The Tri-Wizard Champions!
Before the students knew it, one week had gone by in the blink of an eye. The students were gathered patiently (or rather excitedly) into the Great Hall. The Tri-Wizard Champions were being chosen today and a certain American would not shut up.
"Dude, this is going to be so totally awesome!" Alfred said in his loud voice.
"You're so going to get picked for our school!" Mathias said, almost equally as loud.
"Who says that you'll be chosen?" Elizabeta asked. "I think I have a good chance!"
"No way!" Alfred retaliated.
"And vhy is that, Alfred?" Elizabeta crossed her arms and waited for the answer.
"'Cause I'm the hero!" The American said, flashing an idiotic smile. "And the hero always gets chosen for these types of things."
"For sure!" Mathias added. The pair high fived each other.
"Oh really?" Elizabeta asked, getting a little ticked off. "I thought it was because your sexist tovards vomen!"
"What?!" Alfred said, shocked. "No way!" Elizabeta stood and put her hands on the table, angrily facing the boy.
"Prove it." She said menacingly. "And may I remind you that I am stronger than both you and Mathias combined!"
"Like hell you are!" Mathias said, backing up his friend (and his pride)
"All three of you knock it off." Ludwug ordered, although he too agreed with Elizabeta. Muttering to herself, Elizabeta sat down.
"You're both lucky I got my frying pan confiscated." She spat towards the boys.
"Hold on, Elizabeta," Toris asked curiously. "I thought you said Roderich convinced you to not enter the Tournament."
"He tried. How do you think my frying pan was confiscated?"
"I should give you more credit towards being a Gryffindor." Alfred muttered, although it was loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Ja, Liz." Mathias added to the conversation. "I don't mean to get hurt by what I'm about to say but...Damn 'Liza! You scary!"
"I still have my wand, Kølher..." Elizabeta growled. The Dane inched away a bit from the Hungarian.
"So...uh...when are they going to announce the champions?" He said, trying to change the subject. "We've been waiting a week. I wanna know!"
"If you calm down und vait, Zhey'll be announcing it soon." Ludwig said, getting ticked off by the fight between the Hungarian and the American.
"But I can't waaaait!" Alfred said impatiently. He groaned and slammed his head down on the table. Seeing this as an opportunity, Elizabeta smacked him in the back of the head. Alfred snapped up, his hands on the bump that was now forming. "Hey!"
"Vould you calm down?" She said, getting angry with him. "You're acting like a child!"
"Whatever, mom." The students stared at him in surprise. "What?"
"Your mother's a nice woman, Alfred." Toris managed to say. "No offense but to compare her to Elizabeta..."
"Huh? No, Toris, I was making fun off Lizzy. She was acting like my mom by telling me what to do, dude!" Elizabeta stood up once again.
"My name is Elizabeta Magyarország Héderváry." Elizabeta said, rather pissed. "I vish you vould address me as such and stop calling me by those stupid nicknames!"
"Ha!" Mathias laughed. "But Gilbert does it all the time."
"Yes, but I have no control over him. And Alfred, I'm sure your anya vould love to hear what you just said. " Elizabeta said, sitting back down.
"Sure," Alfred shrugged. "I'll tell her right now."
"What?" The Gryffindors, minus Alfred, said in unison. Alfred stared at them blankly.
"I svear to god you vere dropped on your head vhen you vere young." Ludwig said under his breath. However, it was loud enough for their small grouo to hear.
"What so bad about telling my mom that?!" Alfred asked, obviously confused.
"Nothing, Alfred." Elizabeta told him. "It's just that your mother is..."
"Fragile?" Mathias suggested. "Easily offended? That you might break her heart if you told her that?"
"Whaaat?" Alfred droned, still confused.
"Y-you might hurt her." stuttered Toris. "N-no offense, but but comparing her to Elizabeta is n-not a wise choice."
"Why? She'll know I was joking!"
"Stupid American." The group said once again in unison. The American in question went to speak, but, as if on cue, Professor Jones called for everyone's attention.
A hush of excitement and fear fell across both staff and students alike. Jones then nodded to Professor Vargas, who stood.
"Thank you for the quiet," He began, "(Though it's a little weird, but whatever) The time has finally come for the Tri-Wizard Champions to be chosen for our wonderful competition! If you are selected, please step behind this curtain-" He gestured towards a curtain to the side of the staff table.-" and await further instructions. And so, let the competitiors step forward! Representing the Drumstrang Institute will be..."
The cup, which was identified as the Goblet of Fire, flared up and a piece of paper fell into the Headmaster's hands.
"Aleksander Hinova!" Cheers erupted from tbe Drumstrang students and a select few Hogwarts students as the Bulgarian got up from the Hufflepuff table and left behind the curtain.
"Proudly representing Beauxbatons Academy will be..." The Goblet flared up again and another paper flew out.
"Monica Bonnefoy!" The Beauxbatons students and Hogwarts family cheered as Monica, despite Francis trying to stop her from going up, walked behind the curtain.
"And finally, representing Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will be..." The Goblet flared up once more and expelled the final champion. Alfred, thinking it was him, went to stand.
"Ludwig Beilschmidt!" Cheers erupted from the Hogwarts students as the German reluctantly went up behind the curtian. Gilbert could be heard audibly cheering: "Zhat's mien bruder! Go Vest!"
"Aha!" Vargas laughed. "While our champions receive their instructions I am proud to tell you that-" His speech was stopped short when the flames erupted another name. Instead of being caught like the others, this one fell silently to the floor. The face of the usually cheerful Headmaster turned grim.
"No...not again...please no..." He muttered to himself as he picked up the burnt scrap. His face paled as he shakily read the name.
"Lovino Vargas."
A little while later, Antonio and Gilbert had Lovino by his arms, and were dragging the Italian, who had refused to be in the Tournament, and successfully got him into the chamber behind the curtain.
"Would you put me the hell down?!" A struggling Lovino ordered. The two Bad Touch Trio members smirked to one another.
"Alright then..." Antonio said, still smirking. The pair dropped Lovino to the floor and promptly exit the room.
"I didn't mean in here, you bastards!" Lovino got up off the floor and rubbed the back of his head.
"Zat is razer ungentlemenly of an Englishman, Monsieur Vargas." Monica said, pushing a strand of blonde hair behind her ear.
"I'm Italian!" Lovino snapped.
"Eizer way, I find it quite rude." The Italian growled at the French girl's words.
"Excuse my interruption, but why are you here, Lovino?" Aleksander asked. "We even haven't recived the instructions for our first task!" Lovino sent a death glare, which was ignored, at the Bulgarian. Yes, he is still very pissed off at him since he and Rosaria were becoming very good friends.
"I'm not here about that." He said through clenched teeth.
"Zen why are you 'ere?" asked Monica. "You're nothing but a simple child."
"WE'RE THE SAME AGE!" Lovino said as the girl smirked.
"Vhy are you here?" Ludwig asked.
"Like I'd answer your question, you potato eating bastard!"
"Isn't it obvious?" Aleksander said. All heads turned towards him. "Past events are beginning to repeat themselves." The group stared at him. "Oh, don't be surprised! I'm sure you all heard his name being called! Or was that just me? I guess I just heard it then!" He laughed nervously to break the ice between the four.
"Would you kindly explain what you are talking about?" Monica asked, confused.
"I'm surprised you don't know, Miss Bonnefoy. I thought everyone knew what happened at the previous tournament. Instead of three competitors, there were four. These events are repeating."
"I recall zhe same zhing." added Ludwig. "Zhis iz vhat led to zhe Second Vizarding Var."
"Yeah, but why me?!" Lovino protested.
"I guess it's because you both have similar pasts I guess." Aleksander answered.
"I am nothing like the other fourth champion!" Lovino snapped. "And who told you anyways?! Rosaria has no cl-" Lovino groaned. "Bastard..."
"What?" Aleksander smiled innocently. "I don't understand what you're talking about." Lovino suddenly seized the Bulgarian by his collar.
"How the hell do you know?!" He asked. "Who told you?!"
"Will you stop acting like such a brute?" Monica said sternly.
"I vould stay out of zhis." Ludwig told her. "No one here likes to talk of zheir pasts." Monica looked over at the German, but nodded in understandment.
"I-I was only guessing!" Aleksander stuttered. "But by the way your acting, it tells us that you do have something to hide." A wave of realization fell across Lovino. His hazel eyes widened as he dropped the Bulgarian.
"You bastard." He seethed. "Don't even think about trying. Rosaria has no clue about the past. Because I swear if you tell her anything-"
"But I thought you hated your sestra by the way you two-" Lovino pulled out his wand and pointed it darkly at him. Just as he was still angry at Aleksander, Rosaria was still angry at him for treating her like a child, which granted he did often.
"Say another word. I dare you." The Italian said, a glare in his eye. Silence gripped the room.
"I didn't mean to insult you or her! I just assumed...by the way she acted towards you and you towards her that you both weren't on very good terms!" Lovino still gave the boy his famous death stare.
"Put zat zing away!" Monica snapped. "You're going to end up killing a person!"
"I know. But, trust me. I can do worse things..." Ludwig walked over to the Italian and pulled the wand out of his hand. Lovino went to make a grab for it, but Ludwig held it out of his reach.
"Knock it off." He ordered.
"You know very well I don't talk about my past!" Lovino made a pass for the wand again, but missed.
"I don't care." Ludwig dropped the stick into Lovino's hands. "Now stop."
"You can't tell me what to do, you dannato patata mangiare bastardo! What authority do you have over me?!"
"Last time I checked, I am both a prefect und I am at least three inches taller zhen you. I believe zhat gives me some authority." Lovino turned away angrily.
"I could have you-" He began to say before being cut off.
"Don't start zhis argument again. Feliciano vould be against it, as vould your schwester. But she doesn't know...does she?"
"Hell no!" Lovino snapped. "Like I would tell her that! Rosaria would start asking questions and then I'll have to tell her the entire story! You know very well that I can't do that to her!"
The other two champions stood side by side as this conversation went on.
"I am very confused." Monica stated clearly. Aleksander nodded.
"That makes two of us." He added. The tension began to build in the room until it was so thick you could cut it with a knife. The knife in this situation being Professors Vargas, Kirkland, Jones and the Visiting Teachers.
Vargas calmly walked over to his grandson and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Lovino..." He said rather calmly. "Did you enter the Tournament?" The boy nodded
"Si. I did." Lovino answered. "Ask Feliciano, he was there when I did."
"And did you..."
"Hell no! My magic isn't even that strong! Can I please go?" Vargas shook his head.
"When your name came out of the fire, it put you into a magical binding contract. As of right now...you have no choice but to compete." Lovino groaned and went to sulk in the corner.
"Pardon my intrusion, Headmaster." Professor Kirkland said, "But, I believe we should conduct a search of the staff. One of them could have done this."
"Good idea." Vargas agreed. "Jones. Kirkland. Can you two handle this task?" The sisters looked at each other.
"Yes, sir!" The teachers saluted and left the room.
"Vargas." Madame Bonnefoy said sternly. "Zis is unfair! Two champions competing for one school! This is traitorous!"
"I must agree with the French on this." Volkov added. "You set this up against us, didn't you?"
"If I did I wouldn't have pull my own grandson into this." Vargas retaliated. "Would I? Unlike you, Volkov, I treat my family well."
"Fine. Whatever!" Madame Bonnefoy stated rather angrily. Volkov muttered something in Russian to himself as the Headmaster turned to the champions.
"Like I said, since there is no way out of this...Lovino...both you and Ludwig will compete for our school. Now, on to business. The first task will be on October 31st. I can't tell you what it is but I can tell you that it will test your bravery. But still... I advise you all to be careful." The school heads left the students alone to gather their thoughts.
Later that evening, the Headmaster was pacing around his office. His three most trusted teachers with him.
"This can't be happening." Romulus told himself. "It's impossible! We took all the necessary precautions and yet it still happened!"
"Romulus, don't be so harsh on yourself." Kaya interjected. "It's not your fault Lovino was the one they used."
"Yes...but it will be my fault if he gets hurt. Or worse..." Silence surrounded the four until Brianna cleared her throat.
"Kaya and I slipped Veritiserum into the staff's glasses before we questioned them." She said. "Not one of them put Lovino's name in a second time."
"Zhat means zhere iz an intruder in zhe school." The fourth teacher stated.
Alaric Beilschmidt, Defense against the Dark Arts professor who is also Ludwig's and Gilbert's father.
"There are Ministry wizards guarding each entry and exit point in the school." Kaya remained him. "Even at the secret passgeways."
"Check all of the Ministry workers." Romulus demanded. "Then check each entrance, exit and passageway." Both women nodded and left, leaving the two men alone. Vargas crossed over ro his desk and took a seat.
"Romulus..." Alaric began before his friend cut him off.
"I can't let it happen again, Alaric." Romulus stated. "First it was my beloved Ceres...then it was my only child...and now it's my grandson or even my grandchildren..."
"No one vill kill zhem." The Germanic man said, causing his friend to stare at him. "May I remind zhat my son, zhat Ludwig vill be competing as vell?"
"I'm sorry, old friend. I forgot about him in all of this." Romulus stood up. "If the events of the past are repeating themselves then...oh..."
"I sure you understand. After vhat happened to him vhen he vas a child...both Julchen and I are vorried about him. Even Gilbert has had been cautious towards Ludwig vhenever zhe date comes around."
"I know, Alaric. But don't worry! We'll keep watch on all the students and champions to keep them safe."
"I hope your right..."
Meanwhile, down in a certain Hufflepuff dormitory, the repeating sound of bone hitting wood was echoing around the room, keeping it's four inhabitants awake.
"I am going to die." Lovino said as he banged his head against the wall in frustration.
"I'm sure it's not that bad!" Tino, one of the residents, said nervously as he slid on his shirt.
"Not that bad? MY MAGIC ISN'T STRONG OR POWERFUL AT ALL! It means that someone wants me dead and they know that this stupid Tournament is the way to do it!"
"Fratello, please calm down!" Feliciano asked his brother. "You'll wake up the rest of the House!"
"I personally don't give a damn, Feliciano." Lovino growled. Feliciano shuddered.
"Please stop fighting..." Matthew, the final resident, said in his quiet voice. "We have important things to do in the morn-" Matthew didn't finish his sentence because Lovino's pillow came in contact with his face.
"Shut the hell up!" Lovino snapped. "I'm pissed off enough as it is!" He sighed angrily and flopped down into his bed. "And now, I'm most likely to die!"
"I have an idea, Lovino!" Feliciano chirped as he bounced over to his brother. "Why don't you train with the rest of us? Ludwig says it's a good way to get stronger! Both physically and magically!"
"No. There is no way to God that I am-"
"It might be fun, Lovino." Tino added, trying to presuade him. "And like you said, they chose you because your magic isn't strong." Lovino glared at the Finn.
"I'm still not doing it." He pulled his covers over his head.
"Please, fratello!" Feliciano begged. "Pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease! PER FAVORE!" Lovino threw another pillow, this time at Feliciano. It hit him full in the face.
"If you let me sleep, then fine." Feliciano smiled.
"Yay!" He cheered. "I'll wake you up in the morning so we're not late!"
"Whatever..." Lovino mumbled into his bed.
"Buona notte, il fratello!" Feliciano said happily "Good night, everyone!"
"Shut up and go to sleep." Lovino threw another pillow.
I kinda expect most of you didn't see most of this coming (my co-author didn't)...unless you read the summary...but whatever! Lovino and Ludwig are in the Tri-Wizard Tournament and that is that! As you all read, something happened to our favorite German when he was younger. You'll find out soon enough...in a chapter that's very far away. Ha! Anyway...How long will Lovino last in the Tournament? (Or in the Axis's "training session" for that matter) And also, if you have any suggestions for the First Task, I would love to hear them. Because, I may or may not be following the previous Tournament's tasks. I still don't know that yet. Okay then! I swear that more of the backstories I will write will explain a lot of this confusion I've given you. Rowling did it, so why can't I?
Next time on Hogwarts from Around the World!
Training the German Way!
See you then!