The Triwizard Tournament
James’s parents were tearful as always as they waved him off on Platform 3/4. He waved to them from a compartment on the train as it started rolling.
He sat down with a smile as he looked at his friends. Peter Pettigrew was trying to take a chocolate frog out of the packet, Frank Longbottom was talking to his girlfriend of 5 years Alice Fortescue.
Mary McDonald waltzed in with a smirk and a hickey on her neck.
“What the hell happened to you?” James asked slyly.
“A hoe never reveals her secrets.” Mary winked.
“You know you really shouldn’t call yourself that.” Alice said looking up from Frank.
Mary shrugged and snatched Peters chocolate frog from his hands, opening it with her teeth and handing it back.
“Was anyone else’s parents weird this morning? Mine were extra handsy today.” James asked.
“You mean cause it’s our last year?” Peter suggested as he stuffed the frog in his mouth.
“Yeah well, they made me bring my dress robes, it was apparently on the curriculum.”
Alice shot up with excitement. “Mum made me try on, like, seven gowns the other week. Said there’s a ball or something.”
“Is there a leavers ball I’m not aware of?” James asked.
“No Prongs, it’s the Yule Ball! They haven’t had it in a century and it’s in honour of some event with the other schools in Europe. Mum told me this morning, the ministry’s going mad about it.” Frank said. Looking through his trunk he pulled out a clipping from the Daily Prophet.
“Here, it’s a clip for tomorrows Prophet.” Frank handed it to James, “About Beauxbatons, Durmstrang and Hogwarts competing in the Triwizard Tournament this year. I’m not sure which school is hosting but its quite exciting! Dad said the Champion gets the Triwizard Cup and eternal glory. The prize money is meant to be very large as well.”
Mary looked over his shoulder and gasped. “Good lord, d’you think we’re allowed to compete?”
“Obviously I am. It is the definition of Gryffindor to compete in these things.” James stated, looking at the picture of the Triwizard Cup again. It looked amazing.
“Really? Will it go in the paper?” Peter asked, looking at the clipping as well.
“Of course!” Frank started, “the Minister of Magic himself is coming for each challenge. Dad’s writing it up as we speak. He doesn’t know all the details but I’m sure Dumbledore will tell us at the feast tonight.”
James groaned and handed back the newspaper. “We have to wait 5 hours?”
Mary laughed loudly and pated his hair, “Poor Potter, left to his lonesome.”
James looked up and pointed to the badge on his robes. “You see this badge? Thats the Head Boy badge… don’t look so shocked Frankie mate, I’m a perfect role model.”
“You got Head boy?” Pete was shocked, “even Dumbledore knows the worm infestation in his office a year ago was your fault.”
James shrugged, “Well he must’ve thought it was smart if he assigned me this badge, innit?”
The Potters definitely were surprised when Fawks, Dumbledores phoenix, flew through their kitchen window one morning with a small package. The Head Boy badge had fallen out and his parents had gasped more than James did. Euphemia Potter had cried with pride and hugged her son until he had to push her off. Fleamont had been astonished and even started writing a letter to Dumbledore to make sure he wasn’t drunk when he made this decision. James thought his uniform looked extremely handsome with the Head Boy badge above his quidditch captain one, and now the Triwizard Tournament! This was just his year.
“You know you need to be in the Prefects carriage right? Isn’t that one of your duties or something?” Alice said, giggling quietly.
“Oh buggering fuck. I forgot about that! I thought Emmeline would remind me.” James reached the carriage door and looked back to his friends. “Don’t do anything fun without me.” And he left running through the train.
“Bless our school.” Dorcas said minutes after James left, entering the carriage with her trunk. “We’re gonna need it.”
——
And because Hogwarts just had to be built in Scotland, it was pouring with rain with thunder and lightning filling the sky.
The wet and grumpy seventh years made their way to their tables as the Great Hall started filling up with equally wet and grumpy students.
Dumbledore stood from his place at the head and smiled happily at his pupils. James glared at the dry Headmaster and Frank shoved him as a spell made everyone dry up.
The first years came stumbling in, even wetter than James had been. They looked scared and pale. It was cute.
He had talked to most of the first years on the train to learn their names. Learning that most wanted to be in Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw since their parents told them of Gryffindor and Slytherins competition streak.
“I don’t want to be an enemy to Slytherin.” One small first year said to James. “Mama said that most Slytherins were those dark wizards that are always in the news. She told me to lie low at school and not cause attention then I’ll be fine.”
James clapped loudly after the Sorting Hat finished his song and started the sorting. He clapped when one was sorted into a house and clapped even louder when someone was sorted into his house. They sat down at the front of the table with jiggling legs and fiddling fingers.
“Let us begin the feast.” Dumbledore said happily as the food appeared.
“About bloody time, I was about to eat my arm off.” Peter mumbled as he started putting mashed potato on his plate with a heap of gravy.
“When will Dumbledore mention the Triwizard Tournament? How can that man stand there all happy when he has that news on the tip of his tongue.” Frank grumbled.
“Cheer up you gits, we have all evening and it’s only 6:20.” Alice said looking at her sunflower watch.
The feast went by smoothly and pudding went faster, “I love castle pudding!” Peter moaned happily, taking a big bite.
Dumbledore made the Hall quiet down with the wave of his hand making the tables were cleared.
“Now, I know many of you are anxious to know what all the news about the dress robes are. And I will get our very own Minister of Magic to explain. Please give Mr Rufus Scrimgeour a warm welcome.” The old minister of magic came out and waved to the children and many waved back.
“Thank you Headmaster Dumbledore, I feel very welcomed indeed. Now to business,” James was jumping in his seat impatiently, “this year we are very fortunate to have the honour of competing in the Triwizard Tournament!” The Great Hall burst with elation as students jumped and clapped, James whooped and wrapped his arms around Frank and Peters necks.
“This is a privilege that comes around few a century, and I have great pleasure in announcing that this year Hogwarts will be hosting this tremendous event!” And the building might as well be shaking with all the celebrating.
“Quiet! Quiet please! Please welcome as you welcomed me, the lovely ladies and gentlemen of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and Headmistress Madame Fayette Arquette.”
As the minister exclaimed this, the doors of the Great Hall opened loudly and the most beautiful people James had ever seen strutted in. They wore pale blue uniforms with pointed hats that would look ugly on anyone else but them. There were about two dozens of them and they skipped in practiced formation. James made eye contact with a red haired girl, she was larger than the others but she was gorgeous. James stared at her with his mouth open and flushed cheeks, the girl winked at him and continued the routine. They opened their hands and glitter exploded like fire works in the air. Everyone was clapping and staring in awe.
“Pete, she winked at me. Did you see that, did you see that. We’re gonna get married oh dear Godrick did you see that.” James whispered to his best friend shaking his shoulders. But Peter seemed just as dazed as everyone else and stared at their butts as the students danced forward.
The headmistress walked in after them and she was small. Like, as small as Professor Flitwick small with glorious wings and a pretty porcelain face.
Was everyone at this school part Veela? James thought.
The girl that winked at him twirled to the front as everyone finished the routine and curtsied with a smirk. Even her smirk is pretty. This was going to be a long year.
The headmistress walked up to the Minister and Dumbledore with her hand out. Dumbledore bent to kiss it and hugged her lightly. “We are very welcomed to have you here Madame Arquette. I hope Hogwarts treats you well.” The minister kissed her hand too, with an unpleased face.
“I veel most welcombed Monsieur Dumble-dorf an’ z’ou to Monsieur Mina- sir.” She said in a strong French accent.
“I’m in love with their uniform. Why must we wear these toe rag excuses of a robe.” Mary complained tugging self-consciously at her skirt.
“Do stop worrying, I’m sure they don’t mind.” Alice softly said. Mary rolled her eyes but pulled her dormmate into a hug.
The Beauxbaton students were standing on the side as Dumbledore introduced the next school.
“With open arms, welcome our beloved neighbouring school, the Durmstrang Institute and Headmaster Stefan Arnoldi!”
Like Beauxbatons, the Durmstrang students opened the Great Hall doors loudly and with so much force they banged against the wall. But unlike the Beauxbatons students, they were much less delicate looking. Some of the boys had dark beards and buzz cuts and the girls had their hair in braids. The uniform was fur cloaks, fur hats, and blood-red robes, it looked like Durmstrang was in a cold location. They banged their sticks on the stone floor and completed their routine. Two boys climbed up their sticks and balanced on the top. They grinned at each other before flipping over and running ahead.
The boys and girls of Durmstrang were trying to prove a point James thought as one boy blew fire into a horse that galloped to the entrance and dissolved to show the headmaster walking in with a stick as loud as everyone else’s. Beside him was none other than Igor Karkaroff.
“Isn’t that one of You-know-who’s newest supporters? Mum said he got the dark mark this holidays.” Peter whispered to the friends. Mary had a hard look on her face as she glared at the boy.
“Well he definitely knows how to be subtle. Glaring at everyone like we wronged him.”
“Why the fuck has Dumbledore let him into our school, I thought the point of this damn place was meant to keep us safe?” Frank said angrily.
James scoffed, “Didn’t you know? Dumbledore doesn’t care, its’ all amusing to him. He’d probably steal one of our newborns if it got him what he wanted.”
Mary snorted, “Cut me the fuck out of that then.”
“It’s not a successful year until at least one dark wizard gets into the school.” Peter remarked, making everyone snigger.
By the looks of everyone else’s reactions, they thought the same thing. Dumbledore just smiled and greeted Headmaster Arnoldi like a good old friend. “Good to have you here Arnoldi, you look well.”
“Hmph. You’s well Dumbedore.” Stefan said stiffly with a thick German accent, pulling Igor along with him by the elbow. “Durmstrang, sit with green snake house. Listen to bearded man.” He told his students, they nodded and sat down. Headmistress Arquette must have heard and got her students to sit on Ravenclaws table.
“Wonderful! Now that we have all eaten, we can continue with the rules. Minister please begin.” Dumbledore said, standing to the side as the minister, whom James had forgotten was there, cleared his throat.
“Due to danger and safety all participants must be 17 and older to be allowed to compete.” James clapped Franks hand as he remembered his age. “Its a sign, mate, we’re meant to compete.”
Many sounds of “No fair!” And “Change the rules! This is trash!” Filled the hall. The visiting students smirked at each other since they probably already knew.
“Silence! The Tournament is notorious for being extremely dangerous: many champions have died while competing, which is why you are very privileged to be allowed the opportunity to compete. These challenges are not for the light hearted and once you are chosen there is no turning back. How we choose you might ask? Is with this,” The minister turned to the covered object in front of the teachers table and took the blanket off to reveal a cup as large as a fourth year student.
“This is the Goblet of Fire,” He said with vibrato, “you write your full name on a piece of parchment and place it in the cup. You have 7 days to put in your name. On the day of the choosing, the Goblet will reveal the worthy champions and they will be made to complete three tasks. Each as dangerous as the last. There can only be one champion at the end and that champion will have eternal glory with a small fortune in their name. Do not put your name in if you are not prepared for the challenges ahead.” The minister finished sounding extremely grave.
Chatter filled the hall. “You still want to compete?” Pete asked James.
“Of course, I’m sure I’ll be able to compete, I mean this is a school competition, how dangerous can it be?”
“You are so naive!” Alice started, “it has such a high death toll that it had to be banned in the 18th century and now its come up again! You must be bloody mad to want to compete in a thing like this.”
Alice looked pale and had shaking hands. Mary hugged her again and stared at James daringly. “I’m with Ali, there’s no way I’m doing this for peoples entertainment. We aren’t clowns for starters and our lives aren’t worth dying for for fame and money.”
James shook his head. “Someone has to do it and I rather it me than you guys, make sure I have an open casket so you can see my handsome face before I get buried.” He joked. Frank scoffed and Peter shoved him. “You’re an idiot.”
“A handsome idiot.” James finished with a grin. Alice chuckled.
A Durmstrang boy from the Slytherin table whistled and the friends turned to see who. He had a buzzed cut black hair with a well trimmed beard and handsome blue eyes, he was one of the gymnasts that flipped off the sticks. The boy next to him had been the other gymnast but he didn’t have a beard or a buzzed haircut. Instead he had fluffy curls and scars covering his face, his eyes were amber and he was wrapped in a scarf that wasn’t on him during the performance.
The blue eyed whistler raised his chin and eyebrows at either Mary or Alice. Mary winked at him with a smug grin whereas Alice rolled her eyes. The boy nudged his friend who looked up at him, then to the friends. He raised his eyebrows as well and shook his head with distaste and went back to his book. Now that James looked closer it was on his lap under the table.
“That scarred boy with the curly hair is cute. D’you think he’s interested?” Mary asked, observing the reading boy.
“He’s gay.” Alice deadpanned, cleaning her nails.
Mary’s head turned very fast, “What? Not everyone is gay, you know?”
“Yeah well, when his friend nudged him to look at us his eyes went to James before it went to either of us. When someone says to look at someone your first thought is to find the most attractive person in that direction, and his first thought was James and then us. He’s as gay as the day is long and I stand by that.”
Everyone looked confused and Alice rolled her eyes, “And no fully straight person reads books at the dining table when he could be talking to the Slytherins.”
James didn’t see the scarred boy stare at him but Alice was mighty observant and he was known to be a little slow. He shrugged and chuckled lightly.
“Unfortunately for him, my one true love remains that hot Beauxbaton girl that winked at me.”
——
“Remus, you’ll put your name in cup, yeah?” August nudged him after the minister explained the rules.
Remus shook his head and looked around the dining room, or as the Slytherins called it, the ‘Great Hall’. It was rather noisy but warm and Remus instantly felt comfortable.
“Why should I, I’m not in the mood to get off my bed and put my life in danger.”
August rolled his eyes, he was used to Remus’s sarcastic comments. “Igor says the Headmaster has him as first choice for Champion. He might need some competition, the prophet will not want his teeth on front page, habe ich recht?” His laugh was deep and right in Remus’s ear. “I’m right?”
“Shove off.” He muttered pushing his friend away.
“Oi, Lupin!” Igor shouted, walking towards the boys.
Some Slytherins moved out the way so he could sit down.
“You putting your name in the cup, da?”
Remus groaned at his roommates consistent questions. He pulled out his woollen scarf he knitted that holidays and wrapped it around his neck, the Headmaster hadn’t let him wear it for the entrance and said he’d throw it into the ocean if Remus whined one more time whilst they were in the ship. Remus hated that stupid ship. Sure it was warm and they could have fire places set up, but it wasn’t immune to the rough waves of the ocean they had to cross for 13 hours. He vomited more than four times and couldn’t eat a thing. When he found out the Hogwarts students had eaten their feast before they arrived, Remus almost cried. It didn’t help the full moon was in three days and he was sensitive and cold all the bloody time. And with all these questions he had to restrain himself before ripping his friends mouths off.
“Let me talk with Marlene first. Don’t steal my seat August, don’t think I won’t use the itching powder again.”
He looked around for his best friend and found her sitting at the yellow house talking- more like flirting with a brunette girl.
“Marly,” He said, turning her around. “You really gonna put your name in the cup?”
“Duh, that’s why you’re here, to compete and beat all those boys that are probably gonna get chosen. You still going to do it with me?” Marlene asked him with big doe eyes.
“Okay, I’ll put my name in the cup. But only for you.” Marlene smiled widely and looked like she was about to kiss his forehead like she always did when she was happy with him.
“I don’t want this cute Hufflepoof girl to think I’m in love with you or any boy for that matter. Thank you Moony.” She said, turning back to the girl and trying pushing Remus away but missing.
He chuckled and returned to his table, “I am putting my name in the cup.” He told Igor and August, they cheered and ruffled his hair. The other Slytherins that heard clapped for him and said if they were or were not doing the same.
It was peaceful so he took out The Lord of the Rings he kept in his fur coat pocket and opened to the page he was on. August then nudged him and made him loose his spot.
“What, you big oaf?”
He gestured towards the red and gold table where a group of people were staring at them. Remus looked at the handsome boy at the front then saw a dark skinned girl that Marlene would be interested in winking at him. He froze and glared at his friend, going back to his book.
“That girl wants to shag me.” August shamelessly said with a grin. He asked a Slytherin who that girl was and they said it was ‘Mary McDonald the hottest girl in the year’.
“She has a tongue piercing and everything. Apparently she gets into foursomes with her friends but no one knows.” The boy answered, he seemed proud to be talking to them.
“Thats sot.” Igor said. Remus tried not to laugh at his Russian friend and had to bite his lip to stop the sound.
The teachers rounded the students up and got a man named Filch who had a cat to show the visitors their sleeping quarters.
The Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students had a shared common room but separate sleeping quarters. They had a password to remember in order to get in that they had to say to a knight in armour. Filch showed the staircases that led to each section. “If anyone from the opposite house tries to get up the others staircase, they will be thrown back so don’t be dillydallying now.” Filch explained, looking amused with the idea of students being thrown.
“You’re stuff is already in your rooms and your names are on the doors so there’s no confusion. If there are any problems, go to anyone but me. I have enough work to do with all the filthy children at this retched ” And with that, Filch walked out with his cat not far behind him.
Everyone looked stunned at the caretaker, then someone started laughing and soon the whole room was. They laughed so hard, Remus was holding onto his stomach and Igor had to rest his head on August’s shoulder to keep upright. The Beauxbaton students were giggling loudly and some even had tears streaming their face.
“Who let that squib in here?” A dark haired boy asked. Everyone laughed harder and Marlene started choking on her saliva.
“Good laugh, good laugh.” Igor laughed out.
The students, suddenly mixed together, started making conversation. Remus lean against the couch happily as August asked a Beauxbaton girl how she made the glitter appear.
He looked around and saw a red head girl wearing a familiar looking necklace.
“Is that an Arwen necklace?” He asked after walking towards her.
She looked surprised and looked at the necklace, she looked at Remus with a big smile and nodded quickly.
“You must like the Lord of the Rings then.” She said in a surprisingly English accent, unlike everyone else from her school. “I’m Lily Evans.”
“I’m Remus Lupin.” Remus shook Lily’s hand and grinned at her. “I think we’ll get along swimmingly.”