The Potter Twins (4th year)

TOURNAMENT

Amelia pov
Professor Dumbledore then stood up and started to talk. The corners of his mouth twitched, "As ever, I would like to remind you all that the forest on the grounds is out-of-bounds to students, as is the village of Hogsmeade to all below third year.

"It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year."

"What?" I heard Harry gasp. I looked around at Fred and George, members of the Quidditch team. They were apparently too shocked to speak out.

He went on, "This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy — but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts —" But at that moment, there was a rumble of thunder and the doors swung open. A man stood in the doorway, leaning on a long staff,  wearing a black traveling cloak. Every head turned toward the stranger, brightly illuminated by lightning that flashed across the ceiling. He lowered his hood, shook out his mane of dark hair, then began to walk up toward the teachers' table.

"May I introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," said Dumbledore. "Professor Moody." No one clapped except Dumbledore and Hagrid.

"As I was saying," he said, "We have the honor of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event that has not been held for over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year."

"YOURE JOKING!" Fred Weasley said loudly.

"I am not joking, Mr. Weasley," he said, "though now that you mention it, I did hear an excellent one over the summer about a troll, a hag, and a leprechaun who all go into a bar . . ." Professor McGonagall cleared her throat loudly. "Er — but maybe this is not the time . . . no . . ." said Dumbledore, "where was I? Ah yes, the Triwizard Tournament . . . well, some of you will not know what this tournament involves, so I hope those who do know will forgive me for giving a short explanation, and allow their attention to wander freely. "The Triwizard Tournament came to be some seven hundred years ago as a friendly competition between the three largest schools: Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. One champion was selected to represent each school, and the three champions competed in magical tasks. The schools took it in turns to host the tournament once every five years, and it was generally agreed to be a most excellent way of establishing ties between young witches and wizards of different nationalities — until, that is, the death toll mounted so high that the tournament was discontinued."

"Death toll?" Hermione whispered, looking alarmed.

"There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the tournament," Dumbledore continued, "none of which has been very successful. However, our own Departments of International Magical Cooperation and Magical Games and Sports have decided the time is ripe for another attempt. We have worked hard over the summer to ensure that this time, no champion will find himself or herself in mortal danger. The selection of the three champions will take place at Halloween. You will compete for the Triwizard Cup, the glory of their school, and a thousand Galleons personal prize money."

"I'm going for it!" Fred Weasley hissed down the table, his face lit with enthusiasm at the prospect of glory and riches. He was not the only one who seemed to be having that same fantasy. Then Dumbledore spoke again, and it quieted once more. "I know all of you will be eager to bring the Triwizard Cup to Hogwarts," he said, "the Heads of the participating schools, along with the Ministry of Magic, have agreed to impose an age restriction. Only students who are of age — that is to say, 17 years or older — will be allowed to put forward their names. This" Dumbledore raised his voice slightly, for several people had been outraged at these words, including the Weasley twins who looked furious — "is a measure we feel is necessary, given that the tournament tasks will still be dangerous, whatever precautions we take, and it is highly unlikely that students below sixth and seventh year will be able to cope. I will personally be ensuring that no underage student hoodwinks this." His eyes twinkled as they flickered over Fred's and George's mutinous faces. "I therefore beg you not to waste your time submitting yourself if you are under seventeen. "The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving and remaining with us for the greater part of this year. I know that you will all extend every courtesy to our foreign guests while they are with us, and will give your whole-hearted support to the Hogwarts champion when he or she is selected. And now, it is late, and I know how important it is to you all to be alert and rested as you enter your lessons tomorrow morning. Bedtime! Chop chop!"
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