Remi Casandra Lupin

Arrival of the Other Schools

Remi's POV

Lessons ended half an hour early today. Which meant Moody won't be able to try the Imperious curse on all of us in Defense Against the Dark Arts. He'd already done it on Harry's class along with the higher year levels. He just got permission to do it on us third years. It was bad enough he was allowed to teach us about the curses.

Also Hermione created a club to help free house elves. It's called S.P.E.W. Which stands for the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare. She tried Stop the Outrageous Abuse of Our Fellow Magical Creatures and Campaign for a Change in Their Legal Status. But it wouldn't fit on the badge she'd created. I joined the group feeling some sympathy for house elves like Dobby. But most are treated well, like the ones at Hogwarts.

Anyway I returned to my common room after DADA and dropped my things off. Changing into one of the new uniforms I got at the beginning of the year. I brushed my hair and teeth wanting to look good for the visiting schools. I put on my hat. Ginny and I then went to great hall together where the heads of house are inspecting every student before they enter the hall.

"Weasley, straighten your hat" she tells Ron. "Miss Patil, take that ridiculous thing out of your hair" she orders. Parvati scowled and removed a large ornamental butterfly from the end of her plait. "Follow me, please" she tells us. "First years in front...no pushing" she instructs once we enter the hall.

So we sat in year level order. First years up the front closest to the teachers table. Second years follow them, then my year and so on. Ginny and I made sure we were at the end of the third year section. While Harry and his two best friends made sure they were at the beginning of the fourth years. So that we could all sit together.

Soon we're all seated and wait for ten minutes. Until Mr Filch appeared and whispered in Dumbledore's ear. Before go back to the end of the hall. "Our first guests have arrived. So please join me in welcoming the lovely ladies of the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and their headmistress Madam Maxime" he says.

A group of girls dressed in blue dance up the aisle followed by a very tall woman. "Blimey, that's one big woman" I hear Seamus mutter. The girls release butterflies into the air as they dance. I notice the boys staring at their butts and roll my eyes. They bow once they reach the front of the hall and everyone applauds. They then sit down at the Ravenclaw table.

"And now our friends from the north, please greet the proud sons of Durmstrang and the high master Igor Karkarof" Dumbledore says. A series of older boys walk up the aisle brandishing bo staffs, twirling them around. Periodically stabbing them into the ground with a spark effect.

"Blimey it's him, Viktor Krum!" Ron says shocked.

"Didn't you know he was in his final year at school?" I ask him surprised. As two Durmstrang boys blow fire dragons. That join together to make a phoenix before disappearing. We all clap.

"Still though, Viktor Krum" he says in awe.

"For heaven's sake, Ron, he's only a Quidditch player" Hermione tells him.

"Only a Quidditch player? Hermione - he's one of the best Seekers in the world" Ron tells her. As Durmstrang sits at the Slytherin table. I notice Draco start to talk to Viktor. "I bet Krum can see right through him, though...bet he gets people fawning over him all the time....Where d'you reckon they're going to sleep? We could offer him a space in our dormitory, Harry...I wouldn't mind giving him my bed, I could kip on a camp bed" he states.

I snort along with Hermione and Ginny. "They look a lot happier than the Beauxbatons lot" Harry states. The Durmstrang students were pulling off their heavy furs and looking up at the starry black ceiling with expressions of interest. A couple of them were picking up the golden plates and goblets and examining them, apparently impressed. While Beauxbatons does not seem as impressed.

I notice Filch bringing out four extra chairs. "But there are only two extra people. Why is Filch bringing out four?" Harry asks confused.

"Must be for the other two judges" I tell him. "There are two others aside from the headmasters of the three schools" I state.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, ghosts and - most particularly - guests" Dumbledore says with a smile. "I have great pleasure in welcoming you all to Hogwarts. I hope and trust that your stay here will be both comfortable and enjoyable" he states. One of the Beauxbatons girls still clutching a muffler around her head gave what was unmistakably a derisive laugh. I growl lowly, honestly no one is forcing her to be here.

"No one's making you stay" Hermione says quietly. Also looking annoyed.

"The tournament will be officially opened at the end of the feast. I now invite you all to eat, drink, and make yourselves at home" Dumbledore tells us all. He sat down and Karkaroff leaned forward at once and engage him in conversation.

The plates in front of us filled with food as usual. The house-elves in the kitchen seemed to have pulled out all the stops. There is a greater variety of dishes in front of us than I had ever seen. Including several that were definitely foreign.

"What's that?" Ron asks confused. Pointing at a large dish of some sort of shellfish stew that stood beside a large steak-and-kidney pudding.

"Bouillabaisse" Hermione answers.

"Bless you" Ron says and I giggle.

"It's French" I tell him.

"I had it on holiday summer before last. It's very nice" Hermione states.

"I'll take your word for it" he says and helps himself to the black pudding. I decide to try some of the foreign dishes. They weren't really that bad. The Great Hall seemed somehow much more crowded than usual. Even though there were barely twenty additional students there. Perhaps it was because their differently colored uniforms stood out so clearly against the black of the Hogwarts' robes.

When dessert appeared I tried some foreign desserts also. They were good. I notice the two remaining empty seats had just been filled. Ludo Bagman was now sitting on Professor Karkaroff's other side, while Mr. Crouch, Percy's boss, was next to Madame Maxime. Makes sense as they helped organize the tournament.

Soon the feast is over and Dumbledore stands again to address us. "The Triwizard Tournament is about to start. I would like to say a few words of explanation before we bring in the casket. Just to clarify the procedure that we will be following this year. But first, let me introduce, for those who do not know them, Mr. Bartemius Crouch, Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation and Mr. Ludo Bagman, Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports" he explains.

"Mr. Bagman and Mr. Crouch have worked tirelessly over the last few months on the arrangements for the Triwizard Tournament. They will be joining myself, Professor Karkaroff, and Madame Maxime on the panel that will judge the champions' efforts" he states and the casket is brought out by Mr Filch.

"There will be three tasks, spaced throughout the school year, and they 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" he explains.  "Aspiring champions have twenty-four hours in which to put their names forward. Tomorrow night, Halloween, the goblet will return the names of the three it has judged most worthy to represent their schools. The goblet will be placed in the entrance hall tonight, where it will be freely accessible to all those wishing to compete" he states.

"There can be no change of heart once you have become a champion. Please be very sure, therefore, that you are wholeheartedly prepared to play before you drop your name into the goblet. Now, I think it is time for bed. Good night to you all" he tells us. Ginny and I leave returning to gryffindor tower.

A/N

Gif above of the Beauxbatons Academy representatives entering the great hall and gif on the external link of Durmstrang's fire phoenix.