C h a p t e r T h r e e
G u e s t s
"Anything from the trolley? Anything from the trolley?"
Evelyn closed her book as she heard the kind lady with the trolley approaching the train comaparment she was residing in with Harry, Ron and Hermione.
The girl lifted her cat off her cardigan next to her to remove the change she had left in her pocket for a treat on the journey. Eve smirked upon seeing her brother scramble despetatly to find his own money in his jeans pocket.
"Anything from the trolley, dears?" The lady asked as she stood next to the open door, the assortment of colour made the HoneyDuke Express sweets look even more appetizing.
"Can I have some crystallized pineapple and a pumpkin fizz, please?" Eve asked as she stood to hand the correct amount to the trolley lady.
The older witch smiled as she passed the girl her sweets and drink. "Thank you," Evelyn smiled as she stepped aside to let Ron and Harry order.
"Packet of Drooble's...and a Licorice Wand," Ron stated, before looking at his hand, realising he didn't have enough. "On second thought, just the Drooble's," he added.
"I'll get it," both Harry and Eve offered. However Ron passed on the offer simply muttering before he returned to his seat.
Evelyn was sitting in her seat when she heard a familiar voice.
"Two Pumpkin Pasties, please."
Evelyn glanced up to see Cho stood on the opposite side of the trolley. The girls simple exchanged glances before looking away from each other.
Eve had never had any personal problems with Cho, but she knew of the girl from stories in classes. Never anything bad, they simply just hadn't spoke to the other despite three years of school together.
Evelyn went back to her book while she snacked on her sweet pineapple. When movement caught her attention she noticed that Harry had returned to his seat next to her. Evelyn smirked at Harry with a raised brow upon seeing the huge smile on his face. He simple shook his head at her.
She didn't know that he too had noticed Cho. With more attention that she would have liked.
"This is horrible," announced Hermione. "How can the Ministry
not know who conjured it? Wasn't there any security or. . .?" She trailed off looking to her friends for suggestions.
"Loads according to Dad," Ron answered.
Eve frowned as she continued, "That's what worried them so much. It happened right under their noses, papa and mum were talking about it last night."
There was clearly sadness in her voice as she talked about the stress her parents were going through. Ron looked down too as he thought about the worry their mum had felt when she heard the news of the attack.
"It's hurting again, isn't it?" Hermione interrogated, causing Eve to look up quickly to see what she was talking about.
When she realised the attention was on Harry, she signed in realisation and concern. "Your scar. Why didn't you tell me?" She quizzed slightly offended that her best friend hadn't told her that he was in pain.
"I'm fine, Eve." Harry assured, his intention was to brush off the subject of the night of the attack. They all had difficulty getting over the events on the night of the World Cup. Continuing to talk about it meant longer to forget what they went through.
"You know Dad will want to hear about this; what you saw at the World Cup and the dream," Eve warned as she placed a hand on Harry's arm. "You should send a letter to him now, he's still hiding from the ministry. When we get to Hogwarts it's going to be harder to send mail to him as often."
Harry followed his friend's advice and wrote a letter to Sirius, explaining exactly what had happened. They were just passing the Black Lake when Harry sent Hedwig off to deliver the letter to his godfather.
He knew Eve was right, Sirius was remaining in hiding. It had been difficult to keep in touch with Sirius for the summer, and even more difficult for Evelyn to see her father.
They would need to be strategical on when and how they contacted Sirius. Even if it meant minimal contact, it would be better than seeing the family member they loved being caught.
*****
Harry laughed as he watched Evelyn's expression, as she approached the Gryffindor table to join the trio at the empty space next to him.
The girl had been late to the sorting ceremony due to Filch taking extra examination of Eve's luggage, looking for "evidence of Sirius Black's location".
Thankfully and unexpectedly, Professor Snape had came to the girl's rescue and pointed out to Filch that even if Eve had been with her father then she would be more intelligent to hide it - therefore making his efforts useless.
Evelyn had thanked Professor Snape before rushing to her dorm to put her luggage next to her bed, before once again running to the Great Hall, preying that McGonogall wouldn't have her head.
"Does someone want to explain to me why their is a massive ship outside my window?" Eve rushed as she caught her breath.
"Looks like we're about to find out," Hermione answered as the group watched Dumbledore approach his podium perch.
Seeing Dumbledore and several other familiar faces made Evelyn realise how much she had missed Hogwarts. It was most certainly somewhere she would consider home. She couldn't wait to spend time with her friends again. Including Cedric and Draco.
"Well, now we're all settled in and sorted, I'd like to make an announcement," Dumbledore began. "This castle will not only be
your home this year...but home to some very special guests as well.
You see, Hogwarts has been chosen-"
During Dumbledore's speech the man that had caused Eve to be late suddenly entered the room. The students all gave confused reactions to Filch's bizarre run as he rushed towards the headmaster.
The men exchanged whispers before Filch started towards the exit once again. Evelyn giggled quietly as she heard Fred make a comparison of the man's run to a person wearing flippers.
"So Hogwarts has been chosen to host a legendary event - The Triwizard Tournament."
Excited mutters escaped throughout the hall, most having never heard of such event.
"For those of you who do not know the Triwizard Tournament brings together three schools for a series of magical contests. From each school, a single student is selected to compete.
Now let me be clear, if chosen, you stand alone.
And trust me when I say these contests are not for the faint-hearted.
But more of that later. For now, please join me in welcoming the lovely ladies of the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic...and their headmistress,
Madame Maxime!"
Suddenly the Great Hall doors opened catching the attention of all the students in the room. There stood a perfectly placed group of young women with blue uniforms and smiles on their faces.
As they made their way between the tables, they stopped every so often to present a pose, Ron was completely captivated, as were many of the boys in the room.
Eve was impressed with their entrance but due to not being very girly she saw it as too much, when she looked to Hermione and Ginny she saw they had similar reactions. Her attention was soon caught by the headmistress of the academy, she was amazed to see a individual that was ever taller than Hagrid.
"And now our friends from the north.
Please greet the proud sons of Durmstrang and their high master,
Igor Karkaroff!"
Evelyn stared in amazement at the presentation made by the Durmstrang students. Their display of strength and agility was quick to impress the young brunette.
"Now that's more like it," She laughed before noticing a familiar figure entering the hall. "Harry look! It's Krum!"
Ron had heard his sister's comment and turned to see his idol entering the room. The surrounding Gryffindor students laughed at Ron's reaction, knowing he was completely in love with the man who had just entered the school hall.
*****
Chatter filled the Great hall as the students of Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang endullged the first day feast.
Evelyn happily enjoyed her meal which consisted of chicken, mashed potatoes, vegetables and Yorkshire pudding. For dessert she had a side bowl containing her favourite fruits and jellies.
She had been talking with Harry about the upcoming Quidditch season when Professor Dumbledore stepped away from the staff table to speak to the students once again.
"Your attention, please!" Dumbledore called causing silence to fill the hall.
"I'd like to say a few words. Eternal glory. That is what awaits the student
who wins the Triwizard Tournament.
But to do this, that student must survive three tasks, three extremely dangerous tasks."
Evelyn turned to scowl at her twin brothers when she heard them in sync say the words "Wicked!". She already knew that neither of them would survive a tournament like this, they had a reputation for lacking responsibility.
And besides, Mrs Weasley would kill them before the first task would.
"For this reason, the Ministry has seen fit to impose a new rule. To explain all this we have the head of the Department of lnternational Magical Cooperation, Mr. Bartemius Crouch," Dumbledore announced as said gentleman made his way to the platform.
However it was interrupted by the Great Hall ceiling delivering a loud crack of lightning which caused bursts of blue light to fill the room. Very rapidly the lightning turned into an aggressive storm which caused worried shouts to erupt in the hall. Harry and Eve were quick to grab hands as they ducked their heads to avoid the dazzling lights.
A spell was delivered which stopped the storm, turning the ceiling into it's signature starry night sky. Everyone turned to see whose wand the spell had come from.
"Bloody hell, It's Mad-Eye Moody," Ron stated as they watched the threatening man enter further into the hall.
"Alastor Moody? The Auror?" Hermione questioned as she shared a glance with Eve, they had both heard of the man's name from Ron. Though they didn't think they would ever see him in the flesh.
"Auror?" Someone questioned.
"Dark-wizard catcher. Half the cells
in Azkaban are filled thanks to him," Ron explained to the student out of Eve's view. She was too busy watching the way the teachers even appeared afraid of Moody.
"He's supposed to be mad as a hatter,
though, these days."
The group of Gryffindors watched as Moody exchanged a hand shake with their headmaster. Few words were said before Moody placed himself in a quieter corner of the room.
"What's that he's drinking, do you suppose?" Seamus mused as they watched the auror take a swig from a flask hidden inside his jacket.
Evelyn frowned in thought, "Well I certainly don't think it's pumpkin juice." She remarked sarcastically.
Mr Crouch finally stepped forward to speak after the students in the room calmed from the incident. "After due consideration the Ministry has concluded that for their own safety no student under the age of 17 shall be allowed to put forth their
name for the Triwizard Tournament."
Outcry came from some of the students in the room, across all four house groups. The loudest two coming from the most troublesome pair in Hogwarts.
"That's rubbish!" Fred screamed. George also shouted among the crowd, "That's rubbish! You don't know what you're doing!"
"This decision is final!" Crouch shouted over the outrage but the students wouldn't listen.
"Holy hell," Eve muttered seeing so many angered reactions. The brunette girl jumped along with Hermione as Dumbledore caught the attention in the room, not happy with the lack of respect from the students.
A golden structure had appeared on the platform, placed in front of the teacher's table. Evelyn soaked in the beautiful detail before it started to fade away as Dumbledore tapped the structure with his wand.
What remained was a large golden chalice, with a blue flickering flame emerging above.
"The Goblet of Fire," Dumbledore announced. "Anyone wishing to submit themselves to the tournament need only write their name
upon a piece of parchment, and throw it in the flame before this hour on Thursday night. Do not do so lightly," he warned.
"If chosen, there's no turning back.
As from this moment, the Triwizard Tournament has begun."