Chapter 2
The Big Announcement

"Quick now, smile!" Mr. Diggory ordered as the train's whistle gave a warning.

Cedric and Sophie grinned as they stood side by side in front of the Hogwarts Express. With the snap of the flash, the two students hurriedly gave their parents one final hug and boarded the train. Inside the bustling corridor, they parted ways; Cedric had Prefect duties and Sophie weaved through the bodies to find a compartment with her friends. A few cars down the row she found them.

There was an eruption of greetings as she slid the compartment door open. Plopping down in the seat, she readied herself for the long journey to school and chatted with friends about how they spent their summer. When interest in the topic began to dwindle they naturally moved to the latest and greatest news, being the events at the Quidditch World Cup. A couple of their number has attended the match, but those who hadn't gone were eager for a firsthand account. Unable, and almost unwilling to contribute to the conversation, Sophie pulled a book from her rucksack and dropped away from reality for a bit.

The train pulled into a very damp, very gloomy Hogsmeade Station. Sophie pulled the hood of her cloak over her head as stepped off the train and into the throng of students waiting for transportation to the castle. Standing on the tips of her toes, Sophie scanned the crowd for Cedric. It didn't take long for her to spot him as he towered over the majority of students. She squeezed her way through the sea of students until she was beside him. He wasn't looking in her direction and jerked violently when she poked him in the ribs. Whirling around, his surprise turned into a smile and without discussing the matter the two of them made a mad dash for the nearest carriage.

"So how upset was your dad when you got back from my house?" Cedric asked.

Sophie shook her head and chuckled. "Actually, he thought I was still asleep and left me a note saying there was urgent business at the Ministry." She rolled her eyes. "I mean, he completely missed the empty glass and crumpled Prophet I had left on the kitchen table."

"Did you even bother to tell him that you had left before he did?"

Sophie snorted. "No. If he's not paying enough of attention to realize I had snuck out of the house then why should I tell him? It wouldn't have been a major issue anyway; I had a good reason to leave."

Cedric just shook his head exasperatedly.

"So how come you didn't visit me on the train?" Sophie asked in a mock whiney voice.

"Sophie," Cedric replied, rolling his eyes. "You know I have duties as a Prefect. I barely had time to talk to anyone in my house. A group of second years thought it would be a brilliant idea if they let a cat loose in their compartment. It got loose when someone opened the door, of course," he explained calmly. "And I was the only Prefect they could find so I had to help them find it. It took ages. Finally, we found it hiding in a compartment full of Slytherins." He sighed. "It was eventful to say the least."

Sophie laughed and replied sarcastically, "Awe, my hero!"

Cedric rolled his eyes again, but chuckled.

Parting ways once more when they reached the Great Hall, Cedric sat down at the Hufflepuff table and Sophie joined her friends at the Ravenclaw table. Sliding into her seat, she was greeted by her good friend, Aaralyn Stanford, who was cursing Peeves the Poltergeist. He had apparently bombed the first arrivals with water balloons.

She didn't go on for long because the noisy hall faded into silence at the appearance of Professor McGonagall with the new batch of first years that was waiting to be sorted. The scruffy old Sorting Hat sang its yearly tune and then each new student was placed in a house. Following the Sorting Ceremony, Professor Dumbledore rose from his seat at the staff table.

"I have but two words for you, tuck in," he announced and then prompted sat down to a table filled with various delightful dishes.

Sophie helped herself to generous helpings of her favorites, having not realized how hungry she had been since her snacks on the train. Filling her stomach cheered her up immensely and she chatted with those around her, even giving in to discussion about the Quidditch World Cup.

As the feast ended and the tables were cleared, Dumbledore stood at his seat once more; this time for his annual reminder of the rules and regulations for the proper behavior of his students. In an unexpected turn of events, much to the outrage of all the returning students, the headmaster announced that the inter-house Quidditch Cup would not be held this year. Players from each house looked about ready to stage a riot in the Great Hall; just as Professor Dumbledore was about to explain the reason behind this catastrophe, the large oak doors swung open and a scruffy old man stumbled inside, accompanied by a crack of thunder from the storm outside.

The visitor lumbered between the tables toward Dumbledore, amidst an outbreak of whispers. The man's physical appearance alone was enough to get anyone talking. His face was completely misshapen and one of his eyes, which appeared to be glass, whirled around in the socket. Dumbledore shook the visitors hand warmly and offered him a seat at the end of the staff table. Once their guest was seated, he addressed his curious audience.

"May I introduce your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Moody," Dumbledore said with a smile as students continued to whisper furiously. Once the whispers subsided once more, the headmaster continued with his start-of-term announcements, "Now as I was saying, this year Hogwarts will be playing host to the Triwizard Tournament…"

Somewhere from the center of the room, someone yelled out, "You're joking!" to which Dumbledore assured him that he was most certainly not joking. He promptly explained the history of the tournament and informed them that students from two other wizarding schools would be arriving at the end of October.

"There is, however, one restriction this year. No student under the age of seventeen will be permitted to enter the tournament. It is felt that those under the specified age have not acquired enough skill to complete the dangerous tasks that are assigned to the chosen champions. Furthermore, I ask that whoever is chosen as Hogwarts' champion is supported whole-hearted by the entire school."

This last bit of information was not received well by those students younger than seventeen. Dumbledore's twinkling blue eyes swept the Great Hall once last time before dismissing them. "Now it is time for rest before your lessons begin tomorrow. Bedtime! Chop, chop!"

The Ravenclaw common room was filled with chatter when Sophie and Aaralyn entered; all of it centered around Dumbledore's announcement. Many of them were grumbling about the age stipulation. The two girls joined the throng of sixth and seventh years who had gathered around one of the corner study tables.

"I'll be seventeen in December; it's not fair that I can't enter," complained a skinny boy with curly brown hair. He slammed his fist into the table to make his point.

"Calm down, Torin," Sophie said, cutting into his tirade. "If you were seventeen right now. would you actually consider putting your name in? Or are you raving about this just because you can't enter?"

The boy narrowed his eyes. "I don't know, but as of right now I don't even have a say in the matter because I am numerically not old enough. I know all the same things that you seventeen year olds do!" Torin raged on with a fiery glint in his eye.

Sophie shot a glance at Aaralyn, who in turn rolled her eyes. His reaction wasn't out of the ordinary, but he also wasn't the only one to take issue with this rule. They talked it out a bit further, learning who from their house was eligible for the tournament. Slowly they peeled off to their dormitories for further reflection on the matter.

Jumping onto Sophie's bed, Aaralyn interrogated her. "So, do you think you will put your name in the goblet?"

Sophie shrugged as she rummaged in her trunk for her pajamas. "I don't know. It is a really big decision."

"Yeah, I should probably write to my parents and ask them about it," Aaralyn replied thoughtfully.

"It definitely won't be easy," Sophie added.

"But, imagine all the things you could buy with the thousand galleon prize," said one of their roommates, Janna Smith, from behind the curtain of her four poster.

Sophie chuckled and closed her curtains with a final thought. "Well, I hope whoever is chosen wins it for Hogwarts."

Lying back on her pillow, Sophie considered the idea of entering the tournament. There was no sure answer popping into her head. It would be dangerous, but was she up for that kind of challenge? Would she even stand a chance in the tasks they would be appointed? Could she put herself out there and risk not being chosen? These were the thoughts that echoed in her mind as she drifted off to sleep.