tradition

03

As the Hogwarts Express began to slow and the scenery outside the windows transitioned from the blurred greens and browns of the countryside to the familiar sight of Hogsmeade station, students started to gather their belongings. The chatter and excitement of returning to school filled the compartments. Briar Castilla-Laurier stood up and glanced around, her eyes searching for her younger brother among the sea of students. "Adam? Hey, El, have you seen Adam?" she called out over the noise.

Eloise Diggory, always observant, nodded and pointed towards the end of the train where a familiar curly-haired boy was standing. Briar spotted him and quickly made her way through the bustling crowd. "Hey, Bree," Adam greeted her with a wave and a bright smile, clearly happy to see his sister.

Briar felt a wave of relief wash over her at the sight of him. "I'm glad you're safe," she said, pulling him into a tight hug. After a moment, they began walking together towards the castle, their footsteps echoing on the platform as they made their way through the crowd of students. "Bree, did you see Harry? Did you ask him about me?" Adam asked eagerly, his eyes wide with anticipation.

Briar sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. Adam had been eagerly awaiting this moment. He had finally found the courage to try out for the Gryffindor Quidditch team this year and had asked her to talk him up to Harry. Unfortunately for him, Adam was unaware of Harry's infatuation with Briar, nor did he know about her distaste for the famous seeker. "I'm sorry, bud, I didn't get a chance to..." she began, her voice trailing off as she saw the disappointment flash across Adam's face.

Adam sighed and nodded, his enthusiasm dimming. "It's okay, let's go inside, yeah?" he suggested, trying to keep his spirits up. Briar nodded, feeling a mix of guilt and relief that her brother wasn't angry with her. As they walked towards the castle, the grandeur of Hogwarts loomed ahead, its many towers and turrets silhouetted against the darkening sky.

As Briar and Adam made their way inside, they noticed a large carriage being pulled by several winged horses landing in the courtyard. The sight drew a crowd of students, all scrambling to get a closer look at the magnificent creatures. "Do you see that?" Eloise pointed excitedly at the carriage. The sleek, white horses with their powerful wings were an impressive sight.

Briar, equally captivated, watched as Hagrid began tending to the creatures, his massive hands gentle as he calmed them. "No way..." Georgia Longbottom muttered, drawing their attention to the lake. There, a large ship emerged from beneath the water, its masts and sails unfurling as it rose. "That's the Durmstrang crest... why is Durmstrang coming to our school?" Georgia questioned, her brow furrowing in confusion. Briar shrugged, her curiosity piqued as she observed the unfolding spectacle. 

~

Later, in the Great Hall, the students settled into their respective house tables, the buzz of excitement still palpable. The sorting ceremony had just concluded, and Professor Dumbledore stood up, his presence commanding immediate attention. "Well, now we're all settled in and sorted, I'd like to make an announcement. This castle will not only be your home this year but home to some very special guests as well. You see, Hogwarts has been chosen—" he began, only to be interrupted by Argus Filch, the caretaker, who hurried up the aisle and whispered something urgently in Dumbledore's ear.

Dumbledore nodded and resumed, "So... Hogwarts has been chosen to host a legendary event: The Triwizard Tournament. Now, for those of you who do not know, the Triwizard Tournament brings together three schools for a series of magical contests. From each school, a single student is selected to compete."

Excited murmurs and whispers spread through the hall as students turned to their friends, discussing the news with eager anticipation. "Now let me be clear, if you are chosen, you stand alone. And trust me when I say that these contests are not for the faint-hearted. But more of that later," Dumbledore said, smiling kindly before gesturing towards the large doors.

"Please join me in welcoming the lovely ladies of the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, and their beautiful headmistress, Madame Maxime!" As the doors creaked open, a procession of stunningly beautiful girls clad in silky, skin-clinging blue robes entered in graceful formation, their synchronized movements captivating the attention of everyone in the hall. Ron, like many other boys, watched with his mouth slightly ajar, utterly entranced.

Adam, who sat next to Briar, was no exception, his eyes wide with wonder. Briar, Ginny, and Hermione, however, were far less impressed. Hermione, noticing Ron's obvious fixation, elbowed him sharply. Briar rolled her eyes at Harry's awe-struck expression.

"Don't worry, Rose, I still only have eyes for you," Harry smirked, catching her eye and making her scowl.

The Beauxbatons girls continued their elegant display, culminating in a series of cartwheels that brought them to the end of the hall. Their final two members, Fleur Delacour, a particularly luminous girl, and her younger sister Gabrielle, followed closely behind their headmistress, Madame Maxime, who captured the attention of every student in the Great Hall. "Blimey, that's one big woman," Seamus Finnigan muttered, drawing a laugh from his friends.

Georgia and Eloise watched the performance, unimpressed. "Oh, they're Veelas..." Georgia realized aloud, nodding to herself. Eloise, who had been glaring at her brother for whistling, nodded in agreement. "Makes sense," Briar muttered.

Dumbledore, having kissed Madame Maxime's hand, returned to the front of the room. "And now our friends from the north. Please greet the proud sons of Durmstrang and their high master, Igor Karkaroff." A group of boys dressed in black marched proudly into the hall, their staffs striking the ground and releasing showers of sparks. Viktor Krum, the famous Quidditch player, led the way, followed closely by Igor Karkaroff.

The two headmasters embraced like old friends, their camaraderie evident. "Your attention please," Dumbledore called, his voice commanding silence. "I'd like to say a few words. Eternal glory is what awaits the student who wins the Triwizard Tournament. But to do this, that student must survive three tasks. Three... extremely dangerous tasks."

Fred and George Weasley grinned and nudged each other, their eyes alight with excitement. "Wicked," they whispered in unison.

"For this reason, the Ministry has seen fit to impose a new rule. To explain all of this, we have the Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, Mr. Bartemius Crouch." A man dressed in grey robes stepped forward, acknowledging the students with a curt nod. As he did so, thunder crashed and a bright yellow light erupted from a wand, causing the dark clouds and thunder to disperse.

"Bloody hell... that's Mad-Eye Moody," Briar gasped, her eyes widening. A man wearing a long overcoat and a sour expression, with an electric blue eye embedded in his skull, scanned the crowd. "Alastor Moody, the auror?" Hermione questioned, her curiosity piqued. Georgia nodded. "Auror?" Harry asked, unfamiliar with the term. "Dark-wizard catcher. Half the cells in Azkaban are filled thanks to him. He's supposed to be mad as a hatter these days," Ron whispered.

Mad-Eye's blue eye scanned the crowd once more and stopped at Harry. Moody and Dumbledore exchanged whispers and a handshake before Moody took the one remaining seat at the staff table, his presence causing a stir among the students. Briar glanced at the famous auror, her expression one of distaste. "What's that he's drinking, do you suppose?" Seamus asked, taking note of the flask in Moody's hand. "I dunno, but I don't think it's pumpkin juice," Briar muttered.

Barty Crouch stepped forward, his voice loud and authoritative as he grabbed the attention of the students. "After due consideration, the Ministry has concluded that for their own safety, no student under the age of 17 shall be allowed to put forth their name for the Triwizard Tournament."

An uproar of protests and grunts of disapproval erupted from the students. "That's rubbish!" Fred and George Weasley shouted in unison. "This decision is final!" Barty shouted back, his tone brooking no argument.

"Silence!" Dumbledore commanded, waving his wand as a golden protective covering disappeared, revealing a goblet with blue and white flames erupting from it."The Goblet of Fire. Anybody wishing to submit themselves to the Tournament need only write their name upon a piece of parchment and drop it into the flames within the next twenty-four hours. Do not do so lightly. If chosen, there is no turning back," Dumbledore warned, his voice grave.

Georgia, Eloise, and Briar shared worried looks, the weight of the announcement settling heavily on their shoulders. Dumbledore continued to speak, his voice resonating through the hall. "As of this moment... the Triwizard Tournament has begun."

The Great Hall buzzed with a mixture of excitement, apprehension, and curiosity as students absorbed the magnitude of what lay ahead. Briar couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in her stomach. This year at Hogwarts was going to be unlike any other.