Courage

-49-

Book: Courage
Chapter 49
Word Count: 5282

"I don't believe it," said Cedric, in a stunned voice, as the Hogwarts students filed back up the steps behind the party from Durmstrang. As the captain of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team, Cedric was a big Quidditch fan, as was Layla, but not nearly as big as Cedric. "It was Viktor Krum, Layla. At our school."

"It looks like you have a little crush there, Ced," Layla said to her boyfriend with a teasing grin.

"How dare you?" Cedric grinned back playfully. "I simply admire him. One day, I hope to be apart of a world-famous Quidditch team."

"I'm positive you'll get there," said Layla, intertwining her hand with Cedric's. "And I'll be in the stands every match, cheering you on."

Cedric smiled widely at her, planting a kiss on her temple.

As they recrossed the entrance hall with the rest of the Hogwarts students heading for the Great Hall, Layla saw Lee Jordan jumping up and down on the soles of his feet to get a better look at the back of Krum's head. Several sixth-year girls were frantically searching their pockets as they walked.

"Oh I don't believe it, I haven't got a single quill on me—"

"D'you think he'd sign my hat in lipstick?"

Layla kissed Cedric's cheek before waving him goodbye and heading over to the Gryffindor table, sitting down beside Harry, with Ron and Hermione opposite them.

Ron took care to sit on the side facing the doorway, because Krum 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 a space—"

"What?"

"Too late," said Ron bitterly.

Viktor Krum and his fellow Durmstrang students had settled themselves at the Slytherin table. Layla could see Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle looking very smug about this. As she watched, Draco 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.

"They look a lot happier than the Beauxbatons lot," said Harry. The Durmstrang students were pulling off their heavy furs and looking up at the starry black ceiling with expressions of interest; a couple of them were picking up the golden plates and goblets and examining them, apparently impressed.

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

"But there are only two extra people," Layla 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 Beauxbatons leapt to their feet. A few of the Hogwarts students laughed. The Beauxbatons party appeared quite unembarrassed, however, and did not resume their seats until Madame Maxime had sat down on Dumbledore's left-hand side.