Chasing Shadows || Draco Malfoy x OC

Year 4- Ch.43

Céline made sure to keep her front facing away from the Ravenclaw table, not wanting to risk any of them seeing her. Once the food filled the plates she noticed some different dishes than the usual ones they always saw. They had some of her favorite ones from France. She helped herself to the bouillabaisse.

After a while the second course, which was the desserts, appeared on the table, switching out with the first course. She recognized a few French desserts and grabbed one, happily. It had been a while since she had a French dessert, since her family didn't allow sweets in the manor, the only time she had them was when she attended Beauxbatons.

The plates cleared and Dumbledore stood, Céline looked over and that was when she finally noticed two men that she had seen during and after the Quidditch World Cup. Sitting next to Professor Karkaroff was the announcer, Ludo Bagman, and sitting next to Madame Maxime, was Mr. Barry Crouch.

The Great Hall quieted down again, but there was excitement in the air.

"The moment has come," the Hogwarts headmaster said, smiling down at everyone in the room. "The Triwizard Tournament is about to begin, but I would like to say a few words of explanation, before we bring out the casket."

There was a low mermer being heard throughout the room

"— just to clarify the procedure that we will be following this year. But first, let me introduce, for those who do not know them, Mr. Bartemius Crouch, Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation" — there was a smattering of polite applause — "and Mr. Ludo Bagman, Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports."

There was a more enthusiastic roar of applause for Bagman and there was for Crouch, perhaps because of his fame as a Beater, or simply because he looked so much more likable. He acknowledged it with a jovial wave of his hand. Barty Crouch did not smile or wave when his name was announced.

"Mr. Bagman and Mr. Crouch have worked tirelessly over the last few months on the arrangements for the Triwizard Tournament," Dumbledore continued, "and they will be joining myself, Professor Karkaroff, and Madame Maxime on the panel that will judge the champions' efforts."

Everyone was eagerly waiting for him to continue when he mentioned the word 'champion'. Dumbledore smiled at everyone, "the casket, if you would please, Mr. Filch."

Mr. Filch, who had been standing in the corner unnoticed, approached Professor Dumbledore with a large wooden chest adorned in jewels. It looked ancient.

"The instructions for the tasks the champions will face this year have already been examined by Mr. Crouch and Mr. Bagman," said Dumbledore as Filch placed the chest carefully on the table before him, "and they have made the necessary arrangements for each challenge. There will be three tasks, spaced throughout the school year, and they will test the champions in many different ways . . . their magical prowess — their daring — their powers of deduction — and, of course, their ability to cope with danger."

Mr. Filch carefully placed the chest on top of the table in front of Dumbledore as he spoke, before stepping away.

"As you know, three champions compete in the tournament," Dumbledore went on calmly, "one from each of the participating schools. They will be marked on how well they perform each of the tournament tasks and the champion with the highest total after task three will win the Triwizard Cup. The champions will be chosen by an impartial selector: the Goblet of Fire."

Dumbledore now took out his wand and tapped three times upon the top of the casket. The lid creaked slowly open. Dumbledore reached inside it and pulled out a large, roughly hewn wooden cup. It would have been entirely unremarkable had it not been full to the brim with dancing blue-white flames.