MISCHIEF MANAGED// FRED WEASLEY X READER

017. The Triwizard Tournament

Fred's Disclaimer: The author of this book does not own Harry Potter, and Dumbledore is mean. 

"We missed the sorting," Harry commented, taking his seat beside Ron at the Gryffindor table. Ron shivered in his still-wet clothing, giving Harry a quick look.

"You good there, Potter?" A loud obnoxious voice called across the tables. Both Harry and I turned around, but it became clear which Potter, Draco Malfoy was talking to. "I heard you nearly drowned." He smirked, gaining the attention of the other Slytherins. "Is it true you can't swim?" 

I rolled my eyes. "Obviously," turning back to my plate with little interest--"That's kind of how drowning works, but I suppose you're too stupid to know that, Malfoy." I said offhandedly.

"Yeah, shove it Malfoy," Ron said, about two seconds too late.

Fortunately, though we missed the sorting, we didn't miss dinner. Three platters full of chicken legs, one less now that Ron's finished, four bowls of soup, three plates topped with Yorkshire pudding, and a tureen of gravy.

I noticed Hermione didn't touch a bite of food; her plate remaining empty. 

Harry took the words out of my mouth. "Why aren't you eating, Hermione?"

"This meal was made by slave labour," Hermione answered promptly, crossing her arms. "Did you know that the house elves don't even get paid for their hard work? And they don't get sick leave, either."

"Don't be daft," Ron said, practically inhaling three Yorkshire puddings at once. "The House Elves don't mind that."

"That's only because they've been brainwashed, Ronald," Hermione said reapproachfully, turning her nose up at Ron's eating habits. "They don't know any better."

"Suit yourself," Ron shrugged, grabbing three more chicken legs. "Don't come crying to us when you starve tonight."

Hermione just shook her head, furiously pushing her plate away as if the very sight of it disgusted her. 

"I saw you got to play hero, Freddie," George commented playfully, nugding his twin in the arm. "How does it feel to be a real livesaver?" 

Fred grunted noncommitally. 

"Glad you didn't have to perform mouth-to-mouth?" Hermione asked casually, lifting an eyebrow. 

"Hermione!" I said indignantly. 

"Actually, I don't think I'd have minded that," Fred smirked slightly. 

"Fred!" 

There wasn't any chance to say anything else, because at that moment, Dumbledore clinged his spoon against his glass, causing everyone to look up at the podium. 

"So!" said Dumbledore, smiling around at them all. "Now that we are all fed andwatered," ("Hmph!" said Hermione) "I must once more ask for your attention,while I give out a few notices." 

My attention faded in and out as Dumbledore droned on about Mr. Filch's various rules and such. 

I could tell no one else was paying much attention. Except for Hermione of course. 

The corners of Dumbledore's mouth twitched. He continued, "As ever, I wouldlike 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 willnot take place this year." 

"What?" Harry gasped. He looked around at Fred and George, and the fellow membersof the Quidditch team. They were mouthing soundlessly at Dumbledore,apparently too appalled to speak. 

Dumbledore went on, "This is due to an eventthat will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, takingup much of the teachers' time and energy - but I am sure you will all enjoy itimmensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts -" 

But at that moment, there was a deafening rumble of thunder and the doors of theGreat Hall banged open.

The man strode quickly into the hall, his face a picture of, er--not health. He was wearing a long cloak, and his one electric blue eye scanned the entire hall. The other, I noticed, was missing. In its place, was a whizzing robotic eye that was constantly moving. 

"May I introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?" said Dumbledore brightly into the silence. "Professor Moody." 

It was usual for new staff members to be greeted with applause, but none of the staff or students clapped except Dumbledore and Hagrid, who both put their hands together and applauded, but the sound echoed dismally into the silence, andthey stopped fairly quickly. Everyone else seemed too transfixed by Moody's bizarre appearance to do more than stare at him. 

"Moody?" I heard Harry muttered to Ron. "Mad-Eye Moody? The one your dad went to help this morning?" 

"Must be," said Ron in a low, awed voice.

"He looks mad," George said unnecessarily. 

Moody said nothing as he sat down at the staff table, pulling out his hip flask and drinking from it. 

Dumbledore cleared his throat. 

"As I was saying," he said, smiling at the sea of students before him, all of whomwere still gazing transfixed at Mad-Eye Moody, "we are to have the honor ofhosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event that has not beenheld for over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that theTriwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year."

"You're JOKING!" said Fred loudly.The tension that had filled the Hall ever since Moody's arrival suddenly broke.Nearly everyone laughed, and Dumbledore chuckled appreciatively.

"I am not joking, Mr. Weasley," he said, "though now that you mention it, I didhear an excellent one over the summer about a troll, a hag, and a leprechaun whoall go into a bar. 

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat loudly. 

Dumbledore went on to explain the Triwizard Tournament and it's rules. 

"--Because of the potential dangers, the board has come to the decision that only those over 17 are to enter." His eyes twinkled as there were bursts of outrage from the crowd. "I will personally be ensuring that no underagestudent hoodwinks our impartial judge into making them Hog-warts champion."His light blue eyes twinkled as they flickered over Fred's and George's mutinousfaces. "I therefore beg you not to waste your time submitting yourself if you areunder seventeen." 

Fred scowled, putting his head in his hands.