The Unbreakable Vow

Chapter 1- The Goblet of Fire

Chatter could be heard from every corner of the Great Hall. Students with all-colored robes sat in unison, sharing foods of all kinds and drinking deeply from goblets.

"Settle down now, settle down" Headmaster William announced.

The Great Hall was dimly lit by a white-blue fire protruding from the front of the teacher's tables. Every student was whispering to one another, intrigued by what it was. The wooden cup sat glowing under the firelight, shadowing the delightful carvings upon it.

Students from Beauxbatons, Durmstrang, and Ilvermorny were seated among the Hogwarts students. The Beauxbatons with the Ravenclaws; the Durmstrang with the Slytherins and finally Ilvermorny with the Hufflepuffs. Tightly squashed up on the long benches and compacted them together.

"The Triwizard Tournament" William began "has been around now for five hundred years. We have competed against our fellow schools, some we beat and others" He nodded to the Beauxbaton students here "We have lost too. But this year, the games are at Hogwarts. Meaning the tasks will be more challenging, more brutal, and more competitive than ever. This is the year that you may find yourselves fighting for your lives to win."

Immediate whispers began again. Excited chatter and nervous mumbles followed.

"Now for the champions, who will compete. There will be four, one from each school and once your name has come out, there is no turning back."

The blue flames spit and hissed violently.

"It is time," He muttered.

The icy blue turned a fiery purple in a blink of an eye. Outshot a name. It smoked at its burnt edges. William stuck out his hand and touched his fingertips to the parchment.

"From Durmstrang, Andreas Larsdatter!" He announced.

Cheers erupted from the Slytherin table as people struggled to pat him on the back and shake his hands.

Andreas was seemingly skinny but very tall, with matte black hair and emerald green eyes. His long shadow traveled along the stone walls, mimicking his strong, proud movements. Once at the table, William shook his hand and pointed to the door, where he hurried off.

There was a moment of chatter. The fire went purple again and another piece of parchment flew down, light as a feather.

"From Ilvermorny, Daniel Johnson!"

Now it was the Hufflepuffs turn to scream, shout, and in some people's case, whisper complaints to one another. He, like Andreas, was tall but was much more muscular. His brown hair had too much wax in as it flicked to one side stiffly. His deep brown eyes were masked by the darkness.

Reaching the staff table, the fire turned purple again and he sulked to join Andreas.

"From Beauxbatons, Theodore Janvier!"

Girls from Beauxbatons cooed and gushed over him, whilst the boys pouted and glared. Their headmistress, Madame Auger, clapped the loudest of them all. She beamed from ear to ear.

Theodore was the most charming out of the two yet he was considerably smaller in height. He had natural blonde hair and icy blue eyes that matched the fire's light. They were small, soft, and narrowed.

He just reached the door when the last piece of parchment fluttered down and landed upon the stone floor. Quickly, William picked it up and announced "And finally from Hogwarts-" but then he paused.

He frowned at the parchment, sighed a deep breath, and continued.

"Maria Legrand"

Nobody shouted in delight or clapped. Maria blushed in embarrassment. Her friends nudged her yet she sat glued to her chair in fright. After much conviction, she stood and walked hunched back towards the teachers. Her head was lowered until she reached the Headmaster.

"But she's a girl!" Someone yelled in distaste.

"Throw her out!" Another screeched in an uproar.

"S-sir" She whispered.

"Through the door please" He replied dully.

Hisses of gossip wavered through the hall.

She did not need to be asked twice. As she scurried away, she heard an eruption of voices.

"Oh no," She groaned "I did not want to draw attention to myself."

She ambled through the stone passage so as not to have to face the other, male champions. However, she did not walk slow enough and soon found herself standing in front of them.

"Maria?" Theodore asked.

"Theodore" She whispered.

All the while, her eyes did not leave the floor.

"Ma chere, are you quite alright? What are you doing here?" He asked.

A wooden door creaked and voices echoed down the stone hall. The headmasters and mistress emerged, looking perplexed.

"You do understand that we only wanted male champions, don't you?" William spoke kindly.

Although his eyes were narrowed his eyebrows were softened and uncomfortable.

"Well of course she does not, otherwise why did she enter?!" Madame Auger shrieked.

"I'm sorry... I just wanted...wanted to-to prove you wrong" She spat.

For the first time, she lifted her eyes to glare at the heads.

"How dare you, little girl! Prove us wrong? You have no right, you are a woman and women need to hold their tongue. Especially a girl of the likes of you." Hissed a man wearing similar robes to Andreas'.

"Munter!" William shouted "Don't start, she has put her name in and now she is competing. If this is what she wants, she'll have to deal with the consequences."

The silence became numb as they all glared at Maria. She kept her head up and proud.