A Marauders' Daughter

54

Filch, the scruffy, weird old caretaker stepped forwards carrying a large chest, covered in jewels. People started murmuring to each other in excitement. Filch carefully placed the chest on the table in front of the headmaster.

"The instructions for the tasks the champions will face this year have already been examined by Mr Crouch and Mr Bagman. There will be three tasks and they will test the champions in many different ways... their magical powers, their daring, their power of deduction and of course, their ability to cope with danger." The room was so silent at the last word, you could hear a pin drop. "As you know, there will be three champions, one of each school. They will be awarded points after every task. And the champion with the highest total will win the Triwizard Cup. The champions will be chosen by an impartial selector... the Goblet of Fire."

Dumbledore tapped the casket three times. The lid creaked slowly open. He reached inside it, the great hall was dead silent again. He pulled out a large, roughly wooden cup. Blue-white flames were dancing in the cup.

"Anyone wishing to submit themselves a champion must write their name and school clearly on a slip of parchment and drop it in the Goblet. "The ones who wish to participate, have twenty-four hours to put their names in. Tomorrow night, on Halloween, the Goblet will choose to most worthy student to represent their school. The Goblet will be placed in the Entrance Hall tonight, where it will be accessible to all those wishing to compete. To ensure that no underage students will enter their name." My eyes flickered to the twins, whose gaze were fixed on the headmaster. "I will be drawing an Age Line around the Goblet of Fire. Nobody under the age of seventeen will be able to cross the line."

I swear Dumbledore's eyes stopped at the twins a second longer than the others.

"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 is 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 is a binding, magical contract. Please, be very sure of competing, because there is no way back. Now, I think it is time for bed. Goodnight to you all."

The room burst into chatter as they all stood up. I wrapped my arms around Jack and Jazz as we walked towards the staircases.

"You'll be entering?" Jack asked.

"Yes, and since you two are here, I can assume you're going to enter too?"

"We are." They chimed. I squeezed them closer to me. Oh, how I had missed them.

"Are any of you entering?" Jack asked the lot as we stood just next to the staircases that students started climbing.

"I am." Angelina grinned.

"Not old enough." Lee grumbled. "Just like those two knuckleheads." He pointed his thumb at the twins.

"We're entering!" They said, puffing up their chest.

"How?" Jazz asked interested.

"We have an aging potion ready. Just need to take it an hour before putting our names in." Fred said proudly.

"I don't-" Jazz started but I shook my head at her. "Well, if you get in, you're certainly not getting picked. Not if these two ladies are entering."

"Oh, we know are chances are slim with them around." George winked.

Madam Maxime walked past with the other Beauxbatons students. "We should go." Jack said looking back at me.

"I'll show you around tomorrow."

"Goodnight." He engulfed me in a hug. "Je bent altijd welkom in de koets."

"I'll remember that." I grinned. Jack leaned in to give me a soft, gentle kiss on the corner of my mouth. "Night."