see Lily waling in. She looked nervous, and when she got close enough, she practically ran to where Albus was sitting. He put a comforting arm around her shoulder.
"And now their cousins, the Wilsons shall be introduced. "Please give a warm welcome to Rose Wilson, a third-year of Gryffindor."
Al could see Rose walking into the Great Hall confidently. She grinned at him as she slid into the seat across from him.
"And finally, Rose's brother Hugo Wilson, a Gryffindor first-year."
Hugo, who was a bit tall for his age, stumbled in, tripping over his own feet. He came and sat next to his sister.
"Now, before we announce the champions, let the feast begin!"
As the golden plates filled themselves, James forked over everything in sight, biting ravenously into what looked like a delicious array of meat and potatoes. But Albus wasn't hungry. He simply spooned a bit of clam chowder into a bowl, and sipped it nervously. His Dad didn't talk about his school years much, but Albus was almost certain that he had mentioned competing in this tournament.
Suddenly, a short blonde-haired boy dropped into the seat next to Lily.
"Hi," he said a bit breathlessly. "I'm Colin Creevey. I'm in Albus and Rose's year." He turned to Al. "Did you know you have the same name as the headmaster? Freaky, huh?"
Al found himself listening to Colin's rant, which was a bit amusing, truth be told. He kept going on and on about how great Hogwarts was and everything about it, even the smallest, most unimportant details.
"And then there's a giant squid in the lake and…" Colin was suddenly cut short, as Professor Dumbledore had begun to speak again.
"Well, the goblet is almost ready to make its decision," his voice rang out above all the others. "I estimate that we will be waiting about one more moment. Now, when the champion's names are called…"
Albus tuned Dumbledore out. He knew that his father would be called, he just knew it! He started listening again just in time to notice the goblet. The white-blue of the goblet had suddenly changed to a fiery red. Flames shot up from it, and a crumpled piece of paper, charred at the edges, came fluttering down.
"The Durmstrang champion is…" Dumbledore paused. "Victor Krum!"
Al wracked his brains for a Krum. All he could think of was that he once heard his uncle Ron mutter, "Stupid Krum."
Albus turned his attention to the goblet, which had turned red again. A nearly identically piece of parchment came floating down into Dumbledore's outstretched hand.
"The champion for Beauxbatons will be Fleur Delacour!"
The five kids exchanged shocked looks as their seventeen year old aunt smiled, tossing her hair as she walked up to the front of the hall to receive he piece of parchment.
As the applause died down again, a third paper fluttered down to Dumbledore. He read off it in a loud clear voice. "The Hogwarts champion is…"
Albus held his breath. He knew it would be his dad, he just knew it!
"Cedric Diggory!" Dumbledore called, to thunderous applause from the house tables. Al wondered what the matter was. He was certain that his father had participated in this tournament.
Then the goblet erupted again, just as Dumbledore was talking. He reached out for the piece of parchment. Albus held his breath yet again. This was it. He knew.
"Harry Potter." The hall became completely silent. Al saw a glimpse of his young father for the first time. He really did look like his dad, like everybody had always told him. But now, his father looked completely shell-shocked.
"Harry Potter!" Dumbledore called again. Al saw his father walk up to the front of the hall, eyes wide, to receive his parchment from Dumbledore. Then he turned back to his siblings and cousins, with a smug look at Rose like, I told you so.