I sat at Ravenclaw table, waiting for Merida to walk into the Great Hall, late as usual. I sighed. It seemed like Merida was always late these days. I looked up to the Great Halls double doors again impatiently, only to see the fiery redhead I was looking for rush inside and sit next to me.
"Sorry I'm late Punzie." She told me. "Ran into someone."
"Who did you run into? You've known everyone in this school for 6 years." I said.
"It was a first year. Recognized him from home." She said quickly. I decided to drop the topic, instead turning to a new exciting one.
"Prof. North said he has an announcement to make after evening meal." I said, thrilled.
Merida scoffed. "Last time he made an announcement after the evening meal, was when he was introducing Jack. That ended just great."
"That's not his fault." I defended him, not knowing why. "This time it should be different!" I said, turning to face her, ignoring my food. "The teachers were whispering earlier today during lunch. I kept hearing about a tournament."
"Were you eavesdropping on the teachers?" Merida asked me.
I blushed. "What? No. I just...couldn't help but to overhear them."
"That's alright Punzie, I'm proud of you." Merida took a bite of her Shepard's pie. "Do you think it could be another Flying Tournament?" She asked.
"I don't know. I hope it is. Those things are so much fun!"
We continued chatting for a while, though Merida seemed oddly distracted. Eventually, the meal ended and Prof. North stood on the speaking podium. Excited whispers spread through the hall, making the room hum with excitement.
"Alright, alright. Calm down children." Prof. North called out. The volume in the hall instantly dropped, not a single person spoke. "Professors have been talking, and we have decided to hold huge event here at Hogwarts. It is prestigious Tournament, filled with glory and danger. It is called Tri-Wizard tournament."
Immediately, whispers started to sprout up among the tables.
"Quiet!" North called. "Good. As I was saying, Tri-wizard tournament is very important, because three witch or wizard will be chosen. Triwizard tournament is extremely dangerous, and is sometimes lethal." At this, several gasps rang out across the room. "But, we are making sure that Tournament is not too lethal, so only 6th years and older are allowed to join tournament."
Cries of outrage were heard across the room, and several 5th years looked very upset.
"Calm down! For love of North Pole..." North called. "There will be special goblet we will use. It is magical goblet, no one under 6th year can enter name into cup. Be warned, once name is placed in goblet, it can not be taken back. Whoever is chosen for tournament, is not allowed to quit. It is against rules. So, we now we place goblet in Great Hall." He clapped his two, massive hands together and the Great Halls doors swept open.
Prof. Bunnymund and Prof. Sandy both carried in a large box, not quite the size of Prof. Bunnymund, but not much larger than Prof. Sandy. They opened the large box in front of the speaking podium and placed a large goblet upon the pedestal, the cup flaring to life with blue flames.
I gasped. "It's on fire!" I told Merida.
Merida rolled her eyes."It's a magical cup, what did you expect?"
Prof. North clapped his hands once again and my attention was turned back to him.
"To enter Tournament, you write name on piece of paper, and place in Goblet. In three days, we choose three people to compete. Once three students are chosen, wands will become magically attracted to goblet, and if not in Great Hall at time, magic will bring you here. Good luck!" And with that, Prof. North stepped down from the speakers podium.
Merida POV
"...if not in Great Hall at time, magic will bring you here. Good luck!" Prof. North stepped off the podium as an idea began whirring through my head.
Hiccup said he would only stay until the end of the week, but what if he had to stay longer? If I put his name in for the tournament, he would be forced to participate, and then he'd have to stay. Prof. North never said anything about putting someone elses name in the goblet...
I was placing the success of this idea on the fact that Hiccup would be chosen out of all the sixth and seventh years, but given his luck, even if his name wasn't in the goblet of fire he would still be chosen. I searched my book bag eagerly, searching for a quill and some parchment.
"What are you doing, Merida?" Punzie asked me.
"I'm joining the tournament, Punzie." I told her.
"But Merida, Prof. North said that it could be lethal! Why would you join the tournament if there's a chance you could die!" Punzie said, worriedly.
"Don't worry, Punzie." I told her, successfully pulling out a quill and a slip of parchment. "There's hardly a chance I'll be chosen, but if I am, I can handle myself."
Punzie remained silent, though I could see worry still lining her features. I looked up to the goblet which was crowded by many older students, each one going through the magical barrier surrounding it to place their name in the goblet of fire. Each time someone's name was placed in the cup, a cheer rang out through the crowd.
While Punzie was distracted with the cheers ringing out across the hall, I scribbled Hiccup's full name down onto the parchment. Why did his name have to be so bloody long? Finally done, I folded up the parchment and stood, clutching the piece of paper bravely.
"Wish me luck, Punzie." I told her.
"Good luck, Merida." Punzie said, a somewhat hesitant smile on her face. I knew she didn't like the idea of me participating in the tournament, but she would support me no matter what I did, even if what I did may or may not be the right thing to do.
I walked over to the large crowd surrounding the goblet and made my way to the front of it. I stepped past the magical barrier, and walked close to the flaming cup. I took a deep breath and placed Hiccup's name into the fiery goblet, hoping that in three days time, his name would be drawn.