two the veela & the english girl
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AS THE JOURNEY PROGRESSED, everyone talked about what they wondered Hogwarts would be like, or what they already knew about it.
Lucy didn't know much, apart from the fact that her uncle taught there the previous school year, until he resigned at the end to prevent the Headmaster from receiving public backlash for hiring a werewolf, and to prevent students from being accidentally bitten or killed.
Lucy was extremely close with her Uncle Remus, she saw him often around Christmas and he always turned up for her birthday in the summer. Lucy had been raised by her mother to believe that he was the kindest man in the world, and told Lucy she should never feel like she'd have to be afraid of him just because he was a werewolf — and so, she wasn't phased by that fact. Okay, maybe she was a bit. But she wasn't afraid of him hurting her — that was the part her mother had emphasised on the most.
Not to mention, Remus had always been there to help his big sister and his niece as much as he could. In fact, he'd almost raised Lucy alongside her mother.
But, when Remus was away, it was only Lucy and her mother, Ella, in their household. She never knew her father, as he was killed in the First Wizarding War for trying to protect his friends. In fact, he was the one trying to stop Lord Voldemort from entering their home. It wasn't just Lily and James Potter that died that night, it was also Lucy's father - all because he wanted to defend his friends. She'd heard a whole lot about him, too - her mother always filled her in. She had to make sure Lucy's dad wouldn't be forgotten, whether the girl could remember him or not.
In fact, Lucy learned from her mum and uncle that she and her dad shared many personality traits and qualities, such as their sense of humour, their ambition and their self assurance. She even looked like him, both of them sharing the same beach blonde hair and similar facial features. Lucy liked knowing this - she wished she could've known her father, but learning she was a lot like him herself was probably the closest she could get. He was a part of her, whether he was alive or not.
The excited murmur had since leaving Beauxbatons calmed down, but later began to bubble yet again, and Lucy jumped to look out of the window. Hogwarts was coming into view.
The castle was set upon huge rocks above a magnificent lake, it's large stone exterior sticking out of the thick atmosphere. As they got closer, tiny dots turned into Hogwarts students, watching them fly in with astonishment. Lucy liked this - she wasn't sure if she was supposed to or not, perhaps she should be a bit more modest - but as she watched the people staring after the Beauxbatons carriage with amazement, she couldn't help but feel a little shrill of incitement.
Before stepping out of the carriages, Madame Maxime did the exact same scan of her students as she did before they stepped in. Lucy checked to make sure her dress wasn't creased again - it wasn't.
The blonde joined her school in walking through Hogwarts, she and Misty both flashing smiles at those watching as she passed. Making a good impression was one the most important things, to Lucy. Misty's aim was probably making as many friends as possible.
The first time Lucy had gotten a glimpse of the Durmstrang students was when everyone was filing into what seemed to be the Hogwarts version of Beauxbatons' Dining Chamber. The Dumstrangs marched in with straight expressions, following their headmaster, and split up as they found a table to sit at.
There were four long tables Hogwarts students were assigned to based on what colour uniform they were wearing - Lucy found this a bit odd, but then remembered her mother telling her about her days at Hogwarts, referring to the fact that, unlike Beauxbatons, they were sorted into houses. Her mother had been a Ravenclaw was it called? Maybe it was Ravenwing or something like that - whatever it was, it had 'raven' at the beginning. Her father had been a Slyther... something. Lucy couldn't remember the actual house name. All she knew was that it was green and it had the word 'Slyther' in it's name.
She explained the housing system to Fleur who was wearing a baffled expression at the weird variation of uniform.
Yet, Lucy still couldn't work out the need for these silly houses - perhaps it was for competitive purposes, who knows?
The Beauxbatons students ended up at the end of the table of blue students, which Lucy knew was Raven-something because her mum had told her her house colour was blue. It was then she and her friends decided to take in their surroundings for the first time.
They were currently standing in a large hall with cold, grey stone walls, silk banners decorating them with the colours of, Lucy could only assume, their Hogwarts houses. The largest banner was hanging behind the table where all the staff were sitting, bearing the Hogwarts coat of arms. Golden plates and goblets gleamed with the light reflecting off hundreds and hundreds of candles, which floated over the tables in mid-air.
The Beauxbatons students remained standing until Madame Maxime was seated - which everyone else found rather odd. But this was how they'd been taught - it was respectful to their headmistress to wait until she was seated before sitting. The Hogwarts students watched them curiously, and Lucy took this opportunity to scan their crowd.
She made eye contact with a brunette boy with a yellow tie - she couldn't remember the yellow house, the names were all too confusing. She gave him a friendly smile, and he wore a slight frown as he watched her and her fellow students, but shook it off when realising the reason they were standing was their traditional way of beginning meals. His lips curved upwards politely in return.
If anything, the Beauxbatons students thought that the fact that the other two schools didn't wait for their teachers to sit down was quite disrespectful. But hey, Lucy thought, they were obviously taught differently. Already there was one difference she'd learned about the two other schools.
Finally, Madame Maxime sat down, and so the students in light blue followed. The Hogwarts Headmaster - Dumbly-dore, Maxime had called him - arose to begin a speech. Lucy watched with interest.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, ghosts, and - most particularly - guests. I have great pleasure in welcoming you all to Hogwarts. I hope and trust that your stay here will both be comfortable and enjoyable,"
Fleur gave what was unmistakably a derisive laugh. Lucy nudged her with a slight crease in her eyebrows, and Fleur gave her a small smile.
"I now invite you to eat, drink, and make yourselves at home!"
The empty dishes in front of them had all of a sudden been filled with food, and Lucy smiled with delight. She could already tell there was a far more variety than there was at Beauxbatons - and some of it she'd never even tried before. Many of the students at Hogwarts pointed with a confused look on their faces at French dishes placed on their table. It didn't take long for Lucy to work out they obviously didn't eat this kind of food, usually, as they examined foods such as bouillabaisse with an uneasy expression.
Unfortunately, this dish was one both Fleur and Lucy were extremely fond of, and there wasn't one even close to them. Typical, Lucy thought. She was about to try something new instead, when Fleur stood up, eyeing a bouillabaisse dish over at another table the Hogwarts students hadn't even touched. She decided to join her.
"Excuse me, are you wanting ze bouillabaisse?" Fleur asked a trio of students, two boys and a girl, obviously a few years younger. Lucy smiled at the girl's impressive attempt of English. She'd taught her well.
The boy with ginger hair turned purple and stared up at her with his mouth open to reply - except nothing came out.
"Yeah, have it," the other boy said, pushing it towards the two girls. Lucy smiled.
"You 'ave finished wiz it?" Fleur checked.
"Yeah," the ginger said, breathlessly. "Yeah, it was excellent,"
Lucy bit her cheek in an attempt of trying not to laugh. Fleur picked it up and carried it back over to the girls' table.
"She's part veela!" The ginger muttered to his friends, obviously forgetting the other Beauxbatons girl hadn't left yet.
Lucy was about to follow Fleur, when she caught the eye of yet another untouched dish. She might as well take it, too, if they didn't want it.
"Sorry," she said politely. "Are you finished with this, as well?"
Lucy pointed to a dish of cassoulet, unfazed by how taken aback the three Hogwarts students looked at the sound of her English accent. She raised an eyebrow at their moment of silence.
"Sorry, yeah," the boy with jet black hair said. Lucy then noticed his lightning bolt scar and blinked a few times. Shit, was she speaking to Harry Potter? "Take it,"
"Thanks," she flashed them a friendly smile, before heading back to the 'Raven-something' table. She sniggered to herself as she heard one of them mutter,
"And she didn't sound French at all...?"
As she ate, Lucy couldn't help but notice the dull expressions from her fellow students as they looked around the room. It aggravated her a little bit, because they were so obvious in letting everyone else know they weren't impressed by this school. Yes, they were competing against Hogwarts, and yes, Lucy had to admit Beauxbatons was much prettier, but did they have to be so visibly rude?
Misty was one of the few not wearing a sluggish expression, as she looked up with astonishment at the bewitched sealing and the candles.
"It's so pretty!" she said enthusiastically.
"Yeah, that's probably the only thing," Verity replied, before taking a sip of her drink. Misty shot her a glance, before turning back to her food.
Once they'd finished their second course, which was also filled with a mix of French, Bulgarian and English dishes, Dumbly-dorr stood up again, and silence fell over the hall.
"The moment has come," he said with a smile. "The Tri-Wizard Tournament is about to start,"
Lucy leaned forward a little.
"I would like to say a few words of explanation before we bring in the casket, just to clarify the procedure which we will be following this year. But firstly, let me introduce, for those who do not know them, Mr Bartemius Crouch, Head of Department of International Magical Co-Operation,"
There was a small, polite applause.
"And Mr Ludo Bagman, Head of Department of Magical Games and Sports,"
There was a louder applause for Bagman than Crouch - perhaps it was because he was a famous beater? Or maybe it was simply because he did look much more likeable.
"Mr Bagman and Mr Crouch have worked tirelessly over the last few months on the Tri-Wizard Tournament, and they will be joining myself, Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxine on the panel which will judge the champions' efforts,"
Lucy could've sworn you could hear a pin drop, the Hall was so quiet.
"The instructions for the tasks that the champions will have to face this year have already been examined by Mr Crouch and Mr Bagman," said Dumbly-dorr, as what seemed to be the Hogwarts caretaker placed a great, rather old-looking, wooden chest, covered in jewels.
"They have made the necessary arrangements for each challenge. There will be three tasks, spaced out throughout the school year, which will test the champions in many different ways - their magical prowess - their daring - their powers of deduction - and of course, their ability to cope with danger,"
Lucy nodded along with each point, as though she was mentally checking them off. She could ace all these.
The Hall seemed to stay silent, everyone holding onto every last word the Hogwarts Headmaster spoke. Misty had her chin resting on her hand, listening politely but clearly showing no interest in entering, unlike Fleur and Lucy, who were practically on the edges of their seats.
"As you know, three champions compete in the Tournament, one from each participating school. Their scores will be judged by their performance in each task, and the champion with the highest marks will win the Tri-Wizard Cup. The champions will be chosen by an impartial selector... the Goblet of Fire!"
He took out his wand and tapped the wooden casket three times, until the lid creaked open slowly. Dumbly-dorr reached inside it and pulled out a large cup - filled to the brim with dancing, blue flames. Lucy felt an immediate thrill of excitement.
The casket was closed and the Goblet of Fire was placed on top of it, showcasing it clearly to all students.
"Anyone wishing to submit themselves as a champion must write their name and school clearly upon a slip of parchment and drop it into the Goblet," said Dumbly-dorr.
"You have twenty four hours to put your names forward. Tomorrow night, Halloween, the Goblet will return the names of the three it has judged most worthy to represent their schools. It will be placed in the Entrance Hall, tonight, where it will be freely accessible to all those wishing to compete. To make sure no student under age puts their name in, I will be drawing an Age Line around the Goblet of Fire, once it has been placed in the Entrance Hall. Nobody under the age of seventeen will be able to cross the line,"
A few sighs and groans sounded from Hogwarts students obviously underage but had been hoping to enter.
"Finally, I wish to let you know that if chosen, there's no turning back,"
No shit, Lucy thought.
Then again, she supposed it should be said, since there were bound to be students wanting to enter for the fun of it. And the Tri-Wizard Tournament was no game.
"...Now, I think it is time you all go to bed. Goodnight to you all,"
And the sound of many benches and shoes scraping and tapping the stone cold floor echoed, as students left to head to their school's (or, in Hogwarts' case, house) dormitories.