Night Of Arrival
Ginny took a deep breath as the carriage began to fly lower, closer and closer to the grounds of Hogwarts. Next to her, she heard Ron snoring, and wished she could join him in sleep. Down below, lit wands glimmered like hundreds of eyes, peering up at her, Ron was jolted awake as the carriage hit the ground, the wheels smoking as they paved their path in the school grounds. She craned her kneck, peering through the window, searching for any familiar faces. She caught sight of Neville, standing next to a pretty girl with long blonde hair, she had on the Slytherin garb, and her arm was threaded through her old friend's. Ginny smiled to herself as she spotted Hermione, her long hair blowing in what Ginny knew must be an infuriating manor into her face, she was deeply engrossed in a conversation with Luna Lovegood. She felt a twinge of sadness that she wasn't there, talking with Hermione and Luna, or meeting Neville's friend, but she supressed it, she would meet them again, now.
She followed her fellow students off the carriages and fell into formation, arm linked with Frances'. As they walked, his eyes flickered around, looking from person to person,
"Please tell me that you are close friends with all of the girl's here?" he muttered into her ear, she shook her head, supressing a grin.
"Only the ones with standards." she muttered back, he frowned,
"Damn. I'll have to 'forge my own alliances' then," he huffed, Ginny tittered. Madam Maxime gave her a death glare that made her insides shrivel and she pinched Frances' arm, staring determinatly ahead. He fell silent. The Beauxbatons pupils walked neatly into the great hall, Ginny internally hoping that they could sit at the Ravenclaw Table.
Luck was on her side as the french school chose the Ravenclaw table to sit, Ginny sat in her old seat and smiled at the rush of memories that accompanied it. Durmstrang arrived soon after, sitting at the Slytherin table and the Hogwarts students began to file in, Ginny threw all etiquett lessons to the wind as she frantically waved at her friends, Hermione saw her first and her friend spead to sit opposite her, she was closely followed by Neville and Luna. The four exclaimed loudly and Ginny felt all her foreboding about returning to the school of her nightmares drain away as she slid into the almost normality of a year before. There was still, she noted, a hollow ache in her chest as she noted the still empty seat next to Neville.
Beside her, Frances cleared his throat and she paused, glancing at him curiously,
"Oh!" she exclaimed, "Guys, meet Frances James Paul Delopela. He's been dying to meet you. Frances, this is Neville, Luna and Hermione." Frances smiled and threw Ginny a look that said 'finally' before saying,
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Neville, Hermione and Luna" with the last name, he winked, eyes never leaving Luna's face the entire time, the girl smiled at him, unnafected, and he continued, playing up his accent, "the post office is three miles down the road." the girl laughed sofly, before saying
"Frances James Paul Delopela is a long name, I think I'm going to call you Franky." and with that, she began to eat. Ron sprayed juice out of his nose as he laughed,
"Franky, eh?" he snorted, Frances didn't bother acknowledging him, merely continued to stare at Luna curiously,
"Well then," he said, "I will call you Lu'" the girl nodded in response,
"As I knew you would..." She said, he smiled,
"As I knew you would know I would." he said. The two stared at eachother for several long moments until Neville said,
"Was that romantic or paranormal?" Luna blinked at him,
"Both."
Night Of Names
Damian rested his head on his arms, watching, with muted interest, the Goblet Call out names.
"Victor Crum"
*Loud applause*
"Fleur Delaceur"
*Louder applause*
"Cedric Diggory"
*Hall explodes into cheers*
One by one the names were called, and each school champion proudly went up, until finally it was over.
"Damian Potter."
Damian sat up, eyes wide. He shook his head, panicked, his eyes pleaded with the staff table. Next to him Romilda nudged him,
"Go," she muttered, "We'll sort this out." he nodded at her, standing on shaky legs he walked up to the front on the hall, Dumbedore gestured him on, eyes a little too wide to be realistic and Damian felt his stomach coil, with the knowedge that his headteacher knew exactly what was going on.
"Did you put your name in the goblet?" Dumbledore had him pinned to the wall before he could blink, spit flying, angry like a pantomime, Damian supressed the urge to kick out.
"Get your hands off me, Professor." He kept his voice level but his eyes flashed angrily, the man didn't unhand him
"Did you get an older student to put your name in the goblet?" He asked, showering Damian once again.
"Unhand me Sir, before I'm forced to lodge a complaint." Dumbledore stepped back, but continued to look 'angry'. Damian scowled, "No and No, I have no desire to enter this competition, nor did put my name into the goblet. But it doesn't matter what I say, you will force me to participate for some 'legally inding' reason, am I correct?" There was a loud burst of laughter from behind Dumbledore, and Mad Eye Moody clunked closer,
"The boy's sharp Albus, Potter, you're correct, there is magically binding aspect to the contract, if your name is put in, you cannot back out, whether you did it yourself, or not. Whoever put your name in the goblet must have known this, so be careful, boy, we've got someone out for your blood." the man smiled sadistically as though he had just made a private joke and continued, "whoever it was must have had a good knowledge of the rules of the triwizard tornament."
"Enough of zis'" exclaimed Karkaroff, "Conspiracy theories or not, I am outraged zat' Hogwarts has two champions."
"I agree," cried Damian, stomping his foot and shaking his head in an overdramatic manor, I know, I'll just not take part and loose all my magic."
"Stop with this nonsense." said Dumbledore, "This was an unexpected turn of events, but there is nothing we can do to change that now, it is unprecidented in the history of Triwizard Tornaments, but we have to adapt." Damian rolled his eyes,
"Such a load of bullshit." he muttered, Dumbledore's eyes narrowed at him but he pushed past and walked to his comon room before the man could berate him.
His house was delighted. As he stepped through the door he was assaulted with cheers, butterbeer and pats on the back. He battled his way through the crowd with his face burning, he was sure that the other houses woudn't be so admiring of his new achievment. Scanning the common room, he finally caught sight of the face he was looking for.
"Romilda." he called, hastening his pace, he slid into an empty chair opposite her, "Please tell me you believe me when I say I didn't put my name in the goddamned goblet." Romilda glanced up from her book and smiled,
"Don't worry," she said, "I know you didn't, you don't have the smarts..." He stared at her, jaw agar, trying to tel if he should be offended or relieved, she glanced up at him and stuck her tongue out, and he decided on relieved.
"I'm going to become a social pariah, aren't I?" He asked miserably, she looked up at him and smiled,
"Yup, you are going to be H-A-T-E-D, but hell, you know what loosers say: 'Those who care don't matter, and those who matter don't care...'" Damian scowled,
"That's what I say..." he moaned,
"Exactly, looser." she said, smirking. He rolled his eyes,
"Jealousy isn't attractive, you know?" he said, she smiled pleasantly,
"But I've got lots of better features to make up for it." She said, he shrugged in responce,
"If you say so..."
"Your time with us is almost over, Harry Potter. The darkness is stirring and you must go soon. We have taught you all we can, but our teachings will only get you so far. Beware my child... As blood of the enemy is forcefully taken, you must go, and you must rejoin the realm of mortals and pave your path in the hearts of men, it is a dark road ahead, and those who do not prosper fall, so stand tall and fight until you have nothing left to give, or you have it all."