A Taste of Magic

Chapter 57: 57th Course - Foreign Flavours

"Wow, breakfast looks really different today," Parvati remarked as they sat at the table.

"Probably for the visitors," Lavender said, peeking at the other tables.

The night prior, the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang had arrived at Hogwarts. It had been a very eventful night. The Beauxbatons students came to the school in a giant flying carriage that was as large as a many-floored house, pulled by gigantic pegasi. At first, it seemed everything from Beauxbatons was very big: their transportation, the horses, their Headmistress towered over everyone. All that made the students seem especially diminutive at first, comparatively. However, it turned out that they were much like the students at Hogwarts, with varying heights and builds and colors of skin and hair, wearing silk robes and other fine clothing. Though as a whole they looked a bit more reserved and set apart, some of them looking down on the locale and the locals.

While the Beauxbatons contingent came from the sky, the Durmstrang group came from the water. A giant hole had formed on the far side of the Black Lake and a very large three-mast ship had popped out of the water. It sailed to the docks and the students came up in a somewhat orderly fashion, wearing heavy robes lined with fur and many had heavy cloaks and over-robes. Their Headmaster was thin and reedy, with cold eyes that lacked warmth.

The Beauxbatons students had sat at the Ravenclaw table while the Durmstrangs sat at the Slytherin table. There was a minor commotion when it was revealed the Viktor Krum, star Quidditch Seeker on the National and International Stage, was still a student and the Slytherins had been very smug about that.

Harry had been interested in seeing what the visiting students were like, but when the Welcoming Feast appeared, his attention had been drawn to the new variety of food available. He saw dishes that he had never seen in person before and had made a point to try each one. What had made him especially happy was that when the dinner was served, a tiny sheaf of parchment had appeared on his plate first and he had smiled wide when he realized it was a small menu written out with all the names of the new dishes. Inky and Ebbers had written it for him, knowing he would be interested, and he was grateful for it.

Dumbledore had shared during the meal that the legendary Goblet of Fire would be the one to select the school champions. Whoever wished to enter into the Tournament would submit their names into the Goblet and on Halloween night, the champions would be chosen. There would be sign-ups for the other events related to the Tournament, the ones that anyone could participate in. Those would go up on the main notice board in the foyer when it came close to the event in question.

As per protocol, people sat at their own House tables for the major feasts but as per usual, a few migrated to their favorite spot in question other times, like now. While some people still looked askance at it, and the professors approved, the usual people have long since ignored the looks and whispers.

"How's sitting with Durmstrang?" Lavender asked.

Pansy hummed for a moment as she sat. "They're nice enough I suppose. Pretty interested in their surroundings, said it was quite warm compared to where they normally are. Some seemed interested in talking to us."

"Did you talk to Krum?" Ron asked eagerly.

"Not really. He kept to himself. Many in the House tried to chat with him of course." Pansy shrugged. "I wasn't paying too much attention if I'm being honest. I'm not terribly invested in Quidditch. He seems polite enough, reserved but if he's as famous as people say-"