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C2 - Unexpected Guests

     *going for what happened in the movie other than the book. I have also changed seating arrangements and so forth*
   Hermione followed them back with her head held high. Ron and Harry gave her a quick smile as she rejoined them but passed them off. And without saying a word she grabbed her robes to get changed.
                               * * *
  The great hall looked darker than usual. All the decorations were exactly the same but everything was just a slightly bit dimmer. The ceiling was full of thunder clouds, ready to burst at any moment.
The teachers had already settled into their seats except five that remained empty, Hermione could only presume one was for the new defence against the dark arts teacher, she had no idea who the others were for.
There was a casket in front of the top table. It was made of stone and it was large. To what was in their they had no clue.
    Hermione took her seat across from Harry, George and Fred, passing Fred an innocent smile before turning to Ginny who was beside her. They set into their routine of harmless talk about the new school year when Harry poked her sharply in the arm. With a quick snap of her head she said,  "What?"
"What do you think that is?" He was pointing to the mysterious casket. She shook her head as if to tell him she had no idea.
    Mcgonnagall came along with the familiar battered hat and the tall stall indicating the sorting ceremony would shortly begin.
   Hermione looked out at the first years as the shuffled nervously by and remembered how hesitant she had felt when it was her turn. She had walked next to Susan Bones explaining everything she could, trying to prove herself worthy from the off. Her eyes drifted to each table as she made her journey and she remembered catching the eye of a young ginger boy sitting at a table with who she knew to be his twin. The boy gave a sneaky wink in her direction but she passed it off and moments later she found herself sitting next to him. Soon she discovered his name was Fred and his twin was George.
   When everyone had settled into their houses Mcgonnagall removed the hat and stall allowing Dumbledore to stride across the hall, all noise was abruptly silenced.
Hermione listened to him earnestly, keeping in mind that either Ron or Harry would end up not listening resulting in her having to explain everything.
"Now we are all settled in and sorted I would 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 stopped to mutter something to Filtch who had previously hurried in and with less than a word he scrambled off.
"So... Hogwarts has been chosen to host a legendary event; the Triwizard tournament!"
Gasps roared from people and a surge of quiet whispers carried out across the hall.
Hermione noticed how Fred and Georges' eyes lit up at the mention of the event and she could tell exactly what they were thinking.
Harry looked around simply at everybody having no idea to what Dumbledore was talking about.
"For those of you who don't know, the Triwizard tournament brings together three schools for a series of contests. From each school a single student is selected.
Let me be clear the chosen one will stand alone and trust me when I say these contests are not for the faint hearted,"
Hermione shuddered at the tone of his voice. Her eyes drifted to Fred's head and for a reason she did not know, she felt a pang of dread for him.
"More of that later. For now, please join me in welcoming the lovely ladies from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and their head mistress Madame Maxine,"
   The great hall doors were torn opened allowing them to see a flock of beautiful girls dressed in blue robes. They had blue hats on their heads, it titled on top of their mermaid like hair which had been put back allowing only a few curls to dangle down. They walked in a elegant way which emphasised their french side.
    Ron and Harry nearly jumped into their paths as the fluttered down the rows stopping every so often to sigh, a sigh that sounded like a sirens call to all the boys. Periwinkle butterflies came out of nowhere and fluttered their way into more boys hearts.
   As the ladies stopped in front of her end of the table, Hermione tutted as she saw how her friends had reacted. Ron was muttering about being in love and how they looked like Veela. Harry looked as if he was enchanted, earning himself a scowl from Ginny. Whilst George was trying to show off and impress them. He flicked his hair and spoke highly of things he thought would draw their attention.
    She then looked towards the other Weasley. Fred however was normal. Although his eyes were bigger than usual and he had a slight mischievous grin, he wasn't making any attempts to gain the attention of the girls that had seemed to capture every other guys heart. At this she stopped staring, it left her with an unusual amount of optimism, to why or what for she couldn't place.
  Following behind them was an extremely tall women, who could easily have been mistaken for an actual giant. She walked behind her students with a proud face as she saw the impression they had made. She wore purple and silver robes covered in fur at the sleeves.
    A little girl was in front doing cartwheels whilst an even more beautiful student, with striking blond hair, danced next to her. As they reached the end of their display the one who Ron almost fainted over, the dancing girl, curtsied.
There was an outburst of cheers and applauses. Madame Maxine allowed Dumbledore to kiss her hand and she took one of the five seats, which happened to be next to a beaming Hagrid. The other girls took seats on the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables.
Dumbledore lifted his hand and once again the hall was in silence.
"And now our friends from the north; please greet the proud Dumstrang and their high master Igor Karkaroff!"
Hermione hadn't noticed the doors had shut again, not until they burst opened with a loud bang.
Boys that looked like men burst in, running by the tables in great furs. Some holding sticks and doing tricks. Hermione looked to see girls giggling, normally she would complain but even she couldn't help but smirk at them. Ginny looked at them in awe leaving Harry to be slightly slanted at the new arrival.
The girls looked and marvelled whilst many of the boys looked in jealousy and spite as they had managed to get every girls attention.
They continued to run and then someone came from the door which made some of the girls squeal.
Striding next to his head teacher, like an equal, was Viktor Crum, the famous seeker. He strode in with his fur robes and hat. The way he walked gave everyone the impression he owned his school and Igor was wrapped around his little finger.
   As he reached Hermione's part of the table, he gave her a quick glance and a smile. She immediately flushed. Fred noticed this and sent him a glare that could shame Mrs Weasleys'. He couldn't help it, to him it felt necessary, but he also didn't know why.  Passing it off as brotherly instincts he shook his head and concentrated on something else.
    The sticks, carried by the men, produced Sparks and finally a boy blew fire, it transformed from just fire to a snake to a Phoenix.
   "Albus!" Igor bellowed as he embraced Dumbledore. He took another seat whilst the Dumstrang boys took their places at the Slytherin table, some at Gryffindor.
    The feast appeared and with once glance to Hermione, Fred tucked in.