POTTER

17

"Your attention please! I would like to say a few words. Eternal glory, that is what awaits the student who wins the tri-wizard tournament. But to do this that student must survive three tasks. Three extremely dangerous tasks. For this reason the ministry has seen fit to impose a new rule. To explain all this we have the head of the department of international magic cooperation Mister Bartimus Crouch."

Thunder roars overhead, rain begins leaking through the roof and screams break out. A strange man stands in the doorway, he casts some magic upwards and seals the roof. Peace is restored.

"Bloody hell, it's Mad-Eye Moody."

"Alastor Moody? The auror."

"He was a catcher. Half the cells in Azkaban are full thanks to him. He's supposed to be mad as a hatter though these days."

This character enters the room and begins walking. We see Harry through his mechanical eye. He limps, breathing heavily as he goes.

"What is he drinking?"

"I don't know but I don't think it's a pumpkin juice."

"After much deliberation the ministry has concluded that for their own safety no student under the age of seventeen shall be allowed to put forth their name for the tri-wizard tournament. This decision is final."

The crowd is unsettled, people are booing.

"That's rubbish! You don't know what you're doing!"

"Silence!"

Dumbledore casts magic over a box which melds into a goblet containing a blue flame.

"The goblet of fire. Anyone wishing to submit themselves for the tournament merely write their name upon a piece of parchment and throw it in the flame before this hour on Thursday night. Do not do so lightly, if choosen there's no turning back. As from this moment the tri-wizard tournament has begun."

We see a suspicious character enter the room where the goblet is still burning and close the door behind him.

"Alastor Moody"

He writes his name on the board.

"Ministry malcontent. And your new defence against the dark arts teacher. I'm here because Dumbledore asked me, end of story, goodbye, the end. Any questions? When it comes to the dark arts, I believe in a practical approach. But first, which of you can tell me how many unforgivable curses there are?"

"Three sir."

"And they are so named?"

"Because they are unforgivable. Use of any one of them will."

"Will earn you a one way ticket to Azkaban. Correct. Now the ministry says you're too young to see what these curses do. I say different! You need to know what you're up against, you need to be prepared, you need to find somewhere else to put your chewing gum other than the underside of your desk Mr Finnigan!"

"Aw no way, the old codger can see out the back of his head."

Mad-Eye throws the chalk in anger.

"So, which curse shall we see first? WEASLEY!"

"Yes"

"Give us a curse."

"Well, my dad did tell me about one. The imperious curse."

"Ahhh yes, your father would know all about that. Gave the ministry quite a bit of grief a few years ago. Perhaps this will show you why."

Mad-Eye pops open a jar with a spider in it.

"Hello. What a little beauty."

He uses his wand to send it around the class.

"Don't worry. Completely harmless."

The class is unsettled.

"But if she bites she's lethal!"

Draco laughs.

"What are you laughing at?"

Mad-Eye sends the spider onto Draco's face.