Chosen & Hated (HP) {Book 2 of the Wild & Free Series}

10. The Triwizard Tournament

Through the gates, flanked with statues of winged boars, and up the sweeping drive the carriages trundled, swaying dangerously in what was fast becoming a gale. Leaning against the window, I could see Hogwarts coming nearer, its many lighted windows blurred and shimmering behind the thick curtain of rain. Lightning flashed across the sky as our carriage came to a halt before the great oak front doors, which stood at the top of a flight of stone steps.

People who had occupied the carriages in front were already hurrying up the stone steps into the castle. Harry, Ron, Lucy, Hermione, Neville and I jumped down from our carriage and dashed up the steps too, looking up only when we were safely inside the cavernous, torch-lit entrance hall, with its magnificent marble staircase.

"Blimey," said Ron, shaking his head and sending water everywhere, "if that keeps up the lake's going to overflow. I'm soaked!"

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Lucy and I slipped and slid across the entrance hall and through the double doors on the right, Ron muttering furiously under his breath as he pushed his sopping hair off his face.

The Great Hall looked its usual splendid self, decorated for the start-of-term feast. Golden plates and goblets gleamed by the light of hundreds and hundreds of candles, floating over the tables in midair. The four long House tables were packed with chattering students; at the top of the Hall, the staff sat along one side of a fifth table, facing their pupils. It was much warmer in here. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Lucy and I walked past the Slytherins, the Ravenclaws -- where Lucy went to sit down --and the Hufflepuffs, and sat down with the rest of the Gryffindors at the far side of the Hall.

When we finally sat down, a highly excited, breathless voice called down the table.

"Hiya, Harry and Liana!"

It was Colin Creevey, a third year to whom Harry and I were something of heroes.

"Hi, Colin," said Harry warily.

"Harry, Liana, guess what? Guess what? My brother's starting! My brother Dennis!"

"Er — good," I said.

"He's really excited!" said Colin, practically bouncing up and down in his seat. "I just hope he's in Gryffindor! Keep your fingers crossed, eh, Harry? Liana?"

"Er — yeah, all right," said Harry and I. We turned back to Hermione and Ron.

"Brothers and sisters usually go in the same Houses, don't they?" I said. I was judging by the Weasleys, all seven of whom had been put into Gryffindor.

"Oh no, not necessarily," said Hermione. "Parvati Patil's twin's in Ravenclaw, and they're identical. You'd think they'd be together, wouldn't you?"

I looked up at the staff table. There seemed to be rather more empty seats there than usual. Hagrid, of course, was still fighting his way across the lake with the first years; Professor McGonagall was presumably supervising the drying of the entrance hall floor, but there was another empty chair too, and I couldn't think who else was missing.

"Where's the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher?" said Hermione, who was also looking up at the teachers.

We had never yet had a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher who had lasted more than three terms. Our favourite by far had been Professor Lupin, who had resigned last year. I looked up and down the staff table. There was definitely no new face there.