Nico di Angelo and the Goblet of Fire

Chapter 9: The Goblet of Fire

"I don't believe it!" Ron said, in a stunned voice, as the Hogwarts students followed the students from Durmstrang back into the castle. "Krum, Harry! Viktor Krum! You know how cool that is?"

"Gods, Ron! Krum is impressive but you really don't need to crush on him!" Nico said, sounding very irritated.

"Honestly, Ronald, he's only a Quidditch player!" Hermione said.

"Only a Quidditch player? He's the best Seeker in the world! And he's still in school." Ron gushed, looking at Hermione like he couldn't believe she didn't care.

Harry rolled his eyes at this point. He was the only one yet to engage, but he had to say that it was getting ridiculous now.

As they crossed the hall to get to the Gryffindor table, Harry heard numerous people trying to get Krum's autograph. One group of sixth-year girls were particularly interested. "D'you think he'll sign my hat in lipstick? I haven't a single quill-"

"Really," Hermione said loftily as they passed the girls.

"I'm getting his autograph if I can. Have any of you got a quill?" Ron said eagerly.

Nico, who was the only one with a quill, didn't say anything. He didn't want Ron completely humiliating himself in front of Viktor Krum.

The four of them sat down at the Gryffindor table. The group from Beauxbatons had taken a seat at the Ravenclaw table. Viktor Krum and his classmates were sitting at the Slytherin table, much to Ron's disappointment.

Up at the staff table, Filch was putting out four more chairs.

Ron noticed first. "Why four? The only extra people are Madame Maxine and Karkaroff."

Harry shrugged, "I dunno."

When all the students had taken a seat, foreign included, Dumbledore stood up to greet them. "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, ghosts and-most particularly-guests. I have great pleasure in welcoming you all to Hogwarts. I hope and trust that your stay here will be both comfortable and enjoyable. 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 concluded and sat back down.

The plates were filled with food as usual, but this time, there was some foreign food included in the feast as well.

"What's that?" Ron asked, pointing at a dish with some sort of shellfish stew.

"Bouillabaisse." Hermione said briskly.

"Excuse you," Ron said, clearly thinking that she had sneezed.

"It's French!" Hermione rolled her eyes. "I had it on holiday. It's very nice."

Ron shrugged and heaped some Bouillabaisse onto his plate. "Take your work for it."

After he finished serving himself, a gorgeous girl from Beauxbatons came over. "Have you finished the Bouillabaisse?"

Ron's jaw dropped. She had silvery long hair, and large, deep blue eyes. "Yeah-sure," he stammered out.

"Thank you," the girl said, sweeping up the bowl and making her way back over to the Ravenclaw table.

Harry laughed, making Ron come back to his senses.

Ron gaped at her. "She's a Veela!"

"Of course not!" Hermione said tartly. "No one else is gaping at her." But she wasn't right about that. As the girl crossed the hall, nearly all of the boys' heads turned to look at her. Nico was maybe the only one who didn't care.