Chapter 4: Beauxbaton and Durmstrang
The 30th of October arrived, and the students stood outside watching for the arrival of their foreign guests. The Beauxbaton students arrived by a flying carriage being pulled by a dozen winged horses, each the size of elephants. She stood with the Gryffindors and her sister, who somehow managed to escape the Ravenclaw house to be with Fred. She was amazed by the beauty of horses, she felt eyes upon her. She turned her head in the direction of the Slytherins slightly further down from the Gryffindors. She caught Draco quickly pulling his gaze from her. She smiled to herself softly, turning back to the carriage.
They watched as the driver fumbled with something upon the carriage, then a set of golden steps unfolded from it. He stepped back in respect. She spotted a shining, high-heeled black shoe emerges from the carriage, the shoe was nearly the size of a child's sled. The woman stepped out, this was by far the largest person she had ever seen and she assumed Hagrid was tall. This woman made him appear normal height. The woman greeted Dumbledore, but their words could not be heard and she was too short to read their lips due to everyone standing in front of her now.
"That is Madame Maxine," she said to those around her, "Headmistress of Beauxbaton."
She heard some commotion behind her, turning to see Fred bringing Hallie closer to the front of the hill to see the Beauxbaton students' arrival more clearly since her height was quite short. There were some first years taller than her, not many but some."Excuse us," he said pushing their way to the front, "There you go."
Madame Maxine turned from her discussion with Dumbledore and informed those left inside the carriage to exit. The first to exit was Remus Lupin, "Remus?" Harry, Ron, and Hermione questioned. Seeing him exit followed by the students left her classmates confused.
"Professor Moody did say he went to France to visit his godchildren…" Holly began, "I knew he had godchildren in France. We received Christmas cards yearly from them. Cassie is good friends with him, but not much with the mother of his godchildren. Him? Yes."
"It does not explain why he is here," Hermione added.
They watched as the students dressed in pale blue followed Remus and Madame Maxine into the school to warm up. The weather began to chill as they continued waiting for the Durmstrang students, "The Lake!" Lee shouted, pointing at a whirlpool forming.
Slowly appearing from the heart of the whirlpool was a long, black pole. The ship rose magnificently out of the water, gleaming against the moonlight. It had a skeletal-like figure to it. The misty lights shimmering from the portholes give a ghostly effect. It anchored down followed by its headmaster and students disembarking. The headmaster greeted Dumbledore, then brought forward Krum to meet Dumbledore.
"Krum!" she heard Ron hiss to Harry who stood closest to him.
They made their way inside for dinner and the official introductions of the schools, everyone seated at their respected house tables. "Now that everyone is settled in and sorted, I'd like to make an announcement," Dumbledore started, "This castle will no longer be only your home this year, but home to some very special guests this year as well." As he spoke Cassie took a few steps forward, "I will allow Ms. Banks to give the further introduction," he stepped to the side allowing her to step up to the podium to give the rest of the speech.
She cleared her throat slightly, "I mentioned this at the beginning of September when everyone first arrived. Hogwarts has been chosen to host a legendary event. The Triwizard Tournament. For those of you who do not know the Triwizard Tournament brings together three schools for a series of magical contests. A single student is selected from each school to compete. If you are chosen you will stand alone, these contests are not for the faint-hearted. Believe me, I have been there to hand pick these contests," she paused observing the students, "For now please help me in welcoming the enchanting students from Beauxbaton Academy of Magic," the doors flew open, "And their headmistress Madame Maxine, accompanied by Mr. Lupin."
The students all turned to watch the stunning young ladies enter followed behind them by handsome young men, thinner in appearance than the Durmstrang students that they had caught a glimpse of when they arrived. The Beauxbaton male students gave off the appearance of being the picture of a prince. Harry's eyes drifted from the ladies to one of the males closest to the ladies, he looked quite familiar. His hair was dark and curly, his eyes grey. "Do we know him?" he asked Hermione and Ron.
Ron shook his head, "No…but he looks like…" Hermione paused.
"Who?" Harry questioned some students listening to her while watching the students pass them.
"Sirius Black," she whispered.
Harry turned back to the students as they reached the front, "Remus' godson…but Professor Moody said godchildren."
"Her," George said pointing at a young witch standing closest to Remus with the young boy now coming close to stand nearest to her, "Godchildren. They are brother and sister. She appears to be older…perhaps the same age as you three."
"Lord Remulus and Lady Cressida Noir."
The Golden Trio turned their attention to Holly, "What?"
"They are Sirius Black's children. He met a young noble French woman the summer before his seventh year according to Cassie. They had Lady Cressida a week before Harry's birthday, Lord Remulus was born in June following the arrest of Sirius. Now that he has escaped, Cassie believes he has moved to France to be around the children."
They watched them reach the front giving greetings to Dumbledore and Cassie, "Sirius mentioned returning to the country…" she heard him whisper to Ron and Hermione.
Just as they finished their greetings, Cassie returned to the podium, "Now our friends from the North. Please greet the proud children of Durmstrang and their headmaster Igor Karkaroff."
The Durmstrang students all ran in doing acrobatic moves, making the students rise to their feet. The female students were heavily attracted to the muscular male students, Fred caught Hallie's view staring at Viktor Krum as he entered beside Karkaroff. His face turned a shade of red, "Ooo someone jealous," George teased.
"Shove off, Georgie," he gave a gentle push.
The students and Karkaroff reached the front where they greeted Dumbledore and Cassie as the Beauxbaton students had before them. Dumbledore moved to the front, "Hogwarts! Let us entertain our friends in the best way we can. All stand!" Everyone rose to a stand where the students sang the Hogwarts song, this was far more embarrassing Hallie thought than what the other houses had done. The Beauxbaton students released butterflies from their cloaks and the Durmstranf students performed as if it were a circus, far more entertaining than this silly song. Thankfully she had been asked by Mr. Crouch and Cassie to perform a muggle song to become a figure of being welcoming as she was a transfer student to Hogwarts. She managed to drag Peri and Holly into the song as well, much to their disapproval.
Once the song ended, Cassie switched places with Dumbledore, "The Ministry of Magic has also welcomed a treat of entertainment for all you," she performed a spell allowing the music to start. The students from muggle backgrounds recognized the song "We Are the Champions" by Queen getting the students excited, even the students with no knowledge of muggle music seemed to already be enjoying the tune.
[Hallie]
I've paid my dues time after time
She rose from her seat as she sang all eyes turning towards her, as she glanced over at Peri to begin her verse. She started her verse, rising from her seat.
[Peri]
I've done my sentence But committed no crime
And bad mistakes, I've made a few
[Hallie]
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face, but I've come through
Holly joined in as the three walked the aisles of tables towards the front.
[Hallie, Holly, and Peri]
And we mean to go on and on and on and on
[Peri]
We are the champions, my friends
[Hallie]
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
[Hallie, Holly, and Peri ]
We are the champions, we are the champions
[Hallie]
No time for losers, 'cause we are the champions
[Peri]
Of the world
[Holly]
I've taken my bows and my curtain calls
You brought me fame and fortune, everything that goes with it, I thank you all
But it's been no bed of roses, no pleasure cruise
[Hallie]
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race, and I ain't gonna lose
[Hallie, Holly, and Peri]
And we mean to go on and on and on and on
[Peri]
We are the champions, my friends
[Hallie]
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
[Hallie, Holly, and Peri]
We are the champions, we are the champions
[Hallie]
No time for losers, 'cause we are the champions
[Hallie and Holly]
Of the world
[Peri]
We are the champions, my friends
[Hallie and Peri]
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
[Hallie, Holly, and Peri]
We are the champions, we are the champions
No time for losers, 'cause we are the champions of the world
We are the champions of the world
The trio reached the front taking a bow once finished, the entire room filled with applause. Hallie smiled hearing the cheers, Cassie came over to her daughters wrapping them in a hug and smiling at them, "You three did amazing," she whispered to them then let them meet the students.
Holly stood alone as her sister spoke with Ida and Remy while Peri spoke to Krum. She chose to speak with Karkaroff, Madame Maxine, and Remus with Cassie, "This is my goddaughter, Holly," Cassie introduced her, "She is a bright witch."
"Photographic memory?" Remus asked remembering when he met her a few times as a toddler.
Holly nodded, "Yes…" her voice squeaked. She cleared it, "Yes."
He laughed, "You must be giving Hermione some competition then."
"It is nice to have some competition. I never had this at Ilvermorny."
Cassie placed a hand on her shoulder, "It is time to begin the feast," she gave a gentle nudge sending her back to the table.
After the welcome feast, Holly stood outside of the crowded entrance halls as she watched everyone greet the other students properly or make their way to proper common rooms. She sighed to herself as everyone seemed to have a friend except her. She was alone. Her sisters made friends very easily, while she remained alone. No one wanted to befriend a bookworm.
As she stood alone suddenly a paper dove flew to her, landing lightly in her hands. She looked at it, watching it magically transfigure into a ceramic dove. She became confused looking around and spotting Draco across the entrance hall near the stairs, he quickly walked off when she looked up. She held the bird close to her as Mallory came over to her, "Where did the bird come from?"
Holly looked at the young first-year, "Someone special to me."
The young girl was confused, "Mum?"
She giggled, "No…someone perhaps more special. Come on let us go to bed."
The two girls made their way to the Gryffindor common room.