I do not own…
Chapter Forty-Seven: Back at Hogwarts & the arrivals Beauxbatons and Durmstrang
The rain kept getting worse and worse while lightning started to appear in the sky. When the carriages arrived at Hogwarts ground all everyone hurried out, hoping not to get too wet. They were safe for a few seconds until Peeves the Poltergeist floated over the entrance hall and started dropping cold water balloons at them. One got Ron and it got him in a sour mood. It wasn't long till Professor McGonagall came and shoo him away. When he was gone Professor McGonagall ushered everyone to the Great Hall. It was a bit hard as everyone kind of slipped and slid across the entrance hall and through the double doors.
Vanessa and Hunter kissed each other before sitting at their House tables. She sat down with Uma, Angelina and Katie Bell. The three Gryffindor chasers were wondering why neither Angelina or Vanessa had gotten captain yet as they were the top choices to be picked. Then they started talking about the World Cup and different girl stuff, the doors of the Great Hall opened and everyone went silent. Professor McGonagall was leading a long line of first years up to the top of the Hall.
"Boy, and I thought we got wet badly." Uma muttered
The first years were drenched and soaked worst. One of the boys with mousy hair was wrapped in Hagrids' moleskin overcoat.
They started the sorting hat then after twenty minutes it was dinner time. Everyone had started placing food on their plates and ate, especially Ron who wolf down his food. Vanessa was eating but stopped every now and then to secretly feed Danica some meat. She only stopped when there was clang from a benched down. Vanessa saw that it was Hermione who dropped her golden goblet. From what she could hear Hermione was surprised that Hogwarts had House-Elves and was disappointed in this.
'Who did she think did all the cleaning and cooking in the castle?' She thought.
She just shook her head and continued eating and talking to her friends. After dessert was over and cleaning away, Albus Dumbledore got to his feet again.
"So! Now that we are all fed and watered." Dumbledore said
Hermione did a Hmph at this.
"I must once more ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices. Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to tell you that the list of objects forbidden inside the castle has this year been extended to include Screaming Yo-yos, Fangs Frisbees, and Ever-Bashing Boomerangs. The full list comprises some four hundred and thirty-seven items, if anybody would like to check it. As ever, I would like to remind you all that the forest on the grounds is out-of-bounds to students, as is the village of Hogsmeade to all below third year. It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year."
"What?" Harry and Vanessa gasped
Even Fred, George, Angelina and Katie Bell were shocked by this.
"This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teacher's time and energy…but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts…"
But at that moment, there was a deafening rumble of thunder and the doors of the Great Hall banged open. A man stood in the doorway, leaning upon a long staff, shrouded in the black traveling cloak. Everyone turned towards the doors and saw the newcomer. He lowered his hood, shook out a long mane of gizzle, dark gray hair, then began to walk up towards the teachers' table. When he reached the teachers' table lightning flashed crossed the ceiling and some students gasped at his face. He had a lot of scars on his face, a piece of his nose was taken off and one of his eyes was larger than the other, the color blue while his normal eye is black and it was moving ceaselessly, without blinking and was rolling up, down and from side to side. At one point the eye even rolled right over, pointing into the back of the mans' head.
"Whoa…who is he?" Hunter asked in a whispered
"I think that's…Mad Eye Moody. An Auror." Clyde said
"Auror?" Mal asked
"Dark wizard catchers. From what I heard about him, half of Azkaban was filled because of him. Not to mention he's supposed to be mad as a Hatter now these days." Clyde said
When Moody reached Dumbledore he stretched out a hand that was also badly scared and they shook while muttering words. Dumbledore nodded and gestured the man to the empty seat on his right-hand side. Moody sat down, shook his hair out of his face, and pulled a plate of sausages towards him. He raised it to what was left of his nose, and sniffed it. He then took a small knife out of his pocket to take one and began to eat. The whole time his huge blue eye was darting all over the place.
"May I introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?" Dumbledore said "Professor Moody."
None of the students or staff members applauded when he said this. Only Dumbledore and Hagrid did.
"As I was saying, we are to have the honor of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event that has not been held for over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year."
"You're Joking!" Fred said loudly.
Nearly everyone laughed at this, including Dumbledore.
"I am not joking, Mr. Weasley." He said "Though now that you mention it, I did hear an excellent one over the summer about a troll, a hag, and a leprechaun who all go into a bar…"
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat loudly.
"Er…but maybe this is not the time…no…" Dumbledore said "Where was I? Ah yes, the Triwizard Tournament…well, some of you will not know what this tournament involves, so I hope those who do know will forgive me for giving a short explanation, and allow their attention to wander freely. The Triwizard Tournament was first established some seven hundred years ago as a friendly competition between the three largest European schools of wizardry: Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. A champion was selected to represent each school, and the three champions competed in three magical tasks. The schools took it in turns to host the tournament once every five years, and it was generally agreed to be a most excellent way of establishing ties between nationalities…until, that is, the death toll mounted so high that the tournament was discontinued. There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the tournament, none of which has been very successful. However, our own Departments of International Magical Cooperation and Magical Games and Sports have decided the time is ripe for another attempt. We have worked hard over the summer to ensure that this time, no champion will find himself or herself in mortal danger. The Heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving with their shortlisted contenders in October, and the selection of the three champions will take place at Halloween. An impartial judge will decide which students are most worthy to compete for the Triwizard Cup, the glory of their school, and a thousand Gallons personal prize money."
"I'm going for it!" Fred hissed
"Oh I am so down for it. How about you V?" Uma smirked
"Sounds like a challenge. I like it." Vanessa nodded
"Eager though I know all of you will be to bring the Triwizard Cup to Hogwarts, the Heads of the participating schools, along with the Ministry of Magic, have agreed to impose an age restriction on contenders this year. Only students who are of age…that is to say, seventeen years or older…will be allowed to put forward their names for consideration. This…" Dumbledore raised his voice slightly, for several people had made noise of outrage at these words. "Is a measure we feel is necessary, given that the tournament tasks will still be difficult and dangerous, whatever precautions we take, and it is highly unlikely that students below sixth and seventh year will be able to cope with them. I will personally be ensuring that no underage student hoodwinks our impartial judge into making them Hogwarts champion." He looked over at Fred and George with amusement in his eyes. "I therefore beg you not to waste your time submitting yourself if you are under seventeen. The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving in October and remaining with us for the greater part of this year. I know that you will all extend every courtesy to our foreign guests while they are with us, and will give your whole-hearted support to the Hogwarts champion when he or she is selected. And now, it is late, and I know how important it is to you all to be alert and rested as you enter your lessons tomorrow morning! Bedtime! Chop! Chop!"
With that said everyone started getting to their feet. Vanessa had stayed behind as she had to talk to Dumbledore about Danica. She waited politely as Dumbledore was talking to Professor Moody. After a few seconds Moodys' magic eye seemed to have noticed and informed Dumbledore of her present. They had bid each other Goodnight before Dumbledore walked over to her.
"Good evening, Ms. Potter. Is there anything you need?" He asked
"Yes, um…I kind of had…a little stowaway on the train." She said and showed him Danica.
His eyes twinkle with amusement and let out a chuckle.
"Yes, I see."
"I understand that I'm gonna have to send her back. But…" She said
"I don't think that would be a good idea, as I could see that she has imprinted on you. It would be dangerous for the little one to be separate from its mother." He said
"Would the Ministry be okay with it?" She asked
"We will work something out. You said that you have a license and papers for her. Are they registered for only Romania or Britain too?" He said
Vanessa looked at the forms her father gave her and smiled that Vlad thought ahead. Dumbledore had called over for Hagrid to come over and the giant was at awe at the sight of the little dragon in her arms.
"Hagrid, do you think that can help watch Ms. Potters' dragon?" He asked
Those words made Hagrids night as he had always found dragons fascinating. After she gets Dancia used to Hagrids' scent the two made plans on when he can watch her. When they were done she headed to the common room and went to bed.
.
.
.
The last two months weren't so bad for Vanessa and the others. One week Professor Moody transfigured Draco into a white ferret when he tried to cast a spell on Harry when his back was turned. He levitated him and placed in Crabbs pants before Professor McGonagall put a stop to it. He was humiliated for weeks and Hunter and a few other Syltherins never let it down. Hermione was trying to force House-Elf free rights without the House Elves getting on board or trying to talk to them. She's been trying to raise money for the welfare but not many students want to join. Vanessa would have joined but knew she was doing it the wrong way.
With Danica, she has gotten bigger in the last two months. Now she was the size of a grown tiger. Because of her size she is now staying with Hagrid. Dumbledore said that he will help create a cave for her in the mountains when she gets too big. Right now she has been helping Hagrid keep the Blast-Ended Skrewts in line.
When the big day of the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students came the school had gone through a deep cleaning. Several grimy portraits had been scrubbed. The suits of armor were suddenly gleaming and moving without squeaking, and Argus Filch, the caretaker, behavior was worse when any students who forgot to wipe their shoes. Harry and Vanessa believed that they were trying to show off. When they went down to breakfast on the morning of the 30th of October, they found the Great Hall had been decorated overnight. Enormous silk banners hung from the walls, each of them representing a Hogwarts House: red with a gold lion for Gryffindor, blue with a bronze eagle for Ravenclaw, yellow with a black badger for Hufflepuff, and green with a silver serpent for Slytherin. Behind the teachers' table, the largest banner of all bore the Hogwarts coat of arms: lion, eagle, badger, and snake united around a large letter H.
When the last school bell rang early everyone returned to their Command Room, to deposit their bags and books as they had been instructed, pulled on their cloaks, and rushed back downstairs into the entrance hall. The Heads of Houses were ordering their students into lines and ushered them to the front of the castle. Everyone was cold as they waited.
"Nearly six." Ron said, checking his watch. "How d'you reckon they're coming? The train?"
"I doubt it." Hermione said
"How, then? Broomsticks?" Harry suggested
"That would be way too long of a flight and very cold." Vanessa said
She looked around with her vampire eyes and noticed something flying their way.
"Aha! Unless I am very much mistaken, the delegation from Beauxbatons approaches!" Dumbledore smiled
"Where?" Many students asked, looking in all different directions.
"There!" A sixth year yelled
Something larger was hurtling across the deep blue sky towards the castle, growing larger and larger.
"It's a dragon!" Shrieked one first year.
"Don't be stupid…it's a flying house!" Dennis Creevey said
Dennis's guess was closer. They were actually six Abraxan Winged horses pulling a gigantic, powder-blue carriage. When they landed the carriage bore a coat of arms (two crossed, golden wands, each emitting three stars) before it opened. A boy, around 17, wearing pale blue robes jumping down from the carriage, let out the golden steps before opening the carriage door. A very large woman came out wearing a black satin, and many magnificent opals gleamed at her throat and on her thick fingers.
Dumbledore started to clap, which made the students follow his lead and applauded too. Many of them tried to stand on their tiptoes to get a better look at the tall woman. The students from Beauxbatons began to file out from the carriage as Dumbledore proceeded to greet the Headmistress of the French Institution.
"My dear Madame Maxime, welcome to Hogwarts." Dumbledore said
"Dumbly-dorr." Maxime smiled with a deep voice. "I 'ope I find you well?"
"In excellent form, I thank you." Dumbledore said
"My pupils." Madame Maxime said, waving one of her enormous hands carelessly behind her.
A dozen boys and girls, in their late teens, stood behind her wearing blue silk robes and cloaks. It didn't seem that they were used to the weather as they were shivering more than the Hogwarts students. Some of the girls had wrapped scarves and shawls around their heads.
"How big d'you reckon Durmstrang's horses are going to be?" Seamus Finnigan said
"Well, if they're any bigger than this lot, even Hagrid won't be able to handle them." Harry said "That's if he hasn't been attacked by his skrewts."
After a few minutes there was another strange noise but it wasn't coming from the sky this time. It was coming from the Lake. Coming out of the lake was a ship. The ship emerged entirely, bobbing on the turbulent water, and began to glide toward the bank. A few moments later, they heard the splash of an anchor being thrown down in the shallows, and the thud of a plank being lowered onto the bank. There were a dozen boys and girls walking off the ship and up the lawn. They were wearing cloaks of some kind of shaggy, matted fur and maroon uniform and black boots. The man who was leading them up to the castle was wearing furs of a different sort: sleek and silver, like his hair.
"Dumbledore!" He called heartily as he walked up the slope. "How are you, my dear fellow, how are you?"
"Blooming, thank you, Professor Karkaroff." Dumbledore replied
"Dear old Hogwarts." Karkaroff said "How good it is to be here, how good…Viktor, come along, into the warmth…you don't mind Dumbldore? Viktor has a slight head cold…"
After hearing the name Hunter looked over and closed his eyes as he groaned.
"Please tell me it's not…" Hunter whispered.
"Oh it is…" Axel chuckled.
Vanessa looked over and saw that it was Viktor Krum. She nearly forgot that he was still in school. Ron and many others, mainly girls, were awestruck by this.
"I don't believe it!" Ron said "Krum, Harry! Viktor Krum!"
"For heaven's sake, Ron, he's only a Quidditch player." Hermione said
"Only a Quidditch player?" Ron said. "Hermione…he's one of the best Seekers in the world! I had no idea he was still at school!"
They all enter the entrance hall and enter the Great Hall. Vanessa saw Lee Jordan jumping up and down on the soles of his feet to get a better look at the back of Krum's head. Several girls in her year were frantically searching their pockets as they walked. This just made her roll her eyes and sat down at Gryffindor table. The two school students looked around and wondered where they should sit. The Beauxbatons had decided to sit with the Ravenclaws and Durmstrang (to Ron's dismay) sat with the Slytherins. Up at the staff table, Filch, the caretaker, was adding chairs on either side of Dumbledore's.
"But there are only two extra people." Harry said "Why's Filch putting out four chairs, who else is coming?"
Once everyone had sat down Dumbledore stood up to make his speech.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, ghosts and…most particularly…guests." He beamed. "I have great pleasure in welcoming you all to Hogwarts. I hope and trust that your stay here will be both comfortable and enjoyable. The tournament will be officially opened at the end of the feast. I now invite you all to eat, drink, and make yourselves at home!"
He sat down and started talking to Karkaroff.
The plates in front of them were filled with food as usual. The house-elves in the kitchen seemed to have pulled out all the stops as there were many different dishes that were foregin.
"What's that?" Fred asked as he pointed to a large dish that looked like a shellfish stew.
"Bouillabaisse." Vanessa said
"Bless you." George said
"It's a French dish. Mom would sometimes make the dish to remember her village in France." Vanessa said "It's very good."
While everyone had started eating Hagrid sneaked into the Hall through a door behind the staff table twenty minutes later. He waved at Harry, Ron, and Hermione as he sat down with a heavily bandaged hand.
"Hey, V. Look at little Miss Frenchy over there standing next Ron." Uma said in a low tone.
Vanessa looked over and saw one of the Beauxbaton girls talking to Ron and took one of the dishes. She had long silvery-blonde hair, large blue eyes and fair skin. There was something off about her. Vanessa's inner vampire could sense and it seems that Uma saw it too.
"I bet you shes' half mermaid or something. Just look at how all the boys drool over her." Uma scoffed
"Come on, Uma, no need to be jealous." Vanessa said
"Are you saying that you would be okay with Hunter gawking at her?" Uma said
"Bloody hell no." Vanessa said before muttering. "If she tries anything with him I'll shave off her bloody hair."
Uma chuckled before continuing eating.
After a few minutes two more people came in to sit at the staff table. Ludo Bagman, who was sitting on Professor Karkaroff's other side, and Mr. Crouch was sitting next to Madame Maxime. Then the second course arrived with unfamiliar desserts as well. Vanessa didn't mind them as French desserts were her favorites. Once everyone was done the plates all disappeared and Dumbledore stood up again.
"The moment has come," Dumbledore said. "The Triwizard Tournament is about to start. I would like to say a few words of explanation before we bring in the casket…just to clarify the procedure that we will be following this year. But first, let me introduce, for those who do not know them, Mr. Bartemius Crouch, Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation and Mr. Ludo Bagman, Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports."
Only a small amount of people applauded for Mr. Crouch out of politeness. But there was a huge applause for Mr. Bagman as he was more popular than Crouch.
"Mr. Bagman and Mr. Crouch have worked tirelessly over the last few months on the arrangements for the Triwizard Tournament." Dumbledore continued "And they will be joining myself, Professor Karkaroff, and Madame Maxime on the panel that will judge the champions' efforts. The casket, then, if you please, Mr. Filch."
Filch, who had been lurking unnoticed in a far corner of the Hall, now approached Dumbledore carrying a great wooden chest encrusted with jewels.
"The instructions for the tasks the champions will face this year have already been examined by Mr. Crouch and Mr. Bagman." Dumbledore said as Filch placed the chest carefully on the table before him. "And they have made the necessary arrangements for each challenge. There will be three tasks, spaced throughout the school year, and they will test the champions in many different ways…their magical powers…their daring…their powers of deduction…and, of course, their ability to cope with danger. As you know, three champions compete in the tournament, one from each of the participating schools. They will be marked on how well they perform each of the tournament tasks and the champion with the highest total after task three will win the Triwizard Cup. The champions will be chosen by an impartial selector: the Goblet of Fire."
Dumbledore took out his wand and revealed a wooden cup that was filled with blue-white flames.
"Anybody wishing to submit themselves as champion must write their name and school clearly upon a slip of parchment and drop it into the goblet." Dumbledore said "Aspiring champions have twenty-four hours in which to put their names forward. Tomorrow night, Halloween, the goblet will return the names of the three it has judged most worthy to represent their schools. The goblet will be placed in the entrance hall tonight, where it will be freely accessible to all those wishing to compete. To ensure that no underage students yield to temptation, I will be drawing an Age Line around the Goblet of Fire once it has been placed in the entrance hall. Nobody under the age of seventeen will be able to cross this line. Finally, I wish to impress upon any of you wishing to compete that this tournament is not to be entered into lightly. Once a champion has been selected by the Goblet of Fire, he or she is obliged to see the tournament through to the end. The placing of your name in the goblet constitutes a binding magical contract. There can be no change of heart once you have become a champion. Please be very sure, therefore, that you are wholeheartedly prepared to play before you drop your name into the goblet. Now, I think it is time for bed. Good night to you all."
The warning of the Age-Line didn't seem to bother Fred and George as they believed they could trick it with an aging potion. Vanessa knew better than to try and talk them out of it as they were determined. Deep down she would have done the same but knew better than to underestimate Dumbledore power.