Tainted Saints and Velvet Vices

Chapter 2: What I Do, I Do Best

"Don't be a tart, Liam. Just drop your name in the Goblet tonight," Louis said the following morning over a tall glass of pumpkin juice and his usual stack of toast. "The worst thing that can happen is that you're selected. Or not selected, depending on how you look at it."

"Well I was going to last night but looking at the prospect now..."

"Listen, mate," he said munching on his toast and mentally noting never to put almond spread and blackberry jam on the same slice again. "I know you and I know that you'll regret not trying out for it. You're ridiculously strong and braver than I could ever hope to be. You were basically made for the tournament."

Liam smiled shyly, shovelling a sausage into his mouth. "Thank you, Lou. Hope you're selected too. You'd be the brains behind the operation."

Louis gave him a light shove and ignored the comment. "So, what do you make of the competition? Anyone in particular likely to be selected?"

Liam sighed heavily. "Merlin's pants, Louis, there's loads. Half the Gryffindors liken themselves as the next Hogwarts Champion, but they're all talk. It's the silent ones you need to watch out for. A couple of Ravenclaws—Kevin Lloyd and Darragh Arden—and a bunch of Slytherins too. All the Hufflepuffs are cheering on Coraline Reid."

Louis nodded, feeling his odds of being chosen weaken as Liam gushed about the other likely Hogwarts candidates.

"Alright, settle down," Professor McGonagall called over the chattering students. "Good morning. I hope you all had a restful night's sleep because today's events are sure to tire you all out. I certainly hope that our sixth and seventh-year students in particular are adjusting well to the new living arrangements.

"As you all know, classes will begin this morning at nine sharp. Tonight, however, we will be welcoming our guests from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. I expect you all to be on your best behaviour. At the feast, the Goblet of Fire will be placed in the Great Hall for all students over the age of seventeen who wish to submit themselves."

She flicked her wand and the class timetables on the High Table shot around the room to each student. Louis glanced at Monday morning's lessons: Transfiguration with the Slytherins, Herbology with the Hufflepuffs and Potions, once again, with the Slytherins.

"They do that on purpose, by the way," Vivian Campbell said, comparing her timetable with Liam from across the table. "I have Arithmancy with the Slytherins too. Most of the seventh-year Gryffindors were paired with Slytherins as roommates so McGonagall's trying to replicate that in the timetables to force us to spend more time with each other. Think she wants us all to become friends or some shit. It would probably look good to have a bit of inter-house unity before the Triwizard Tournament."

Liam nodded. "That makes sense, I suppose. We'll be seen as a weak competitor if we're internally divided."

"That's all well and good," Louis huffed, "but don't expect me to start playing happy families with Styles just to intimidate the Durmstrang students."

Vivian and Liam nodded in sympathy, exchanging withering looks. "How was he this morning?" Vivian asked kindly.

"A pain in the arse," Louis grumbled, scooping porridge into his bowl. "I don't know why I expected differently. He woke me up at four o'clock in the morning because he was shouting in the bathroom, letting out these loud whelps. And I was like, 'mate, if you're going to start wanking aggressively in the bathroom, then at least put a charm on the door so I don't have to endure listening to it.' And then he opened the bathroom door and shot a hex right at me."

Liam observed his face carefully. "But... you look fine to me."

"I blocked it with a Shield Charm," Louis dismissed easily. He sprinkled brown sugar on his porridge and gesticulated wildly. "But that's not the point. The point is that he tried to hex me with Mutatio Skullus and I— "