Hey! I'm finally back with chapter nine!
Yeah, so now I'm back at school my updates are slowing waaaay down. I'll update at least once a week - I'm pretty sure I can do that - and I'll try to update more but...
You see, though I only study four subjects now, I also have piano, and voice, and my brother has to teach me grade V music theory, because you can't do grade VI in instruments without passing grade V theory first, and I'm hoping to do that in November...so...yeah...
Anyway, on with the story! Please R&R!
Chapter Nine
The rest of the week was just as jam-packed as that first day. Although, I did get much less homework than last year. The work itself may have been harder, but it was much easier now that I didn't have to travel back in time three or four times a day and lengthen my day by several hours, not to mention the fact that I got pretty much double the amount of homework than the rest of the year.
Anyway, this year went more smoothly, and I was actually able to finish my homework on time to keep up with my extra-curricular reading, as well as reading ahead on each subject.
About half-way through September I saw Sakura soaring through the window in the Common Room and grinned. After the World Cup final, the guys had managed to convince me to write to Sirius about my dream, and it looked like Sakura finally had his answer. I unfolded the parchment and read over the small note, my eyes widening in disbelief as I reached the bottom.
I jumped out of my armchair, and immediately began searching in my bag for a quill and parchment. "What's the rush?" Rai asked from where he was lounging, once again, against my armchair.
"Well, since you three thought it was such a good idea to write to our friend about my dream, I need to write back and convince him that I'm really fine and there's nothing to worry about." I snapped as I pulled out the utensils I had been looking for. I knew it wasn't really their fault, but I was just so frustrated that I needed to snap at someone.
"I'm sure he knows that-" Rai started to placate me but I didn't give him a chance, straightening and holding out my arm for Sakura.
"Apparently not, since he decided to come back."
"He what!"
The three scrambled after me as I stormed towards the Owlery. The only people there when we arrived were the Pedrosa twins, and the only part of their conversation that I heard through my distraction before they left was the word 'blackmail'. I suppose it should be slightly worrying, but I was more worried about my supposed mass-murdering godfather, who had just decided to come back, putting himself at risk of getting caught and put into wizarding prison, just because my scar hurt. I needed to try to talk him out of it.
I scribbled a short letter, explaining how I thought I had imagined it, and he didn't need to come out here and sent Sakura out with it, muttering darkly the entire time. Okay, so I lied, but it was necessary!
I didn't sleep well that night either. The worst case scenarios kept popping into my head – Sirius caught and in Azkaban…all because of me…
Halloween was fast approaching and soon a notice was put up in (I assume) all of the house Common Rooms – the delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang would be arriving on Halloween. A selection of pupils were to come with their headmasters and enter the Triwizard Tournament. The rules and how to apply would be announced at the Halloween feast – just another reason to look forward to it!
In Defence Moody had been teaching us about each of the Unforgiveable Curses in detail, and we had recently moved on to the Imperius Curse. This time, as well as giving us notes and demonstrations, he actually put the curse on us. He said it would put our notes into context and perhaps make it easier to understand. I was just glad that he hadn't for the others.
It was a strange sensation, being under the Imperius Curse. It was almost as if you were floating, and a dazed smile came across the Imperiused one's face. Well, for the humans at least. For the guys, there was a hint of the goofy expression, but their eyes were much clearer than the others', and I could hear them struggling with conscious thought. They hesitated before following whatever orders Moody was giving them, too, and Moody was quick to point this out to the class as signs that they were trying to fight it.
When it was my turn, I heard Moody's voice through the thick fog, telling me to jump onto the table, but the little voice in my head piped up as I was getting ready to jump. "Why?" The thought threw me for a moment. Why should I jump on the table? What was the point?
Moody's voice got more insistent, and as he continued to command me to jump on the table, my impulsivity kicked in, and I had the sudden urge to cross my arms. "Who's he to demand I do anything?" My little voice demanded, back in full force now. I had decided I wasn't about to jump onto a stupid table, when the force of the spell suddenly doubled as Moody's voice roared in my head for me to jump, and my brain seemed to get really confused.
I sort of jumped and didn't jump at the same time, and ended up crashing headlong into the table. And let me tell you; it is not fun.
I picked myself up off the floor gingerly rubbing my head. Ow.
"Did you see that?" Moody was saying to the class, who for the most part, were wincing sympathetically. "She tried to fight it too – and damn nearly beat it! Right, you four – back up here."
He made the four of us – the only ones to show any kind of resistance to the curse – do it again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and- Well; I think you get the picture. He kept putting the curse on us until we were all able to completely throw it off.
We were exhausted by the time we got back to the common room that night, and we barely managed to keep our eyes open long enough to do our homework. Luckily, it was a Friday, so we didn't have any Xiaolin training, and we had the entire weekend to relax.
Halloween was soon upon us, and we eagerly anticipated the end of the day, when the foreign students would arrive. We all quickly dumped our bags in our dormitories before heading down to the grounds in front of the castle, where we were inspected by our heads of house.
After passing the inspection, we lined up and waited. It seemed like ages to me, but that was probably just my Xiaolin Instincts talking, so it was probably only about ten minutes, before a shape was distinguishable in the dark sky.
Less than a minute later, it was visible to human eyesight, so everyone began to speculate what it could possibly be. The closest guess was that of a first-year – that it was a flying house – since it turned out to be an enormous carriage, drawn by winged horses.
When the carriage opened, a woman stepped out, and not just a normal woman, a woman about the same height as Hagrid. Behind her came several boys and girls, all wearing blue silk uniform robes, and clutching scarves and cloaks to themselves. Well, in fairness, Beauxbatons – which is what I assumed this school was – is in France, so the cold air of the UK would definitely be a shock to the system. Especially in those flimsy robes. Unsurprisingly, they decided to wait inside.
The Durmstrang delegation arrived next, in the form of a giant ship rising out of the Black Lake. This seemed to be an all-boys school, but they were more suitably attired – thick furs and robes, so I assumed that they were from somewhere further north. Most people around me gasped as the headmaster shook hands with Master Fung.
Rai tugged on my sleeve. "It's Viktor Krum!" he hissed in my ear.
I squinted where everyone was staring – at the sulky-looking figure standing just behind the headmaster, and realised that I recognised him as the broody Bulgarian seeker from the World Cup. I guess that answers my question. Durmstrang is either in Bulgaria, or somewhere very near.
We followed the Durmstrangs into the castle and headed for the Great Hall. The students from Beauxbatons sat with the Ravenclaws, and the Durmstrang students sat at the Slytherin table. So they're that kind of school…
Master Fung gave a short speech, welcoming the visitors, before proclaiming the start of the feast.
The feast was even more delicious than usual, with international dishes. We mostly left them alone, though they were tasty. About half-way through the feast, one of the girls from Beauxbatons came over to ask for one of the dishes that I recognised from when papa had taken me with him on a business trip to France. As she walked back to the Ravenclaw table, most of the boys at the table seemed to be staring at her.
"She's a Veela!" Maria hissed across the table.
"Don't be silly, Maria." Rai scoffed as he reached for the desserts that had just appeared on the table, but I glanced back at the girl again, eyeing her silvery blonde hair. Maria could be right…but I was distracted again when I glanced up and saw the staff table out of the corner of my eye.
As well as the headmasters of each school seated on chairs that had been pulled up – by magic, of course, since they hadn't been there before, Mr Crouch and Mr Bagman were there too. Of course, when I thought about it, it made sense. Master Fung had mentioned that some of the organisers were coming to explain the rules, and as heads of the Departments of International Magical Co-operation and Magical Games and Sports respectively, of course Crouch and Bagman would be organising it.
Master Fung stood up as the tables cleared of the food and cutlery and the Great Hall went silent. "Now that we are all fed and watered, we will begin." Two covered objects were carried over, and the smaller of the two was placed on the table and the other, which was as large as any of the statues in Hogwarts, was placed beside him. "As I said at the start of term, Hogwarts is hosting the Triwizard Tournament this year, and now our friends have arrived, I will explain. The Triwizard Tournament is exactly that – a tournament. It consists of three tasks. Three very dangerous tasks. And as such, the Ministry has seen fit to write some new rules, and Mr Crouch, head of the Department of International Magical Co-operation will explain these rules to you now."
Master Fung sat down again and Mr Crouch stood in his own seat. "There have been two new rules added this year. Number one: whereas in previous years, a single champion was chosen, but for your own safety, it will now be a team from each school. A boy and a girl, as far as possible, but in the case of Durmstrang, it will have to be two boys." Whispers broke out across the hall. Everyone was intrigued by the mention of very dangerous tasks, but were slightly apprehensive of going it alone. "And number two: no student under the age of seventeen will be permitted to put forth their name."
Mr Crouch sat down again amidst shouts of protest. Master Fung got up again and silenced us with the look. He tapped the covered object next to him, and the cloth fell away, revealing a sort of goblet raised on a plinth. "To enter the tournament, you need only put your name into the Goblet of Fire, and it will select the teams. Be warned though, it is not easily fooled." His eyes wandered in the direction of the Gryffindor table. Well, historically we produce the most trouble makers. "And you will be competing for your prize – eternal glory!" everyone exchanged excited glances. "The Triwizard Cup!" he pointed his wand at the other covered object and its cloth flew away too, revealing a gleaming silver trophy. "Oh, and one hundred thousand galleons, too."
The whole way back to the tower, everyone was excitedly discussing the tournament. It did sound like fun, even just watching it, as it seemed inevitable for me. Master Fung had said that the Goblet of Fire was not easily fooled, looking towards our table as he said so. That meant that it was even beyond our powers. Damn. Ah well, this year was sure to be fun, regardless of whether I actually competed or not. Hopefully one of the Hogwarts team would be a Gryffindor, though I'd still cheer them on if they weren't.
Rai and Aidan had their heads together, probably discussing possible ways to get past the Goblet, and I noticed the twins in a similar position. So I chatted with Keiko and Maria about all we knew about the tournament. From what I had read, and what they could tell me, it was the ultimate challenge for young witches and wizards.
Bring it on.
I'm pretty sure 'Imperiused' isn't the proper way to spell it, but oh well. If any of you know the right answer, please tell me.
Also, should I change my poll, or should I just ask here, 'which of my stories do you think is the best?'