The Hogwarts Champion
The halls bustled with student chatter, the charmed violins strung away to Paganini sonatas, the ghosts remarked on how alive they felt again - another year at Hogwarts had begun.
“Peeves, no, I just bought that! It’s brand new!”
Everything started to feel normal again.
Enoch, Sebastian, and Ominis walked past as two of them stifled laughs at a third-year Gryffindor chasing Peeves down the hall without his robe. It would’ve been funny if it happened to anyone, but the fact it was a Gryffindor made it all the better.
The Great Hall already was filling with students at all tables as the trio made their way to the table to the far left. Various cooked meals lined the table, and Enoch already had his eye set on a roasted goose that made his mouth water just by looking at it. He had missed the Hogwarts meals, never having to worry about the freshness or quality considering everything was magically perfect.
Slowly but surely the hall filled with hundreds of conversations, both students and faculty. The sorting ceremony for first-years also went by fast, although it was mainly ignored by Enoch and his friends as the food was more important to them. Not even their housemate, Imelda Reyes, took away their focus even when she started theorizing to the other Slytherins over whether or not Headmaster Black was allowing Quidditch this year.
But suddenly, taking away everyone’s focus, the headmaster had approached the edge of the faculty platform and announced everyone’s attention. The hall went to complete silence as all eyes were on Professor Black, who stood with his hands behind his back and looked like he’d rather be anywhere else. He eventually cleared his throat to begin, but appeared to glance over at Professor Weasley as a last minute resort, and ushered her to take the stage. She stood up hesitantly before taking Professor Black’s position at the front of the platform, and he made his way back to his seat.
“May I have your attention please, students,” Professor Weasley began. “Firstly, I would like to welcome our new first-years to Hogwarts, where I hope you all will learn and grow to your heart’s content. It’s a pleasure to see all your bright, ready-to-learn faces. Secondly, I would like to announce a bit of a change for this school year. We will be hosting two other wizarding schools who will live and study beside us this year. So please, welcome the school Beauxbatons and their Headmistress Vivienne Auclair.”
She extended her arm towards the end of the hall and the large doors flew open. All heads turned to watch as ten students dressed in elegant blue uniforms marched in in unison. Several Hogwarts students' mouths dropped agape at the sight of them, noticing the kind of untouchable aura that exuded off of them all as they seemingly fluttered across the hall, chins in the air. The most notable one of all was a tall, skinny boy at the front of the group. His golden locks bounced with each step and his shining blue eyes were noticeable even from meters away. Multiple girls audibly gasped at the sight of him, not believing that he didn’t just step out of a painting.
Behind the group came their headmistress, who was a petite woman in a white, fur-lined dress and her large, dark hair resting atop her head. She looked too young to be a headmistress, yet oozed such charismatic waves she left people speechless, and slightly timorous. She held her head higher than her students and displayed a sort of pretentious look on her face.
After the students sat at a newly empty table over to the right side of the hall and the headmistress shook hands with Professor Weasley, the doors opened yet again.
“And also welcome the school Durmstrang and their headmaster Aleksandar Romanov.”
Where the Beauxbatons students glided across the hall, these students stomped. Some Hogwarts students wanted to hide under their tables in fear that these students were going to strike fights entering the hall, at how daunting and determined they appeared. Trailing behind was a burly man with a crazed beard and a large, somehow dumb-looking, smile on his face.
After both school groups had sat at their respective tables on each side of the hall, quiet whispers spun around at every table.
“What do you think they’re here for?” Enoch asked Sebastian beside him.
Sebastian had given him a shrug in return, before watching Professor Weasley walk back to the front of the platform after greeting Durmstrang’s headmaster. “I don’t know, but I’m sure we’re about to find out.”
“I’m sure some of you can already guess, but Hogwarts is going to be hosting the Triwizard Tournament this year. The tournament consists of three separate tasks throughout the school year, and trust in my words when I say they are going to be extremely difficult, and potentially life-threatening. Only those who are confident in their magical abilities should enter.” She stopped for a moment, and the whispers between all the students grew louder. They only seemed to stop once Professor Weasley took out her wand and seemingly apparated a pedestal next to her that had a shining, golden goblet sitting atop it. “This, is the goblet of fire. It will reside in the entrance hall until this time tomorrow. Any student above the age of thirteen who is brave enough can write their names on a piece of parchment and throw it into the fiery goblet. Tomorrow evening, three names will be pulled, one student from each school, and they will become our competing champions.
“I trust that all of you will take this as seriously as possible and exercise caution. These will not be silly games. They are tests to your true magical abilities, and for any eager student, the eternal glory of winning the Triwizard cup can be rather desirable. Please, I ask all of you to heed caution,” She stopped once more and looked around at the students. “And with that, at this time, the Triwizard Tournament has begun.”
The entire castle was in great chatter over the reveal of the tournament beginning. By the next morning, many students were already putting their names into the goblet, which was now displaying a bright blue flame from inside. Enoch nor Ominis were very much interested, but Sebastian was.
“I could take down those other schools easy,” Sebastian boasted as he paced back and forth on the stone pavement. “Put me in a room with whoever their champions will be and our duel won’t even last five seconds, I bet.”
Enoch and Ominis sat on a stone bench listening to him go on about the tournament. He wouldn’t shut up about it, and had woken up earlier than the rest of the Slytherin sixth-years just to be one of the first ones to put their names in the goblet of fire. He was so giddy about it he didn’t pay attention to any of the classes they took that morning. And now that they had free time to spend outside, he was still on about it.
“What if the tasks don’t even require dueling?” Enoch teased. “Then you’ll have a run for your money, alright.”
“Magical tasks not requiring dueling? Come on, Enoch, what kind of tournament would that be?”
“You really don’t expect a Slytherin to be the champion, do you?”
The boys looked over at the Gryffindor sixth-year that had just approached them. He stood with crossed arms as he led two other students behind him, all sporting cocky looks on their faces.
“Oh, what is it, Prewett, you didn’t get enough of me last year, is it?” Sebastian danced over towards the ginger boy, crossing his arms in return. “You still haven’t learned your place?”
“You heard Professor Weasley. Only those who are brave should be the champion, and as far as I’m aware that’s a quality of Gryffindor house, not Slytherin.”
“She also said those who are confident. And how many times have I bested you in a duel last year alone, huh?” His eyebrows raised and he inched closer to Leander as if to challenge him. Leander took a small step back, looking angrier at Sebastian.
“We’ll see who should’ve bitten their tongues, will we?” He smirked before him and his two friends continued on, leaving Sebastian with a scowl.
“That foul git, Prewett,” Sebastian muttered, watching Leander walk off. “The Gryffindors are such a loathsome bunch. Can’t stand nearly all of them.”
“I think they’re alright,” Enoch replied, opening a chocolate frog he took from his pocket. “Natty was really kind to me last year.”
“They’re certainly a proud lot, too conceited for my taste, that’s for certain.”
“Sebastian, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you’re talking to a mirror,” Ominis interjected.
“Oh, can it, Ominis.”
Sebastian and Enoch were getting back into the swing of things as they walked to their next class. This one was Charms class with Professor Ronen, an eccentric teacher who the students have never seen in a poor mood. They had to part ways with Ominis on the way there as he was headed to Transfiguration due to their different schedules.
“Good afternoon, students!” Professor Ronen greeted cheerfully as he hurriedly made his way out of his office. The room filled quickly with the two boys sitting together at a table on the left side of the room.
“Y’know,” Sebastian started, placing his textbook on the table in front of him. “I’m surprised you’re not putting your name in the goblet of fire. You are talented. If there’s anyone who can beat me in this school, it’s you.”
Enoch smiled at the flattery. “I think after the troublesome year I had last school year, I’d be better off not signing up for anything dangerous.”
“Why not? You could totally take the other two competitors down in a heartbeat. I’ve seen what you can do. And, not that I wish for you to become champion over me, but with your name in the cup there’s more of a chance a Slytherin will take the title. That’ll show that nasty git Prewett who’s the better house.”
“I dunno, the ‘eternal glory’ doesn’t sound too appealing to me. Also, I wouldn’t want to take your spotlight if I took the title.”
“Oh, please,” Sebastian let out an airy laugh. “I’d cheer you on just the same as you would do for me.”
Hearing those words from Sebastian felt comforting to Enoch as Professor Ronen shushed them to begin class. He knew it was the truth, and felt allayed knowing that Sebastian really was a true friend. He still didn’t want to put his own name in the goblet of fire, but he knew that if Sebastian’s name was pulled he’d show his full support for his close friend.
But that’s not what happened. Later that evening the students of all three schools found themselves sitting in silent suspense in the Great Hall after their dinner was over. Quiet whispers spurred around with everyone wondering just who were going to be the three champions. Sebastian was beside himself with anticipation and could hardly keep still at their table.
The large doors opened suddenly, making some students jump in their seats. In came Professor Black who joined the other professors standing by the staff table. Behind him were the two other headmasters. He seemed to take his time, whispering to the other professors before addressing the tournament, which made Sebastian curse under his breath, and Enoch snicker in return.
Finally, Professor Black stood beside the goblet of fire with his hands clasped behind his back. Clearing his throat, he began to speak.
“I hope everyone who wished to put their names into the goblet had found the time to do so, because time is up.” He looked around to the students before continuing, sounding like he had no interest being up there at all. “I will now pull out all three names of our champions.” He turned his back to the students and raised his hand above him towards the goblet. On cue, the blue flame grew larger before a tiny, burnt piece of parchment flew out from inside it and landed right in Professor Black’s hand.
He turned around again and unfolded the parchment. “The Triwizard champion from Durmstrang, is Teodora Popova.” Loud cheers erupted from the table the group of Durmstrang students sat at, and a young-looking girl stood up with a wide grin on her face. She had extremely long and straight, brown hair that floated behind her as she walked, yet her gait was that of a weightlifter, walking with immense confidence. She stood up onto the platform and Professor Black hesitantly shook her hand. She looked back at her fellow classmates as they roared in cheer once more, obviously proud of the goblet’s choice.
She was escorted out of the hall and Professor Black reached for another name. Yet again, the goblet spat out a blue flame giving him another piece of parchment. “The champion for the school of Beauxbatons is Aloysius Belrose.” More cheering ensued, this time mostly from the group of Beauxbatons students. A blond, skinny boy began to walk up to the platform and Enoch recognized him as the boy who everyone took notice of at their arrival. Shaking the Professor’s hand and exiting the hall, all that was left was the Hogwarts champion. Somehow, the air felt thicker and more tense waiting for the last name to be pulled.
His hand rose to the goblet one last time, and the flame puffed out the third name, landing directly into his hand. He turned to face the students and slowly unfolded the parchment. But before he called out the name, he raised an eyebrow. A murmur was heard throughout the hall as everyone wondered why he wasn’t calling out the name as fast as he did the other ones.
He cleared his throat and took a quick glance over towards the Slytherin table. Sebastian shifted in his seat, well prepared to hear his name being called. The suspense was killing everyone.
“The Hogwarts champion...” Professor Black started, quieter this time. “is Ominis Gaunt.”