Dynamic Duos: We Are Young [hogwarts fanfic]

two

// dan
Previously...

Suddenly, there was a deafening clap of thunder and the doors of the Great Hall banged open.

A man stood in the doorway, leaning on a long staff. His black cloak flowed behind him. Every head in the Great Hall turned to get a look at this creepy newcomer. He lowered his hood and began walking toward the teachers' table.

A dull clunk echoed throughout the Hall with the man's every other step. Another flash of lightning illuminated the man's face and gasps rang out around the hall.

"Bloody hell," Jamie whispered. I nodded. The man's face was terribly scarred and disfigured. But the man's eyes were the scariest.

One was small, dark and beady. The other was large and as round as a coin, as well as vivid, electric blue. The blue eye moved carelessly, ceaselessly, without blinking. It rolled up, down, and from side to side, completely independently from the normal eye. Then it rolled all the way up, pointing at the back of the man's head, so all we could see was the white.

He and Dumbledore shook hands, exchanged a few words, and then the stranger sat down, sniffing a plate of sausages and impaling one on a knife and eating it. His normal eye was fixed on the sausage, but the blue one scanned about the Hall, taking in all the students.

"May I introduce our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Moody," Dumbledore announced brightly into the silence.

Usually, new staff members were greeted with applause, but no one except Hagrid and Dumbledore clapped. It echoed loudly and they both stopped fairly quickly. Everyone was shocked by Moody's appearance to do anything but stare.

"I think my dad works with him as an auror," Jamie muttered.

"What happened to... to his face?" I whispered.

"Dunno," Jamie whispered back.

Moody seemed totally indifferent to the less-than-warm welcome. He took a long drink from his hip flask, the bottom of his cloak lifting  up just enough to reveal a carved wooden leg with a clawed foot.

Dumbledore cleared his throat.

"As I was saying," he continued, smiling out at the transfixed students, "we are to have the honour of hosting a very exciting even over the coming months, an event that--"

"Come on, Dumbledore," Jamie mumbled, drowning out the Headmaster's voice for just a moment.

"--a century. It is my great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year."

There was a pause of silence, then Fred Weasley yelled out,

"You're JOKING!"

The tension that had filled the Hall vanished instantly. Nearly everyone laughed and Dumbledore chuckled appreciatively.

"I am not joking, Mr. Weasley," he said, "though now that you mention it, I did hear an excellent one over the summer about a troll, a hag and a leprechaun who all go into a bar--"

McGonagall cleared her throat loudly.

"Er--but maybe this is not the time... no..." Dumbledore trailed off. "Where was I? Ah yes, the Triwizard Tournament.... well, some of you will not know what this tournament involves, so I hope those who do will forgive me for giving a short explanation, and allow their attention to wander freely."

I knew at that moment, Jamie tuned out Dumbledore, as did many others, but I listened.

"The Triwizard Tournament was first established some seven hundred years ago as a friendly competition--"

Jamie snorted beside me.

"--between the three largest European schools of wizardry: Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. A champion was selected to represent each school, and the three champions competed in three magical tasks. The schools took it in turns to host the tournament once every five years, and it was generally agreed to be a most excellent way of establishing ties between young witches and wizards of different nationalities--until, that is, the death toll mounted so high that the tournament was discontinued."

"Wait, death toll?" I stared at Jamie, who was once again engrossed in her wizard/Hogwarts-proof Nintendo.

"There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the tournament, none of which has been very successful. However, our own departments of International Magical Cooperation and Magical Games and Sports have decided the time is ripe for another attempt. We have worked hard over the summer to ensure that this time, no champion will find himself or herself in Mortal danger.

"The heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving with their short-list contenders in October, and the selection of the three champions will take place at Halloween. An impartial judge will decide which students are most worthy to compete for the Triwizard Cup, the glory of their school, and a thousand Galleons personal prize money."

People started murmuring about definitely trying. I thought it was insane.

"Eager though I know all of you will be to bring the Triwizard Cup to Hogwarts," Dumbledore spoke over the commotion, "the heads of the participating schools, along with the Ministry of Magic have agreed to impose an age restriction on contenders this year. Only students who are of age--that is to say, seventeen years or older--will be allowed to put forth their names for consideration. This--" Dumbledore subtly raised his voice because many people made noises of outrage and protest, "--is a measure we feel is necessary, given that the tournament tasks will still be difficult and dangerous whatever precautions we take, and it is highly unlikely that students below sixth and seventh year level will be able to cope with them. I will personally be ensuring that no one underange hoodwinks our impartial judge into making them Hogwarts champion." Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled with mischief.

After that, I stopped listening, turning back to Jamie, who had put away the Nintendo.

"People are not going to be happy about this age restriction," she whispered.

"This is insane!" I protested. "Who in their right minds would risk their lives for something as trivial as a stupid prize?"

"Lots of people, Dan. Come on, let's get to bed." Jamie stood up, grabbing my hand. We walked down to the Slytherin dorms.

"If you were of age, would you enter?" I asked. Jamie frowned.

"Probably not. I mean, if you win, that's great and all, but if you lose? If you get hurt? If you die? I don't know if the risks are worth it."