The dishes in front of them disappeared, and they all sat back, rubbed their stomachs and grinned sleepily at each other.
"I have a few announcements to make." the new Headmistress Sprout stood up.
The lazy muttering stopped, and the students interest perked – perhaps now would be the time they heard about the event this year.
"As you know, Proffessor McGonnalgal retired last year, so there will be a couple of staff changes." She motioned down the table to a young man with a scar on his cheek. "Proffessor Longbottom will be the new Herbology professor."
A storm of clapping broke out at – Neville Longbottom was a well-known and respected name, everyone knew about his revolution in his 7th year and the destroying of the last Horcrux.
Neville blushed and self consciencely raised a hand to achknowledge the applause.
After beaming fondly at the man who had once been her favourite student, Sprout continued, "Proffessor Sinistra will be Hufflepuff's head of house."
More applause, someone hooted over at the Hufflepuff table as the Astrononomy Proffessor waved at the students.
"Roberto Hagrid and Mary Hart are the new Head Boy and Head Girl. If you are worried about something or are lost please talk to them, along with the Prefects." Wolf whistles and claps broke out – Robbie and Mary Hart were popular in the school. Robbie caught his father beaming proudly from the high table, tears in his eyes. Robbie grinned at him and waved. Hagrid's smiled widened.
"And now, as some of you, or possibly all of you," she grinned at the students. "Have heard that an event will be taking place this year." She paused, well aware that this would agonize the students.
Robbie, Leanne and Alfred glanced at each other excitedly and leaned forward on their chairs, elbows on the table and watching Proffessor Sprout avidly. Many also followed this pose.
"Though many thought it wouldn't be a good idea, it has decided that it will go through again, in the first time in seventeen years." Many now realized what it was. "Hogwarts will, once again, play host to the Triwizard Tournament."
"NO WAY!" Victoire and Teddy chorused, clearly heard over the storm of clapping.
"Yes way," grinned Sprout, but then her face fell. "As you may know, a boy died last time. Cedric Diggory." A silence fell respectately, most had heard the name but the one's who didn't just followed suit of everyone else. Sprout nodded approvingly and continued. "But the Tournament itself was safe, the murder of Cedric was orchestrated by You-Know-Who, so the Ministry thought it safe enough to do it again. Though, as the same as last time, there is an age restriction of sevventeen. Those who are already seventeen, or will be before the 30st of October will be allowed to add theeir name."
Leanne, Alfred and Robbie grinned at each other widely, all three of them were seventeen.
The same could not be said for Ted and Victoire. When Alfred glanced at them, there faces were grumpy and glum. "Are you going to try put your name in?" He grinned.
He got identical glares from both of them, apparently it was no laughing matter. "Uncle George told us about the time he and Fred tried to get past and they got giant white beards. And personally, beards do NOT suit me, so i don't see the point in trying." She sounded hopeless, and Alfred felt sorry for her, he knew he'd be upset too if he hadn't been of age.
Ted, however did not look so hopeless, he appeared to be thinking very hard about something. Alfred knew that look.
"Your not thinking of another way to get in are you...? Did you hear about what Fred and George-"
"Yeah i heard! Don't worry, i'll have something better up my sleeve." He smiled smugly at all of them.
"Oooh, how're you going to do that?" Victoire enquired enthusiastically, obviously hoping to be in on the plan.
Ted bit his lip. "Not sure," he admitted. Everyone laughed and Victoire rolled her eyes.
"But i'll figure it out! After all, we do have two months until Durmstrang and Beauxbatons are coming."
Beauxbatons. He had forgotten that Beauxbatons were in the Triwizard tournament and now felt sick to his stomach. In two months he would see his estranged mother and possibly his twin-brother, who would, too, be of age...
Robbie glanced up to the high table and his big, brown eyes instantly met beetle-like ones.
Around them, people were getting up, chatting excitedly, but Robbie and his father were trapped in the same world of dread, anxiety and excitement.