𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 | f. weasley

fifty-seven

CASSIE, DEAN, FRED, GEORGE, LEE, SEAMUS, RON, HARRY, GINNY AND GRANGER walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat down. Ron took care to sit on the side facing the doorway because Viktor, Simon and his fellow Durmstrang students were still gathered around it, apparently unsure about where they should sit. The students from Beauxbatons had chosen seats at the Ravenclaw table. They were looking around the Great Hall with glum expressions on their faces. Three of them were still clutching scarves and shawls around their heads. 

"It's not that cold," said Hermione defensively. "Why didn't they bring cloaks?"

"Over here! Come and sit over here!" Ron hissed. "Over here! Hermione, budge up, make space-"

"What?" 

Cassie turned to see Viktor and Simon along with two Durmstrang boys make their way to the Gryffindor table. They stopped directly opposite Cassie, wishing her a pleasant greeting. 

"How was your trip!" Cassie asked excitedly, ignoring the star-struck expressions her companions seemed to have stuck on their faces. 

"Terrible," Simon answered, "Viktor puked over me,"

"I wouldn't complain if Viktor Krum puked on me," Ron muttered to Harry. 

"It vas an accident!" Viktor frowned, tired of this joke. 

"I'm just messing with ya, mate," Simon laughed, "I'm surprised you managed it out of the ship without puking more times! I certainly wouldn't have,"

"Seasame, why don't you give Vik that positively ghastly yet wonderous concoction your mother used to feed me?" Cassie suggested. Viktor grimaced at the thought of it but Simon seemed to have been enchanted by that idea. 

"Oh, and by the way," Cassie finally said after having been poked enough by Fred, "Let me introduce you to my friends. This is Fred and that's his twin brother George Weasley, and that's Ginny and Ron, all of Bill's siblings (she added for Simon who clicked his tongue in recognition and shook their hands), this is Dean Thomas, that's Seamus Finnegan, his best friend, that's Lee Jordan, he's the best darn commentator Hogwarts has ever seen. There's Neville Longbottom (Simon's eyes sparked in interest) and this is Hermoine Granger. And finally, Viktor Krum, take note of this name, my legendary cousin brother Harry Potter,"

"Ah, the von hoo vill give meh a run for my money," Viktor recalled, turning Harry into a bright shade of red. 

"I think that's a little too presumptuous," Harry muttered bashfully. 

"He's being humble," Cassie smirked, "Guys, this is obviously Viktor Krum, and that is my closet friend from childhood, Simon Carakrass,"

The two waved a friendly hello, Viktor's wave a bit more uncomfortable as he noticed more and more eyes settling on him. Saved by the resounding and booming voice of their headmaster, the four of them bid their apologetic goodbyes and followed the man's direction to the table of Slytherins. 

Harry could see Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle looking very smug about this. As he watched, Malfoy bent forward to speak to Krum. 

"Yeah, that's right, smarm up to him, Malfoy," said Ron scathingly. "I bet Krum can see right through him, though ... bet he gets people fawning over him all the time ... Where d'you reckon they're going to sleep? We could offer him a space in our dormitory, Harry ... I wouldn't mind giving him my bed, I could kip on a camp bed." 

Hermione snorted.

"I still can't believe Cassie knows Krum like that," Seamus exclaimed delightfully, "Now he knows my name and everything!"

The group of boys around them fawned like giggling school girls at their little interaction with Viktor Krum, showering praises at Cassie for making their dreams come true. 

Up at the staff table, Filch, the caretaker, was adding chairs. He was wearing his mouldy old tailcoat in honour of the occasion. Harry was vocally surprised to see that he added four chairs, two on either side of Dumbledore's. 

"But there are only two extra people," Harry said. "Why's Filch putting out four chairs, who else is coming?" 

"Eh?" said Ron vaguely. He was still staring avidly at Krum.

When all the students had entered the Hall and settled down at their House tables, the staff entered, filing up to the top table and taking their seats. Last in line were Professor Dumbledore, Professor Karkaroff, and Madame Maxime. When their headmistress appeared, the pupils from Beauxbatonsleapt to their feet. A few of the Hogwarts students laughed. However, the Beauxbatons party appeared quite unembarrassed and did not resume their seats until Madame Maxime sat down on Dumbledore's left-hand side. Dumbledore remained standing, and silence fell over the Great Hall. 

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, ghosts and - most particularly - guests," said Dumbledore, beaming around at the foreign students. "I have great pleasure in welcoming you all to Hogwarts. I hope and trust that your stay here will be both comfortable and enjoyable." 

One of the Beauxbatons girls still clutching a muffler around her head gave what was unmistakably a derisive laugh. 

"No one's making you stay!" Hermione whispered, bristling at her. 

"The tournament will be officially opened at the end of the feast," said Dumbledore. "I now invite you all to move your attention to the doors as we watch performances our two visiting schools have put together, finally followed by our own little show,"

Dean and Cassie passed each other a mischievous and excited look before turning to look at Blaise and Delilah who had been smiling at them as well. 

The doors of the Great Hall burst open and in came a swarm of silver butterflies with a metallic shine on their wings. One fluttered onto Cassie's outstretched finger and sat on it delicately before bursting into a puff of glitter. All the butterflies one by one turned into glittery confetti and as soon as it cleared, in its place now stood a crowd of Veela's dressed from head to toe in thin blue silk that hugged their bodies, making them look much more beautiful and attractive than they already were. They began singing beautiful hymns that Cassie recognised as Siren songs, swooning men and women alike with their graceful dance and bodily movements. As they reached the stage in front of the House tables, one student stood in front of them and stretched her wand in the air, sending another flight of butterflies around the halls, these ones leaving a trail of blue dust behind them like a comet. With a few graceful spins, the group took a bow and made their way to their classmates at the Ravenclaw tables. 

Within moments of their exit, the ground began to quake. Seconds later a group of Durmstrang males strode in, stomping their gold-plated sticks leaving sparks on the floor. Yelling their school chant, they spun their posts around and made various martial art formations Cassie remembered Simon detailing. And then all of a sudden they threw their posts in the air and ran ahead towards the open space, somersaulting and cartwheeling, performing impressive stunts no one in Hogwarts could pull off at their first try while another group of Durmstrang women caught the sticks and began stomping it on the floor again. They clashed their sticks with one another as if they were sword fighting with them, performing majestic martial-art-styled dance performances Cassie had never seen before. 

Everyone was left in awe as they watched the students assemble themselves in front of the House Tables, marching and chanting their school motto (the students who sat at the Slytherin table proudly bellowing it louder than the performers). With a stiff bow, they marched to the table and joined their classmates. 

A resounding applause took over the room as the students of all three schools gushed over the performances. A minute later, Dumbledore took to the mic, congratulating and thanking the visiting schools for their monumental performances. 

As Dumbledore announced the karaoke-themed school anthem that was to be sung by the students of Hogwarts, Cassie signalled her group and the four of them pulled out their wands and pointed them at their throats, whispering, "Sonorus"

It was time.