Sunday, December 11, 1994
Ravenclaw Prefect Dormitory
9:00 AM
Percival Ebonwood's POV
I enjoy music, especially classical music. There's something about it that captivates me and draws me in. However, there are two notes that I can't stand: A5 and C6. These notes sound so harsh and grating to my ears that they completely ruin my sleep.
This morning, I woke up to that annoying ring blaring in my ears for what felt like an eternity. I had set multiple alarms for 7:30, 8:15, 8:40, 8:50, 8:55, 8:57, and finally at 9:00. It was a symphony of torture that I put myself through every morning. If I didn't, I wouldn't wake up at all.
The alarm rang out for a full minute before it finally fell silent. I groaned and turned over in my bed, burying my face into the soft pillow. The brief silence after the chaos felt like a reprieve, but I knew it wouldn't last long. I ran my finger through my hair, my face resting in my arms, and then I pulled my hair. I didn't want to leave my bed. A grunt left my mouth as I peeled the duvet off of me and turned over.
"Shut it!" I screamed at the alarm clock, as it blared out those two hated notes two minutes after the previous alarm. Laying like a starfish, I grabbed the alarm clock and threw it across the room. "Oh, fuck."
I didn't want to, but I got up from my bed. Retrieving my wand from the bedside table, I pointed it towards the broken alarm clock and cast 'Reparo'. Watching it repair itself, I walked over, picked it up, and placed it back on the bedside table.
Taking off my pyjamas and putting on my birthday suit, I grabbed my towel and headed towards the desk on the other side of the room. Walking over to the bookcase next to my desk, I picked out a random vinyl and placed it on the record player. Vivaldi started playing as I entered the shower.
I stepped into the bathroom, the tiles cold against my bare feet. With a sigh, I reached for the shower knob and turned it. The pipes groaned for a moment before water burst forth, hitting the floor of the shower with a sharp, rhythmic patter. I tested the water with my hand, shivering as the icy stream hit my skin.
Bracing myself, I stepped into the shower, a gasp escaping my lips as the cold water cascaded over my body. I stood there for a moment, teeth chattering, waiting for the water to warm up. Slowly, the chill subsided, replaced by a comforting heat that relaxed my muscles.
I stood under the spray, letting the water run over me, washing away the remnants of sleep. The steady stream of warm water was soothing—a gentle massage on my shoulders and back. I closed my eyes, savouring the moment of peace.
Grabbing the bottle of shampoo, I spread it evenly in my hair before gently massaging it in. I then grabbed my bath pouffe and the bar of soap, and started scrubbing. Rinsing my hair, I applied conditioner, washed it off, and stood under the shower.
After a few minutes, I turned off the shower and stepped out, water dripping from my body. I grabbed a towel and dried off quickly. The cool air of the bathroom was a stark contrast to the warmth of the shower. Wrapping the towel around my waist, I walked over to the mirror.
The glass was fogged up by the steam. I wiped it clean with my hand, clearing a space to see my reflection. My face looked tired, stubble shadowing my jaw. I reached for my razor and shaving cream, lathering up my face.
With careful strokes, I began to shave. The razor glided smoothly over my skin, leaving a section of my baby face visible. As I worked, I focused on the task, letting the repetitive motion calm my mind. Finally, I rinsed off my face, patting it dry with the towel. I looked at my reflection again, feeling a little more awake and ready to face the day.
After finishing brushing my teeth, I exited the shower room and entered the room. Thank Merlin for house elves. While I was in the shower, the house elves took my worn pyjamas, and replaced them with freshly washed ones on the end of my made bed. They also left a fresh pair of robes for me to wear today.
Walking over to my desk, I grabbed the moisturiser and applied it all over my body. I put on the fresh set of robes before sitting down at my desk. Continuing reading from Stregobor's notebooks, I passed the time until I heard a knock at the door.
I closed the book carefully, marking the page with a bookmark Luna made for me. Rising from the wooden chair, I walked over to my bookshelf. My fingers traced the edges of the third shelf, pausing to push a book back. With a soft click, a panel in the wall slid open, revealing my wall safe. I placed the two notebooks inside, ensuring they were securely stored, before closing the safe and watching the panel slide back into place, blending with the rest of the wall.
Turning towards my desk again, I picked up my silver necklace that had a shrunken trunk dangling off of it. I clasped it around my neck. With a final glance around the room to make sure everything was in order, I walked towards the door. Reaching the door, I took a deep breath, composing myself for the day ahead, before opening it.
"Why did it take so long for you to answer?" said the boy who was serving detention with Flitwick for breaking into the Gryffindor Common Room.
"It's a bloody weekend. I very much refuse to leave my room until it hits noon," I said as I stepped outside.
"Professor Flitwick told me to tell you that Headmaster Dumbledore wants the Hogwarts' champion to head towards the Quidditch Stadium before ten o'clock," he said.
"It's quarter past ten right now," I said as he looked sheepishly at me. "Why am I being informed of this now?"
"I forgot to tell you yesterday when Professor Flitwick told me, and I just woke up now," he said.
"Fair enough. I'll be there in a few minutes. Thanks," I said as he turned around and headed downstairs. I went back into my room to grab my wand, and turn off the record player before heading to the Quidditch Stadium.
Waiting outside for me was a less than happy McGonagall. Once she saw me, she gave me the look to hurry up.
"Good morning, professor. What a beautiful day!" I said.
"What did I tell you on the first day of this academic year?" Professor McGonagall said.
"Lateness will not be tolerated," I replied. "Besides, it's not my fault I'm late."
"Humour me than."
"The kid Flitwick told to tell me forgot, and then he told me about this about five minutes ago."
"Why does Filius always delegate tasks? If you want someone done well, you must do it yourself," Professor McGonagall said as she turned around.
As we approached the tent, the patterns on the fabric became clearer, shimmering slightly under the almost-afternoon sun. The tent was a grand structure, large and imposing, with an entrance flanked by gold and blue drapes.
"Come along. Once you enter the tent, go sit with the other three Hogwarts' champions. Breakfast will finish in about eight minutes. After that, you will meet the judges again. At quarter to eleven, you will be put into teams of three. The official commentary starts at 13:00, so that gives you at least two hours to prepare. Did you get all of that?"
"Yes," I said as Professor McGonagall lifted the tent cover for me to enter. "Are you not coming in?"
"Champions only, I'm afraid. You are on your own from this point onwards," Professor McGonagall said as she pushed me in. "May Lady Magic favour you in your moment of need."
The first thing that caught my eye was the long, polished wooden table dominating the centre of the tent. Eighteen seats surrounded it, seventeen of which were already occupied by the other champions. They were engaged in quiet conversation, as I'm guessing most of them were not morning people. The table was laden with a hearty breakfast spread: freshly baked bread, an assortment of fruits, platters of eggs and bacon, and pitchers of juice and coffee.
To my left, near the entrance, was a large, ornate box made of dark, polished wood. The box was open, revealing two neatly packed bags inside. They seemed out of place amidst the opulence, suggesting they were going to be used for team selection and dragon selection.
At the head of the table was a raised podium, behind which were seven additional seats, currently unoccupied. These seats were more ornate than the others, with gold accents and plush blue cushions, clearly meant for individuals of significant importance. I'm guessing for the five judges and two other people.
The interior of the tent was a harmonious blend of colours: the walls were a moonlight white, adorned with gold and blue trimmings. The floor was covered in a rich, brown carpet that muffled footsteps and added a touch of warmth to the otherwise cool colour palette.
I moved further inside, the eyes of the seventeen seated figures momentarily glancing my way before returning to their discussions. I found my place at the table, the only vacant seat, and loaded my plate.
Naomi and Cedric nodded at me while Fleur gave a small wave. The rest either glanced for a second before turning away or ignored my presence. I just ate my food before it disappeared at exactly twenty-five minutes to eleven. I engaged in small talk with Naomi and Cedric as some more people entered the tent.
"Hello everyone, good morning," said Olivia O'Brien. "I hope you had a filling breakfast. I would like to apologise for the error in our communication system. Next time we have a message for the champions, we will send it directly to you to avoid any mishaps like today. Now onto the main section, Mr. Bagman, if you will."
"Thank you, Miss O'Brien. Congratulations on being selected as champions for your respective school. There have been some mishaps, but we have remedied them with our best efforts," said Ludo Bagman as he glanced at Harriet. "We will do the team selection in a few moments. First, the prizes. The winners of this task will receive 1000 galleons directly to your account, tax-free, and another prize will be issued related to the task once the results are finalised. Second, the table. For this task, we will not be having bonus points for MVW, style points, or anything like that. The other tasks that follow will. The individual table will be sorted in alphabetical order in terms of surnames. For example, if Miss. Abramovich and Mr. Yukaghir are on the same team, they would score the same point, while Miss. Abramovich would be higher on the table."
After saying that, Olivia handed Ludo the box we saw as we entered. He took out one of the bags, and placed the other on the floor.
"I'll run you through how team selections are going to go. You will be in teams of three. There are six different lengths of sticks in here. Three of each length, of which, one will be painted gold at the bottom; whoever picks the gold one will become the leader of said group. I'll go one by one, letting you pick your stick. Please do not show anyone until I tell you to," Ludo said as he went from right to left, letting everyone pick out a stick. A woman from behind him stepped up with a clipboard. "Okay. You may reveal your sticks."
The women noted down who had what sticks and handed the clipboard to Mr. Bagman.
"The teams are in. The first name that I call for each team are the leaders of said team. Team 1: Florentina, Adrian, and Hinata. Team 2: Harriet, Nicholas, and Kaito. Team 3: Viktor, Percival, and Alexis. Fleur, Andi, and Kenzie for Team 4. Team 5: Naomi, Michael, and Athaliah. Finally, Team 6: Yuna, Cedric, and Millie," Ludo said as he put the clipboards back in the woman's hands. He then picked up the next bag.
"As you all know, your task pertains to dragons. You will be tasked with retrieving a golden egg for the nest of a brooding mother," Ludo said as gasps from the champions filled the air. "Shocking, I know, but the viewers will have a good showing. Before I forget, you have two hours to prepare, and Team 1 will go first. Team 6 will be the last ones. We have nine species of dragons that you could come up against. In these bags are little dragon golems of said species. Your team leader will come up and randomly pick out which dragon you will be facing. Good luck. Miss. Abramovich, you're up first."
Florentina stood up and walked towards the bag. She placed her hand in the bag. As she was about to pull her hand out, Mr. Bagman closed the bag with Florentina's hand still in it.
"Before I forget, one person in your team may keep the golem," he said as the room groaned. He looked at Florentina, nodded his head, and Florentina pulled out a small dragon golem.