Remi Casandra Lupin

Dumbledore's Special Announcement

Remi's POV

It is time for Dumbledore's start of year speech. Hopefully he'll finally put all the rumors to bed. "Now that we are all fed and watered. I must once more ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices" he states. "Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to tell you that the list of objects forbidden inside the castle has this year been extended to include Screaming Yo-yos, Fanged Frisbees, and Ever-Bashing Boomerangs. The full list comprises some four hundred and thirty-seven items, I believe, and can be viewed in Mr. Filch's office, if anybody would like to check it" he tells us.

"As ever, I would like to remind you all that the forest on the grounds is out-of-bounds to students. As is the village of Hogsmeade to all below third year. It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year" he states.

"What?" Harry gasps from beside me.

"This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy. But I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts" Dumbledore tells us.

But at that moment, there was a deafening rumble of thunder and the doors of the Great Hall banged open. A man stood in the doorway, leaning upon a long staff, shrouded in a black traveling cloak. Every head in the Great Hall swiveled toward the stranger. He lowered his hood, shook out a long mane of grizzled, brown hair. Then began to walk up toward the teachers' table. A dull clunk echoed through the Hall on his every other step. He reached the end of the top table, turned right, and limped heavily toward Dumbledore.

Another flash of lightning crossed the ceiling. The lightning had thrown the man's face into sharp relief. It looked as though it had been carved out of weathered wood by someone who had only the vaguest idea of what human faces are supposed to look like. Every inch of skin seemed to be scarred. The mouth looked like a diagonal gash, and a large chunk of the nose was missing.

But it was the man's eyes that made him frightening. One of them was small, dark, and beady. The other was large, round as a coin, and a vivid, electric blue. The blue eye was moving ceaselessly, without blinking, and was rolling up, down, and from side to side, quite independently of the normal eye. And then it rolled right over, pointing into the back of the man's head, so that all they could see was whiteness.

He reached Dumbledore and they shook hands. Muttering words even I can't hear with my advance hearing. Dumbledore nodded and gestured the man to the empty seat on his right-hand side. The stranger went and sat in the chair. "May I introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher? Professor Moody" Dumbledore announces happily.

Moody? As it Mad-eye Moody? Dad told me about him. They were in the Order together during the first war against Voldemort. Apparently he's the best auror in the world. Over half the deatheaters in Azkaban are there because of him.

"As I was saying, we are to have the honor of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event that has not been held for over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year" Dumbledore announces.

"You're joking!" Fred exclaims. The tension that had filled the Hall ever since Moody's arrival suddenly broke. Nearly everyone laughed, and Dumbledore chuckled appreciatively.

"I am not joking, Mr. Weasley" Dumbledore assures him. "Though now that you mention it, I did hear an excellent one over the summer about a troll, a hag, and a leprechaun who all go into a bar" he starts to say. Professor McGonagall cleared her throat loudly. "Er - but maybe this is not the time...no" he mumbles.

"The Triwizard Tournament...well, some of you will not know what this tournament involves. So I hope those who do know will forgive me for giving a short explanation, and allow their attention to wander freely" he states.

"The Triwizard Tournament was first established some seven hundred years ago as a friendly competition between the three largest European schools of wizardry: Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. A champion was selected to represent each school, and the three champions competed in three magical tasks. The schools took it in turns to host the tournament once every five years, and it was generally agreed to be a most excellent way of establishing ties between young witches and wizards of different nationalities. Until, that is, the death toll mounted so high that the tournament was discontinued" he explains.

"Death toll?" Hermione whispers. But her anxiety did not seem to be shared by the majority of students in the Hall; many of them were whispering excitedly to one another. I myself don't care either way.

"There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the tournament, none of which has been very successful. However, our own departments of International Magical Cooperation and Magical Games and Sports have decided the time is ripe for another attempt. We have worked hard over the summer to ensure that this time, no champion will find himself or herself in mortal danger" Dumbledore assures us.

"The heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving with their short-listed contenders in October, and the selection of the three champions will take place at Halloween. An impartial judge will decide which students are most worthy to compete for the Triwizard Cup, the glory of their school, and a thousand Galleons personal prize money" he explains. Now that would be good. I'd give it all to dad, he deserves it after everything he has gone through. He wouldn't have to hunt for work or worry about money for the rest of his life.

"I'm going for it" Fred states.

"Eager though I know all of you will be to bring the Triwizard Cup to Hogwarts" Dumbledore says getting everyones attention again. The heads of the participating schools, along with the Ministry of Magic, have agreed to impose an age restriction on contenders this year. Only students who are seventeen years or older. Will be allowed to put forward their names for consideration. This is a measure we feel is necessary, given that the tournament tasks will still be difficult and dangerous. Whatever precautions we take, and it is highly unlikely that students below sixth and seventh year will be able to cope with them. I will personally be ensuring that no underage student hoodwinks our impartial judge into making them Hogwarts champion" he explains.  "I therefore beg you not to waste your time submitting yourself if you are under seventeen" he states he's eyes darting to the twins. I sigh, guess I'll have to wait another five years. Awe well, I can train for it.

"The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving in October and remaining with us for the greater part of this year. I know that you will all extend every courtesy to our foreign guests while they are with us, and will give your whole-hearted support to the Hogwarts champion when he or she is selected. And now, it is late, and I know how important it is to you all to be alert and rested as you enter your lessons tomorrow morning. Bedtime! Chop chop!" he tells us.

Dumbledore sat down again and turned to talk to Mad-Eye Moody. There was a great scraping and banging as all the students got to their feet and swarmed toward the double doors into the entrance hall. I get up and decide to walk back to the common room with Ginny. "Are you going to train with me for the next tournament in five years?" I ask her curious.

"I doubt I'll participate, but I can help you train" she states. I smile and we discuss what could be useful. First we'd read the history on past tournaments. Then go from there.

A/N

Picture above of Mad-eye Moody movie and book looks. Choose which you like most for his look in this story.