Chapter 10: The selection and Tournament part 1
Soon after what happened during the yule break, Arcturus personally went to France to visit the Flamels at their villa to return their most prized possession. Both Nicolas and his wife, Perenelle, were shocked and angry by what Lord Black had to say regarding the Stone. Nicolas was perhaps more angry than shocked to learn that the Stone had not been destroyed.
When beckoned to elaborate, the old alchemist wizard explained that after the break-in at Gringotts, Albus sent them a letter explaining that his gamekeeper went to retrieve the Stone from the vault and that he destroyed it. The man was so angry that he looked seconds away from going to the castle and cursing Dumbledore into the next century. Arcturus understood the man's anger at the old goat. However, he advised him to proceed with caution since Dumbledore had a lot of political influence and had garnered a lot of favors over the years. Even though he hated to agree, Lord Black did make a valid point. Perenelle asked how he managed to get the Stone without Dumbledore knowing. To her surprise, he explained that his great-nephew was the one who retrieved it.
The Flamels questioned why the boy didn't keep the Stone for himself. He could have used it to create gold or the Elixir of Life, yet he chose to return it. Arcturus explained that even though Harry could have kept the thing for himself, he chose to have the Stone returned to its owners, as he had no claim to it. Nicholas told the man to send the boy his thanks and tell him that he appreciated the return of the Philosopher's Stone. Arcturus nodded at them and took his leave.
Following the next day, Nicolas and Perenelle sent an angry letter to Dumbledore telling him they got their Stone back and in no uncertain terms were he to contact them again. They will no longer be considered allies, nor could he ask them for any favors or help. Dumbledore had been furious and in a right mood when he read the letter. Not only did he lose the Flamels as allies, but he would no longer have the chance to use their Stone. Oh, how he had plans for it. Unfortunately, that was the least of his problems as several things were running through his mind: He still could not find the Potter boy, the Mirror of Erised had been destroyed, and he had been occupied with finding a new DADA professor.
Albus had not left his office for the next couple of weeks, indulging himself in bottles of Firewhiskey and Scotch. Phineas watched with amusement as the current headmaster looked like he had seen better days. Little did he know that this was only the beginning of what was to come.
(0^0)
It had been two months since the second term of school began. The gang had returned to their studies and were hard at work. Harry was in the middle of a duel against three fifth-years in one of the training areas. By the way they were dueling, he could tell they meant business and weren't holding back. He requested this at the start of the duel as he didn't want them to go easy on him. Magic sharpens magic. If he wanted to get stronger, then it would be essential for him to train against those who were older and more experienced. A person's skills and abilities will grow more refined and polished during a battle. This is what truly brings out someone's talents.
Severus's words echoed in Harry's mind: A person could have a lot of raw power, but they would fall short if they had no control or mental discipline. No matter how powerful someone was, if they had no control and were too emotional, then they would be quickly defeated. They would be the cause of their own destruction.
Harry could tell his opponents were becoming mentally, physically, and magically exhausted, not to mention frustrated with their lack of progress. More than that, they had a couple of injuries, while he had none and looked completely composed save for the sweat pouring down his face. Other than that, Harry seemed perfectly well. Until now, all of his spells have been low-level, which he'd been using to keep them off balance and tire them out. They couldn't make out his fighting style nor fathom his tactics.
"Damn. . . P-Potter is. . .g-good," one of them breathed, trying to catch his breath.
"D-Don't fall. . .a-apart yet-Sebastian. He's only. . .a fourth year," his friend said.
"Let's finish. . .this," the other said. He sent two fire comets and a barrage of other spells, though he could feel his magic running low. The same could be said for his friends, who sent several curses, hexes, and jinxes.
Harry smirked and, with a wave of his wand, sent the incoming spells back with a banishing charm. He then conjured a large torrent of water, spinning his wand above his head; the water followed his wand movement and rotated around him.
After a few minutes, he launched the spinning torrent at them; however, he quickly turned it into a deep mist that blanketed the area and blocked their visions. The tip of his wand turned a faint orange when he twisted it a little to the right, raising the temperature. Then, with a snap of his fingers, several small but powerful explosions sent the boys flying back until they landed hard on the ground, unconscious with their ears ruptured and a handful of broken bones. Harry's attention soon diverted away from the unconscious boys when he heard someone clapping.
"Nicely done, Mr. Potter," said Master Tokugawa from where he sat. "Your dueling skills are growing, as are your strategic and tactical skills."
Harry gave the man a bow as a few healers came onto the field to take the injured boys away. He walked over to the stands where his friends were and sat beside them. Andrew quipped when Harry approached them. "Hey, champion, nice work out there," tossing over a bottle of water.
"Thanks, mate," Harry replied, taking a swig of the water and sitting down. "Alright, Jade, you're up."
"Right," someone grabbed her arm before she could head down. Turning around, she saw the look of determination on her brother's face. There was a silent pause between the two.
". . . Good luck out there, sis. Remember, might is not always right."
Harry soon added, "be smarter and efficient. Watch your opponents and fight no more than you need to."
"I got it, guys," she said. Jade then looked at her brother, "do not worry about me. I'll be careful." Andrew gave her a nod and let go of her arm. She jumped over the rail and landed on the field, taking her wand out.
Andrew and the others watched as Jade faced off against four fourth years, and it seemed like they meant business. The Squad had been working hard, hoping to be selected to represent their school in the U-13 division. Come next week, there will be a gathering in the auditorium where the Headmistress will announce who will be participating in the Tournament. Natalie had been the most anxious as she wished to enter the category for Potions. "What do you all think? About us being chosen to serve as representatives?" She didn't take her eyes off Jade as she took out two of the fourth years after only ten minutes.
"It can go either way, Nat," Sophie replied. "Anything is possible. The only thing we can do is hope and try to secure a spot in the chosen categories." Truth to tell, she had been as concerned about securing a spot as the others were. The only one who seemed composed was Harry, which slightly annoyed her. How he could remain calm was beyond her.
Five minutes later, the remaining fourth-years were defeated, and Jade was declared the winner. Shinichi called for everyone to look at him, "alright, that's enough for the day. All of you hit the showers."
The students present got up and headed to the locker room to get a shower and change out of their dueling clothes. Several boys were stressed; many of them were scheduled to take their O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s in June. The professors had been drilling them with essays, revisions, and working on spells that may show up. Jeremy, Harry, and Andrew definitely did not envy them at the moment, as they would be doing the same thing next year for some of their classes.
"Remind me, how much homework do we have tonight?" Jeremy asked, though, at the moment, all he wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep.
"Let's talk about it later," Andrew suggested, then grabbed a towel. "Believe me, bud, you are not the only one who feels like they want to sleep for a couple days."
Harry then chimed in. "Today's Thursday, meaning that we can have some time to unwind the day after tomorrow."
"Not so fast, Harry. Remember, we have a Charms exam tomorrow morning," Andrew interjected. "Might be best to get a start on whatever homework we have and go to sleep early for the night."
"Good idea," he agreed. "Now, let's get a shower and return to our rooms for the day."
Jeremy grunted, "I heard that." The three then went to take a steamed shower to help loosen their tight muscles. Jeremy looked like he was ready to kill over, yet he persevered and cleaned himself up.
When they were through and now wearing their school clothes, the boys headed straight for their dorm without waiting for the girls. The only thing that mattered to them was getting a few minutes to relax before doing their essays. When they arrived, Harry unlocked the door and opened the brown cabinet, where he pulled out three bottles of Gatorade. He tossed two over to his friends before plopping down onto one of the sofas. Roughly a minute later, the girls walked into the room. The only one who seemed even remotely annoyed was Sophie. The others just went to grab some Gatorade from the cabinet and sat either on the floor near the table or on the sofas.
No one said anything as they were all tired and just wanted to enjoy the silence. Harry glanced to his right, and, taking his wand, he conjured a comfortable armchair for Sophie. The group's intellect thanked him with a nod and smile before sitting in it. She then let out a tired yawn. Like Harry, she had been working at a furious pace, and despite being the smartest one in the group, he was by far the most powerful and balanced.
Soon later, they took out some pieces of parchment, quills, and a bottle of ink and got to work on the essays they needed to complete. After twenty minutes of silence, Jade made a comment ". . .I am so going to bed after this!"
"I'm with you, girl," Natalie said, looking up from her Arithmancy worksheet. "I feel like I can sleep for three, maybe four days."
"Come on guys, I know we're all tired, but we got to keep it together," Harry finished his essay for Alchemy, pushing it off to the side to begin working on his Potion assignment. "For right now, let's just be thankful that we have nothing due tomorrow. Well, save for me and Andrew, who have an exam in the morning, and later in the afternoon, Natalie, Sophie, and I have to do a Potions exam. Other than that, we'll be able to take it easy for a while." He released a long breath. "Once they and our classes are out of the way, we finally get a breather."
Natalie groaned as she massaged her temples. "I feel a headache about to come on."
"I gotcha covered," with a wave of his wand, he summoned over a headache potion and gave it to her. "After I finish this Potions essay, I'm done for the day."
"We're doing a review during lunch before our exam tomorrow, right?" Sophie asked. She then added when Harry and Natalie were about to groan in protest. "I don't want to either, but it will be better to be safe than sorry."
Grudgingly, the two agreed with her.
The next day was a grueling one, as the teens were surprised by their professors who assigned them piles of homework, and they had to complete different exams for their classes. Before their exam in Potions, Harry, Natalie, and Sophie had a study session where they reviewed and quizzed each other. They were already tired, yet they managed to complete the written and practical portions of their exams. Among the three, Natalie was the first to finish. This was followed by Sophie, then Harry. With only ten minutes left, they got permission to leave the class. The three then went outside to enjoy the nice warm air.
"Damn," Sophie muttered. "My brain feels like it's on fire. The only thing I can say is: I am so glad there are no more classes for the week."
"Same," replied Harry. Then, using his watch, he sent a message to Jade, Andrew, and Jeremy, telling them they'd be near the beach. "No more classes for the week! In other words, we get to finally relax!" They started walking towards the beach, though Harry seemed like he really needed it. Being near water always set his mind at ease.
"Aside from the homework we have to do. We have the weekend off. Any ideas on what we should do?"
"Go flying," the teens turned their heads at the familiar voice to see the others approaching, looking equally tired yet relieved. "I want to fly on my board and feel the wind against my face," said Jade. She loved flying high and through the air at incredible speed.
The others started listing ideas on how to relax for the weekend. Seeing as there would be no visiting the city for the next two weeks, all they could do was hang out on the school's grounds. The topic of conversation soon shifted to the company they've created. "All is going according to schedule, and our newest products will be available within three weeks. I never would have expected that we would become such a hit. Orders from other countries are still coming in."
"Easy, Jeremy," Andrew grinned. "However, you are right. Our products are a real hit. The shops we've set up around the country and outside of it are filling with customers."
"Speaking of outside the country," Jade smiled at her twin. "Dad sent me a message saying we'll be heading to Hong Kong this summer."
"Hallelujah!" Andrew pumped his hands into the air. "Well, it's about damn time! I've been waiting to go for two years."
(0^0)
When it came time for the announcement of who would be representing the school in the International Magical Tournament this year. The students and professors were all in the auditorium waiting for Headmistress Stone to arrive to deliver the news. All of the chatter in the room quickly died down when the doors opened, and the Headmistress walked in with her Deputy Head. The students were on their feet as they walked down the aisle and up to the podium.
"Be seated," Professor Stone said in an even voice. Everyone did so, and she began. "As you all know, the International Tournament is coming up this year in May and will be held in Moscow. The professors and I have selected the students who we believe will represent the best of what our school has to offer."
There were whispers from the students as they were eager to hear who had been selected to participate in this year's events. Many of them hoped they'd been picked; participating in a Tournament like this would help with their future careers. Stone then resumed. "We will begin with the Under-18 division. When your name is called, please come up on the stage," she removed a long scroll from the pocket of her robes.
One by one, she called the names on her list. Close to an hour later, she finally arrived at the Under-13 division, where she began by calling out names. There were a few groans from the upper years as they were disappointed not to have been chosen. ". . .Newman, Sophie," the dark-haired and amber-eyed girl walked to the stage to receive her badge then stood by the other six representatives for her division. "Potter, Harry."
Harry was initially nervous but quickly composed himself and walked onto the stage, where she placed a badge on his right breast and gave him a nod. He then walked to stand next to Sophie, who shot him a quick smile, which he returned. Soon, the others were called up along with the remaining chosen few.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you this year's tournament's representatives," Professor Stone announced. There was applause from the audience, even some of the staff members clapping hard. "To those of you who were chosen, we expect you to represent the best of what Merlin's has to offer. Good luck this year."
Group by group, they left to return to their seats while the Headmistress continued with her announcements for the day. Eventually, the students were released and allowed to continue their studies. Several of them headed toward the lunch room for lunch while a few went to head for the library or other areas of the Academy.
"We did it!" Shouted Andrew. "Hey guys, let's grab something to eat before going for a fly."
Together, the Ouroboros Squad went to the cafeteria. Before either of them could sit down, a hawk owl came flying in with a letter tied to its leg. The male owl looked directly at Harry and beckoned the young wizard to take the letter that was attached to its leg. Untying the letter, the owl then flew away as he opened the envelope and pulled the letter out.
Dear Mr. Potter,
My name is Nicolas Flamel, and while I know this is unexpected. I wanted to thank you for the return of the Philosopher's Stone. The Stone means more to my wife and me than most witches and wizards could ever imagine. When we placed the Stone in Gringotts, we figured it would be safe, but then we got word that there had been a break-in and that Albus Dumbledore said it would be better to destroy the thing. This was a lie as we went along with what he said when, in reality, he was interested in using our Stone to further whatever agenda he had. Placing such a powerful magical object into a school full of children is unthinkable. A number of things could have happened. The students would have been caught in the crossfire and could have been hurt or killed in the process.
As you might imagine, Perenelle and I were disgusted by Dumbledore's actions and have thus severed our ties with him. In all honesty, we should have cut contact with the man a long time ago. For a long time, I have always wondered why Dumbledore would do things or get involved in matters that didn't concern him. Take the advice of an old man: if you ever come into contact with or engage in a conversation with the old Warlock, then be careful. Dumbledore has a knack for manipulations, telling half-truths, omitting key pieces of information, and misdirecting others with things they want to rather than need to hear.
Onto another matter now. For the return of our stone, Perenelle and I would like to invite you to our home in France and learn under us this summer. We have reviewed your current status regarding your academics and believe you to be an interesting person. One with incredible potential to understanding the obscure branches of magic.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
Nicolas Flamel Alchemist, Sorcerer, and Head of the Ancient and Noble House of Flamel
Harry's eyes widened considerably as he reread the letter to make sure it was authentic. The Flamels were inviting him to learn under them this summer. This would be a great opportunity for him. Not only would he be able to study under a famous Alchemist and his wife, but also have the chance to further study the obscure branches of magic. Something like this would greatly benefit his future goals. He would be an absolute fool to pass up such an opportunity.
However, he would first need to see what his grandfather had to say on the matter. Resolving himself, he put the Flamel's letter in his pocket and made a mental note to send a letter home. Hopefully, the man will agree, though first, he wanted to spend his two weeks with Severus like usual.
Natalie gave him a curious look as she began eating. "Who was the letter from?"
"Tell you, guys, later. For now, let's just live in the moment and take advantage of our time off," Harry drank some water from his goblet. "Besides, I have to send a letter to my grandfather before the day ends."
"Hmm. Must be something juicy," Andrew mused.
After lunch, they headed toward the Residence Hall to get their hoverboards and hover-scooters so they could go flying. Once the teens got what they needed, they headed toward the beach, where the six took off into the air. Harry felt alive as the wind blew across his face while he executed several aerial maneuvers. The minor headache he had earlier vanished, as well as all of his thoughts regarding his schoolwork. Essentially, he felt free. No negative thoughts. Nothing to make him feel tense. Just the sense of feeling free filled his entire body.
The Squad flew a few hours before landing at the Residence Hall. Heading toward the girls' dorm, they each took a seat, where Harry explained the letter he got from Nicolas Flamel. "As a show of gratitude for returning the stone, they're offering me the chance to study under them this summer."
"Shit, man," said a breathless Jeremy. "Do you know how many people would kill for the opportunity to work under Nicolas Flamel? He's practically the best Alchemist to have been born in the wizarding world!"
"What do you think your grandfather will say? Do you think he will allow it?" Asked Jade. She thought about interning at either the MACUSA. Headquarters or the I.C.W. when the time eventually came. Unknown to her parents, she and Andrew began discussing their plans for the future after leaving the Academy.
Harry shrugged at her questions. "All I know is that after graduation, I intend to either work as an Unspeakable or find a job at the I.C.W. Both sound like good professions," he explained his intentions, though truthfully, he was still thinking about the matter. Harry then added, "there is, of course, the fact that I have no wish to sit on my arse all day."
"Amen to that," Andrew agreed. "People like us need to do something like get a job in the future or, at the very least, have a hobby."
He then decided to change the subject to something else. "In any case, we should at least prepare as there will be a meeting in two days about the different events we will be competing in. I want to participate in the Charms, DADA, and Dueling events."
"Transfigurations, Dueling, and Charms for me. Though, if needed, I participate in the event for Defense Against the Dark Arts," said Harry.
They each listed the events they hoped to participate in. While doing that, Harry's thoughts drifted to Susan. Similar to his relationship with Lauren, he and Susan had a brother-sister relationship and got along famously. She might be a few months older than him, but seeing as he started attending school earlier, she sometimes wrote or called him if she needed help. Or for them to just see how each other was doing. In some ways, he felt like he was the older sibling between the two. Therefore, it was his responsibility to look after her.
Since Quirrell's removal from Hogwarts, Sirius has taken the position of the DADA professor. Neither Sirius nor Amelia wanted anything else to happen this year, so they approached the Board of Governors, where Sirius submitted an application to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor for the remainder of the school year.
(0^0)
At Hogwarts the following day, Susan had begun packing her things when the bell rang, releasing the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors from Defense Against the Dark Arts. Sirius assigned them a one-parchment essay about the Zombies and how to defeat them.
Beside the auburn-haired girl was her best friend, Hannah Abbot. The two have known each other since they were kids. "You want to meet the others in the library?" Hannah asked.
"In a few minutes," Susan replied. "I need to talk with my uncle," gesturing to Sirius, who started grading quizzes.
"Alright, see you there," Hannah turned and walked out of the room while Susan walked up to Sirius' desk. Thanks to Harry's help, she has improved in her classes this semester. Though, to be fair, there were times when she would struggle. During the Yule break, he explained to her that there were different learning styles and that each person used different methods. It took a while, but she eventually found the methods that suited her.
"Professor Black, can I talk to you about something?" Susan asked when the door to the classroom closed.
"Go ahead, Sue." Sirius put his quill down to look up. "What do you need?" It was easy for her to see him more as a fun-loving Uncle rather than a professor.
Finding her voice. "I have been thinking hard and want to become an animagus." Sirius's eyes widened at what she said. "Is there any way you can teach me?"
Sirius took a minute to regain himself. "Now you know that is not only a difficult task but also dangerous if done incorrectly. When I was younger, I did it to help a friend so he wouldn't suffer," he stated. Thinking back to his years as a student, he remembered that it took him up to his fifth year to become an animagus. The process was exhausting, and one needed to have permission from either the Ministry or I.C.W. He and James were lucky to have their forms registered before entering the Auror Academy. If word got out that they became animagi before then, they would have been in big trouble. "Why all the sudden interest?"
"Because I've seen how you and Harry are animagi and want to become one myself," she replied. "Come on, please," pleading for him to say yes or at least consider it.
Sirius sat in his seat, thinking about the idea for a few minutes. Then, releasing a breath, "let me speak to Amelia about the matter. If she agrees, we'll talk about you becoming an animagus."
"Thanks, Sirius," figuring that was as good as she was going to get. Her Aunt Amelia was really strict about these sorts of things and would be difficult to convince. She left the classroom, missing the small smile on Sirius's face. In a way, he was secretly happy that she wanted to become an animagus.
While heading to the library, Susan got the feeling she was being followed. Lord Black and Lord Potter taught her how to sense the magics of others. At first, she struggled but got the hang of it, thanks to Harry and Amelia. However, she was still new to this and could only sense the magical signatures of others from a limited distance. Nonetheless, the skill served her well. Throwing her senses behind her, she discovered that two familiar people were indeed behind her.
Susan frowned upon recognizing who the signatures belonged to. "Is there a reason the two of you are following me?" Stopping just outside the entrance of the library and turning around. Two first years with the Gryffindor badge on their school robes. The youngest Weasley male, Ron, and a bushy-haired muggleborn girl named Hermione Granger.
She never understood how the two became friends, but apparently, after the troll incident on Halloween, they put aside their differences and started getting along. That said, they already garnered themselves a reputation, especially Hermione, who many considered to be a know-it-all who relied heavily on books and a teacher's pet. In addition, the way she would act all arrogant and smug when answering a question would get on some of her peers' nerves.
"We just want to ask you something," Hermione began, and Susan had to resist the urge to roll her eyes as she had an idea of what was on her mind. "You know Harry Potter, right?"
'And there it is,' Susan mentally sighed. Granger had been relentless when it was discovered that Harry was attending a different magical institution, and even more so when she learned that his godfather, Sirius, married her aunt. "Why wouldn't I know him? He is family. Aside from being one of my closest friends, he is my godbrother."
"Well, then, why isn't he attending Hogwarts? If you two are so close, why is he not here?" Ron blurted out.
"That is family business. Moreover, the decision was made years ago," she evenly said.
"That doesn't make it right," Ron argued. "Potter should be here in Britain—attending Hogwarts—it's what his parents would have wanted."
"His parents would have wanted him to be safe and be the best he could be," Susan returned with a subtle amount of edge in her voice. "And you overstep yourself. Your family has no ties to ours; therefore, you have no say in the matter."
Ron's face became a little red, and he looked ready to argue more. But Hermione stepped in, "you sound as if you are in constant contact with him. Yet you only use the school's owls." Susan could tell she was fishing for answers. "So, how can you remain in frequent contact with him? Do you even know where he is?"
Having become annoyed enough, Susan said. "There is more than one way to stay in contact with someone," showing her watch on her left arm. "As you can see, me and him can talk whenever we want. And I know where he is. Also, he is one of the top students at his school," whirling around, she opened the door to the library.
"Hold on! You haven't said where he is," Hermione exclaimed, trying to follow behind.
"That's because it is not your business!" Susan heatedly replied. The girl was a real pest.
Hermione wanted to say something else, but a stern glare from Madam Pince told her that she had just entered her sanctuary and that if she wanted to remain that, she had best follow the rules. Ron paled slightly at the look the school's librarian was giving him. Susan found her friends Hannah and Padma Patil of Ravenclaw sitting at a table with Tracey Davis and Daphne Greengrass of Slytherin. "Sorry, I'm late. I got a little sidetracked," she gestured to Hermione and Ron as she sat down.
Daphne caught where she was looking and understood what sidetracked her. The blonde Slytherin was one of the few students in their year who was most annoyed with the bushy-haired Gryffindor for her arrogant, condescending attitude and need to be always right. She and Granger had been competing for the top spot in their classes. While Granger had no problem flaunting her knowledge, Daphne was more reserved, choosing not to show off or prove she was better than others.
Susan soon pulled some parchment to begin working on her Herbology assignment when she received a buzz from her watch. She gave a small laugh when she read the message. The others only looked at her, and Tracey spoke. "What's so funny?" Looking up from her Potions essay.
"Nothing, just a message from Harry." Susan waved it off. Hopefully, at the end of the year, she would at least make the top five in her year.
"Really? How's he doing?" Padma asked.
"Keeping busy. His professors have been giving him piles of homework," replied Susan. A small part of her worried if he really was all right. The school he attended was tougher than Hogwarts.
"It's still hard to believe that he didn't come here," said Tracey. The brunette then added, "from the way you describe him, he doesn't seem anything like what is described in those books about him. Come to think of it, they were recalled along with those dolls."
"That was his grandfather's doing," Susan said, working on her essay. "And you would be surprised. He is much more different than what most people think."
Ron came over and slammed his hands on the table. "We were not done talking to you! If you know where Potter is, then tell us!"
"He should be brought here where he belongs!" Hermione joined.
"That's it! You two out of my library," Madam Pince said. Evidently, she had enough. The ill-tempered librarian glared fiercely at the two lions. "Leave and do not come back until you learn the rules."
Hermione looked like she wanted to argue the point. She loved being in the library, and now here she was, being thrown out. Not even her pleading look was enough for the librarian to change her mind. Reluctantly, she left the library with Ron.
Daphne clicked her tongue. ". . .that was entertaining," a touch of amusement laced her voice.
(0^0)
The month of May arrived quicker than expected, and the representatives from Merlin's Magical Academy were waiting outside by the gate with their things ready to depart. The deputy headmistress and three other professors were to act as the chaperones while the students were in Moscow. After the roll call, the students from each division were told to place their hands on the large boulders in front of them. The rocks had been turned into portkeys, which would take them to their destination. A minute later, they were all whisked away to the entrance of a large luxurious hotel.
"Wow," Sophie's breath was caught in her throat. She was so mesmerized by the hotel's beauty that any words that might have left her mouth faded away. Quickly taking in her surroundings, she found that the place they were staying at had a well-kept garden. A sudden tap on her shoulder brought her back, turning her attention to the left.
Natalie handed her a potion to help her adjust to the new time zone. She downed the contents as did everyone else and proceeded inside, where the Deputy Headmistress told them to wait in the lobby while she went to check them in.
"This place is amazing," came Jade as she received a schedule and map of the building from Jeremy. He nodded his head in agreement, as did Andrew.
Meanwhile, Harry seemed composed, though on the inside had to admit that this place was beautiful. Looking around, he guessed that this entire building would cost around 87 million galleons. Probably more, given the way the lobby was decorated. His attention was soon directed at Professor Claire and another of the professors who joined her at the check-in desk. He quickly nudged Natalie and Jeremy to let them know something was about to happen.
"All right, everyone. In a few minutes, you will be given a key to your rooms, which three of you will share for the duration of your time here. Once you all have had the time to unpack, meet in the grand banquet hall. There, you will have the chance to eat and meet the students from the other competing schools," Professor Claire explained. "Now, find who you would like to share a room with and line up. You all are expected to act appropriately while here, and if any rules are broken, you will be sent back."
"We already got our team," Jeremy grinned at Harry and Andrew. The two had similar expressions and walked in line to receive their room key. "How long do you guys think we'll be here?"
"I say close to two weeks," Andrew guessed, shrugging his shoulders. He had no idea how long they'd be here for the Tournament.
Harry soon commented. "Look at it this way. If we're not competing, we can do some sightseeing and get some souvenirs to take home."
"That's for sure," Andrew grunted. They got their key and went to the elevator. "You know, I heard that some of these events can be tough, and the people we're competing against will not go easy on us. There's no question that many of them will be skilled. Might be good to strategize and come up with a few ideas."
"Understatement right there," Jade drawled. "When do you guys want to have a meeting?"
"Let's see here. . ." Sophie started to think as they rode the elevator up to their floor. "The Tournament doesn't officially begin until Monday afternoon. Seeing that this is Saturday, we should meet up tomorrow around four," surmising the best course of action. "We're supposed to meet tomorrow with the people in our divisions to discuss the events we'll participate in."
"So it's agreed," said Harry while stepping off the elevator. "After meeting with the others tomorrow and taking some time to relax, we'll meet up. See you guys down in the banquet hall." He, Andrew, and Jeremy went to their suite down the hall.
The boys entered their suite and were impressed by what their room had. A large sitting room with two long sofas and a coffee table, a small kitchen, a closet, and three other rooms, which they assumed to be their bedrooms. After going to check out their rooms, they unpacked and returned to the living room. Together, they spent the next hour and a half talking about what to expect from the other competitors. ". . .there is a total of eight events. Herbology, Transfigurations, Enchanting, Charms, Potions, DADA, Ancient Runes, and Dueling."
Andrew was reading through the pamphlet that was on the coffee table. No events were scheduled for Saturday or Sunday, meaning the students could go into the nearby city or roam the grounds. "Better make the most of our time here while we have."
Jeremy took his wand and cast the tempus charm to see that it was time for them to head down to the banquet hall. "Time to put the pamphlet down. We gotta be downstairs."
"It's time already? Oh, well, I guess it is time to go," Andrew put the pamphlet down, and they left the room.
The banquet hall was truly a sight to behold, for it was a large, luxurious area filled with several round tables to accommodate the students and professors who arrived with them. Some nice melodic music played as the students from different schools talked and scoped out their competitions. There were over a hundred students present. Judging by their robes and school uniforms, it was easy to see what institutions they would be representing. Merlin's Magical Academy, Castelobruxo, Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Uagadou, and Mahoutokoro. Five institutions were present.
"This is a real powerhouse," Harry commented as he sat at one of the round tables with his friends. "If I were to make an accurate guess, I'd say the students from Mahoutokoro will be our toughest opponents," he said, sensing the collective amount of magic in the room—more notably around the Mahoutokoro students. That school had a reputation for churning out powerful duelists and students who excelled academically. They also had a rivalry with Merlin's Academy, meaning they would probably be gunning for them. Catching onto what his friend said, Andrew added, "without a doubt, we will need to be careful. They will not go down easy."
It wasn't long before Moscow's Minister of Magic decided to stand up and address everyone. When the hall quieted down, he used the sonorous charm to enhance his voice. "Good evening to each and every one of you. Welcome to the 449th annual International Magical Tournament," the man spoke fluent English. "As is the tradition, we have several new young witches and wizards. You all are here to compete in a series of challenges that will test your magical abilities and skills. So good luck to every one of you and remember to, most importantly. . . Have fun!"
Thunderous claps from the students and staff members rang throughout the room. "The tournament will officially start Monday at eleven a.m." He then applied the counter-spell to return his voice to normal.
The various students talked amongst themselves, wanting to continue enjoying the festivities tonight before heading to bed. Over in one of the far-away tables near the window, a few of the female students from Castelobruxo were scoping out the competition until one of them with long light brown hair and brown eyes looked over at a table where a few of Merlin's students were chatting. One boy in particular caught her attention. She nudged her friend, who sat beside her to the right.
"Is that who I think it is?" Pointing to the jet black-haired boy with emerald green eyes. "Is that Harry Potter?"
"Elana, I think you're right," a girl with a similar shade of hair color but with light silver eyes said. The others started looking at the table across the room. "He really is cute, and those eyes of his are indeed beautiful."
One with a slight tan soon said, "take a look at his uniform. . ." she had black hair that extended a little past her shoulders with the tips in curls. "Who would have thought that the Boy-Who-Lived would be attending Merlin's Academy?"
She remembered reading about how Harry Potter was attending a different magical institution instead of the one in his home country. That caused a big outcry as several high-ranking people wondered where he was? To see him here representing a different school was almost like a dream. "What events do you think he'll be participating in?"
"Don't know," Elana shook her head. "But seeing as he is one of the representatives for his school, it can be assumed that he's talented. The only question is, how talented?"
Roughly twenty minutes later, the hall cleared with the students and various professors returning to their rooms for the night.
On Sunday, the Ouroboros Squad met with their fellow representatives for the U-13 and the Deputy Headmistress. The latter gave them a schedule detailing each event's day and the rulebook. They were expected to review the rules; when done, she left to allow them time to speak about who was participating in what. Monday: Charms. Tuesday: DADA. Wednesday: Potions. Thursday: Transfigurations. Friday: Ancient Runes. Monday: Enchanting. Tuesday: Dueling. Wednesday: Award ceremony. Each event will have up to five to six competitors save for the Dueling event, which will be a team event, thus requiring six people.
Finally, the day had come. Monday had come, and the officials announced that the Tournament had finally begun during breakfast. The first division for the Charms event would be the Under-13. In the hotel's auditorium, the students competing in the U-13 category from different schools sat in their seats behind the officials or on stage beside their teammates. There were five people from each school, all ranging in age from eleven to twelve. Among the five people representing Merlin's Academy were Harry, Sophie, and Andrew. The other two were people whom they sometimes sat with during class and sometimes worked with. Morgan Jones and Jessica Paxton.
One of the officials soon stood up. "Now, before we begin, allow me to explain the rules. I will ask a series of questions related to a spell. The goal is for either member of your team to answer the question and later perform the said spell. You will see in front of you that there is a buzzer for every one of you; simply tap it, and your group will be called. Be warned you only get one chance to answer the question and perform the spell. If you miss the initial question, then another team will have the chance to steal it and gain the point. Are there any questions?"
When no one said anything, the official drew the first card and read it: "If someone would need to stop an object from falling a great height or decrease the speed of something coming towards you, what spell will be necessary?"
The man called Andrew to answer when he was the first to hit his buzzer. "Arresto Momentum." He then took out his wand, the same as the man. The older gentleman explained that he would send an object straight into the air and that it would be Andrew's job to slow down its movement. Lifting his wand into the air, he conjured a muggle soccer ball and sent it straight into the air. Andrew reacted quickly and silently performed the spell, slowing the ball's movement.
"First point goes to Merlin's," announcing after vanishing the ball. "What spell should be used if you either need to pull something towards you or yourself towards something? And what is the incantation?"
This time, it was Harry's turn to answer. "The Seize and pull charm. The incantation is Carpe Retractum."
"Good," the man said, then went on to add. "I would like you to perform the spell on my chair." Harry did as the man said. From the tip of his wand, a light retractable cord emerged, wrapping around the chair, and with a pull, went flying onto the stage.
"Another point to Merlin's," the man awarded.
Over the next thirty-five minutes, the man continued to ask a series of questions. Merlin's Academy and Ilvermorny were neck and neck, with Mahoutokoro in third. The students who went to Ilvermorny School were well-versed in Charms.
"We now come to the final question," the man stated, watching as the students from Merlin's and Ilvermorny eyed each other fiercely.
"Let me handle this one," said Harry. The others each gave him a nod, saying go for it.
"What spell would need to be used to return an inanimate object to its proper resting place?" In a split second, a buzzer was heard. The man turned his eyes toward the students from Merlin's Academy. "That would be Depulso. The banishing charm."
"Correct," using his wand, he conjured a male mannequin and placed it on the chair. "Please perform the spell on this mannequin. Only put a small amount of power in the spell to make the chair skid back a little."
Harry did as the man said, using a low-powered banishing charm to send the dummy back. To everyone's surprise, neither it nor the chair fell over.
"Merlin's Magical Academy wins the U-13 Charms event," he announced, which caused there to be a thunderous amount of applause from the Merlin's students. The students sitting beside Harry jeered and congratulated him. "We will now take a fifteen-minute recess before beginning the Under-15 division."
The students on the stage left to go sit with their teammates in the stands. "Nice work! The first round goes to us," one of the seventh-year students said.
"We're not done yet," Jessica reminded. "There are still two more divisions for the day. There's no telling what's going to happen."
"Agreed," the seventh-year boy nodded. "Everyone who is competing today better hydrate or grab a snack."
Heading his words, the remaining people left to grab some drink or purchase a snack. The remaining two divisions for the Charms event were soon completed, with Ilvermorny winning the Under-15 division. Then, finally, when it came time for the U-18 representatives to compete, it was a close match between Merlin's and Mahoutokoro, though as luck would have it, the former managed to win, securing the first event for their side. Hardly anyone felt like celebrating after because this was the first event. There were still seven more events to compete in, whereas anything could happen. One thing was made clear to Harry. Judging by the serious expressions on the Mahoutokoro students' faces, it became clear that they would be doubling their efforts throughout the rest of the Tournament.
A light grin tugged against his lips. The looks of determination in their eyes served to fuel his resolve as he was eager to see what they had in store. He also got the distinct impression that things were about to get more challenging. This had piqued his interest as he loved a challenge. It would also allow him to learn about the other students, view what their schools specialized in, and how they operated with one another. All that he knew was that things were about to get more interesting.
A/N: I know this is probably not my best chapter, and I apologize that it took longer than intended. I hit a couple of roadblocks while typing it. The Philosopher's Stone has been returned to its rightful owners. In response and upon learning the truth about what's been going on, the Flamels cut ties with Dumbledore. They should have done that a long time ago or inquired as to what really happened to their stone after learning that it had been removed before the break-in at Gringotts. How did Dumbledore even know there'd be a break-in?
What's more, why would he put it in a school full of children? That's not smart at all! He put the students in danger to test Harry and the others. I'm sure you all will agree when I say those enchantments were pretty weak in Book 1 and in the movie. If three eleven-year-olds could get past them, then how would they be enough to stop Voldemort?
In gratitude for its safe return, Nicolas and Perenelle have invited Harry to France to learn under them after tallying the votes on Pa tre on. I can say that it was unanimous that Harry meets the Flamels this summer. The selection has occurred, and the representatives for the International Magical Tournament have been decided. The first of many challenges was in Charms. However, this was only the first competition, as anything can happen.
Next Chapter: Surprise visit and Tournament Part 2