Dawn Rivera

The Goblet of Fire

"I don't believe it!" Ron says, in a stunned voice, as the Hogwarts students file back up the steps behind the party from Durmstrang. "Krum, Harry, Danny! Viktor Krum!"

"For heaven's sake, Ron, he's only a Quidditch player," says Hermione. I thank her silently.

"Only a Quidditch player?" Ron says, looking at her as though he can't believe his ears. "Hermione, Dawn - he's one of the best Seekers in the world! I had no idea he was still at school!"

As we recross the Entrance Hall with the rest of the Hogwarts students, heading for the Great Hall, I see Lee Jordan jumping up and down on the soles of his feet to get a better look at the back of Viktor's head. Several sixth-year girls are frantically searching their pockets as they walk - "Oh, I don't believe it, I haven't got a single quill on me -" "D'you think he'd sign my hat in lipstick?"

"Really," I say loftily, as we pass the girls, now squabbling over the lipstick.

"I'm getting his autograph if I can," says Ron, "you haven't got a quill, have you, Harry, Danny?"

"Nope, they're upstairs in our bags," says Harry.

We walk over to the Gryffindor table and sit down. Ron takes care to sit down facing the doorway, because Viktor and his fellow Durmstrang students are still gathered around it, apparently unsure about where they should sit. The students from Beauxbatons have chosen seats at the Ravenclaw table. They are looking around the Great Hall with glum expressions on their faces. Three of them are still clutching scarves and shawls around their heads.

"It's not that cold," says Hermione irritably, who is watching them. "Why didn't they bring cloaks?"

"Over here! Come and sit over here!" Ron hisses. "Over here! Hermione, Dawn, budge up, make a space -"

"What?" I say.

"Too late," says Ron bitterly.

Viktor Krum and his fellow Durmstrang students have settled themselves at the Slytherin table. I can see Malfoy, Crabbe and Gregory looking very smug about this. I take deep breaths as the familiar painful longing shoots through my stomach. As I watch, Malfoy bends forwards to speak to Viktor.

"Yeah, that's right, smarm up to him, Malfoy," says Ron scathingly. "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, Danny...I wouldn't mind giving him my bed, I could kip on a camp-bed."

Hermione and I snort.

"They look a lot happier than the Beauxbatons lot," says Danny.

The Durmstrang students are pulling off their heavy furs and looking up at the starry black ceiling with expressions of interest; a couple of them are picking up the golden plates and goblets and examining them, apparently impressed.

Up at the staff table, Filch, the caretaker, is adding chairs. He is wearing his mouldy old tail coat in honour of the occasion. I am surprised to see that he adds four chairs, two on either side of Dumbledore's.

"But there are only two extra people," Harry says. "Why's Filch putting out four chairs? Who else is coming?"

"Eh?" says Ron vaguely. He is still staring avidly at Viktor.

When all the students have entered the Hall and settled down at their house tables, the staff enter, filing up to the top table and taking their seats. Last in line are Professor Dumbledore, Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxime. When their Headmistress appears, the pupils from Beauxbatons leap to their feet. A few of the Hogwarts students laugh. The Beauxbatons party appear quite unembarrassed, and do not resume their seats until Madame Maxime has sat down on Dumbledore's left-hand side. Dumbledore, however, remains standing, and a silence falls over the Great Hall.