Upon the arrival of the two visiting schools, all of Hogwarts' teachers and students made their way into the Great Hall. John's attention was immediately drawn to Heinrich, who was donned in Durmstrang's school uniform, already seated at the Slytherin table. Following suit, the Durmstrang students joined the Slytherins, while the Beauxbatons delegation chose to sit with the Ravenclaws. John caught Fleur's eye, who was inconspicuously covering her face with a turban, and offered her a friendly smile.
The Great Hall had transformed, now adorned with the banners of each house alongside those of the visiting schools. At the Slytherin table, an exchange between Krum and Heinrich caught John's attention. "Edgar," Krum acknowledged with a nod, to which Heinrich responded in kind. Their interaction was brief and somewhat cold, hinting at a strained relationship. The other Durmstrang students seemed to share a similar sentiment towards Heinrich, whispering among themselves in a manner that suggested they considered him bad luck.
Malfoy, curious yet cautious, decided to probe. "You don't seem to be on good terms with them," he remarked to Heinrich, who replied with a detached air, "They're just sore losers who couldn't stand being defeated by me." John couldn't help but interject, "It seems everyone here has their own battles to fight."
Malfoy, puzzled by John's comment, glanced between the Durmstrang students and Heinrich, wondering how one person could manage to alienate so many. Karkaroff, Durmstrang's headmaster, also noticed Heinrich but restrained himself from any confrontation. Heinrich's reputation for paranoia and his unsettling presence, reminiscent of a figure from Voldemort's inner circle, made Karkaroff uneasy.
Meanwhile, Malfoy struck up a conversation with Krum, introducing himself as the Slytherin Seeker and expressing his admiration for Krum's Quidditch prowess. John, less interested in socializing, observed that four additional chairs had been placed at the staff table, likely reserved for the visiting headmasters and representatives from the Ministry of Magic, including a delegate from the Silver Hand, the tournament's sponsor.
As the faculty members took their seats, the Beauxbatons students demonstrated their respect for their headmistress, Ms. Maxime, by standing until she was seated, a stark contrast to Hogwarts' more relaxed approach. This display of discipline elicited laughter from some Hogwarts students, unfamiliar with such formalities.
Dumbledore, standing until the Great Hall quieted, warmly welcomed the guests. "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, ghosts, and... especially distinguished guests," he began, his eyes twinkling as he addressed the foreign students. "It is with great joy that I welcome you to Hogwarts. I hope and trust that you will find comfort and happiness here." His words were met with a mix of reactions, including a sneer from the Beauxbatons' direction.
"The Triwizard Tournament will officially commence at the end of the banquet. I invite everyone to eat, drink, and feel at home!" Dumbledore concluded, his speech brief yet heartfelt. As he took his seat, Karkaroff leaned in to speak with him, and the feast began.
John, sampling the array of international dishes before him, reflected on how he might have once been thrilled by such culinary diversity. However, even the exquisite bouillabaisse tasted bland to him now, a reminder of how much had changed. Malfoy, caught up in the excitement of the evening, seemed oblivious to John's contemplative mood. The banquet was in full swing, but Draco Malfoy's incessant chatter didn't cease even as it began. He engaged in a lively conversation with Viktor Krum, who initially responded with minimal interest. However, as Malfoy pressed on with his arguments, Krum's responses grew more earnest. Daphne Greengrass, on the other hand, looked on with disdain as the two talked animatedly, occasionally spitting food in their fervor. She, in contrast, sipped her soup with elegance, a gentle breeze seemingly wafting around her, signaling her refined demeanor.
It was then that Fleur Delacour, with her kerchief undone, drawing eyes from across the room, decided to leave the Ravenclaw table for Slytherin. Her silver hair shimmered, effortlessly parting the crowd as she approached. "John, we meet again," she greeted, her presence causing a nearby boy to blush and make way. Her eyes sparkled at the sight of the bouillabaisse. "John, aren't you going to have some?" she inquired.
John responded with a light chuckle, a simple gesture sending the bouillabaisse floating to land gracefully before Fleur. "Thank you," she said, her smile radiant.
Daphne's gaze shifted towards them, a mix of curiosity and caution in her light gray-blue eyes. Fleur merely raised an eyebrow in response, prompting Daphne to mutter under her breath about John's culinary preferences, much to Pansy Parkinson's amusement.
Viktor Krum, momentarily captivated by Fleur, quickly regained his composure. Observing the badges worn by the group, he inquired with a hint of confusion, "You all wear the same badge?" His accent was thick but didn't hinder the conversation.
Proudly, Draco Malfoy responded, "We are all members of the Star Society."
"Star Society?" Krum echoed, puzzled.
Fleur, having secured her bouillabaisse, made to return to Ravenclaw, but John stopped her with a gentle suggestion, "Let's gather later. The badge will guide you."
"Okay," Fleur agreed, treating the bouillabaisse as if it were a precious treasure, her fondness for it evident.
As the banquet concluded and the golden plates were cleared, the atmosphere in the Great Hall shifted. Dumbledore stood, anticipation and excitement filling the air. John, however, remained unaffected, his thoughts briefly on Barty Crouch Sr., hoping he would seize the moment.
"The moment has finally come," Dumbledore announced, his smile reflecting the eager faces before him. "The Triwizard Tournament is about to begin. But first, allow me to introduce two distinguished guests."
The introduction of Barty Crouch Sr. and Ludo Bagman, both well-known from the World Cup, was met with applause. Crouch, dressed impeccably with a butterfly tie, forced a smile, a suggestion from John to appear more approachable. John had even arranged for a stylist to ensure Crouch's appearance struck the right balance between authority and approachability, considering the predominantly student audience.
Crouch, accompanied by Percy Weasley, acknowledged John with a nod, a silent agreement to meet later with the Star Society members. John felt a celebration was in order, considering the occasion.
Dumbledore's speech continued, primarily lauding the efforts of Crouch and Bagman in organizing the tournament. The details of the referee team, comprising the two Ministry officials and the three headmasters, were outlined, setting the stage for the commencement of the Triwizard Tournament. Filch, donned in a brand-new tuxedo, made his way through the crowd, carrying a large wooden box adorned with jewels. The box caught the eyes of many students, some of whom stood on stools for a better view. With great care, Filch placed the box on the table, just as Dumbledore was detailing the upcoming Triwizard Tournament.
"This Triwizard Tournament will be divided into three events, spread out over the school year," Dumbledore explained with his usual calm demeanor. "These events will challenge the champions in various ways, testing their magical prowess, courage, reasoning abilities, and their capacity to face danger."
Dumbledore paused for a moment, allowing his words to sink in before continuing. "As many of you are aware, the tournament will feature three champions, each representing one of the participating schools. They will be judged on their performance in each event, and the champion with the highest overall score will be awarded the Triwizard Cup. The selection of these champions will be made by an impartial judge—the Goblet of Fire."
With a flick of his wand, Dumbledore tapped the lid of the box three times. The lid creaked open slowly, revealing a large, roughly carved wooden goblet inside. Despite its unassuming appearance, the goblet was filled with dancing blue flames, casting an eerie glow around the room.
"Any student wishing to compete must write their name and the name of their school on a piece of parchment and cast it into the goblet," Dumbledore instructed. "You have 24 hours to submit your names. By tomorrow night, on Halloween, the goblet will choose the champions it deems most worthy to represent the three schools."
Dumbledore then added, "Tonight, the goblet will be placed in the foyer, making it accessible to all students who wish to enter the competition."
John couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation in Dumbledore's words, almost as if he expected some to bend the rules. However, Dumbledore was no fool. He had anticipated this and had taken precautions by casting an Age Line around the Goblet of Fire, preventing those underage from attempting to enter their names.
The announcement sparked a buzz of excitement among the students, many of whom were already considering whether to throw their hats into the ring, despite the challenges and dangers that lay ahead.
_________
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