Forsaken Bloodlines {HP x GOT}

Chapter 4.5

The Great Hall buzzed with excitement and anticipation as the sorting ceremony began. New first years trembled with nervous energy, their eyes wide as they took in the grandeur of the hall, its enchanted ceiling reflecting the starry night sky. Lyanna, sitting at the Ravenclaw table, was whispering animatedly with Hermione, Ron, and Harry, who were seated just beside the Ravenclaws at the Gryffindor table.

"Can you believe the Triwizard Tournament is actually happening?" Lyanna whispered, her voice barely audible over the chatter.

"I know!" Hermione replied, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "It's going to be so fascinating to see what kinds of challenges they set up."

Ron leaned in, his face lit with excitement. "I wonder who'll be brave enough to enter. You have to be mad to even think about it."

Harry smiled wryly. "Knowing Fred and George, they'll probably try to find a way to sneak their names in, age limit or not."

As the sorting ceremony progressed, the Hall glowed with magical warmth, the candles floating in mid-air casting a soft light on the students' faces. The Sorting Hat's song was as whimsical and insightful as ever, drawing appreciative applause from the gathered students and staff.

Once the last first-year had been sorted and the applause had died down, Albus Dumbledore rose from his seat at the top of the Hall. The room fell silent, all eyes on the beloved Headmaster as he prepared to address the school.

"Welcome," Dumbledore began, his voice resonant and warm, "to another year at Hogwarts. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. Firstly, Mr. Filch, our beloved caretaker, has informed me that the list of objects forbidden within the castle now includes Screaming Yo-Yos, Fanged Frisbees, Ever-Bashing Marshmallow Bunnies."

He paused, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I'm joking about the last one. The full list comprises some four hundred and thirty-seven items and may be viewed in Mr. Filch's office."

Ron snickered. "Mental. Always has been."

Lyanna and her Gryffindor friends laughed, the sound mingling with the general amusement in the Hall. Lyanna grinned, glancing over at the Hufflepuff table. Cedric Diggory was also smiling appreciatively at Dumbledore's humor, his eyes catching hers for a brief moment. She quickly looked away, her cheeks warming.

Dumbledore continued, his tone growing more serious. "Now. There is, apparently, a rather nasty rumor flying about the school that Quidditch will not be played this year. That rumor, I'm here to tell you... is absolutely true."

Indignation filled the Hall. Students began to murmur loudly, their protests growing. Dumbledore smiled in amusement, raising a hand for silence.

"There is an explanation," he said, his eyes twinkling. "You see, Hogwarts will this year play host to a legendary event. An event that has not taken place in over one hundred years... The Triwizard Tournament."

Excitement shook the Hall. Gasps and whispers of "Triwizard Tournament" spread like wildfire. One voice rang clear above the rest:

"You're joking!" Fred Weasley shouted, unable to contain himself.

"I am not joking, Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore replied with a chuckle. "For those of you who do not know, the Triwizard Tournament was originally conceived some seven centuries ago as a way for the three largest European wizardry schools to engage in a series of magical contests while their respective student bodies experienced the benefits of cross-cultural social intercourse."

A crackling, albeit bewildered, silence hung in the air.

"In other words," Dumbledore clarified, "one got to spend an entire year getting to know people who spoke a funny language. Unfortunately, due to a distressingly high death toll, the Tournament was canceled..."