Always - Welcome to the Wizarding World

Part 7

"You'd better go and join your fellow housemates, Miss Snape" McGonagall ordered. 

I walked over to the Slytherin table, who had all since been shushed, and I sat down at the very end next to a girl with white curly hair. I could tell she was trying to catch my eye so she could chat to me, but I couldn't look at her, just let my eyes bore into the wooden table at which I was sat. 

Slytherin, how could it be Slytherin? I knew my uncle was the house leader, but we were nothing alike, surely! He was so...intimidating, I hated to think of myself being perceived like that.

 I looked over to the Gryffindor table; Hermione and Ron were chatting privately, but Harry seemed just as perplexed as me by the Sorting Hat's choice. Not only was I confused about my selected house, I was concerned about my lack of friends in Slytherin. I knew it wasn't a house known for its friendliness. I looked along the table and spotted Goyle, who had fallen asleep on the table. Next to him was Crabbe, who was laughing about something to Draco, probably the fact that Goyle had fallen asleep. Draco, however, was not listening to a word Crabbe was saying. He was still slightly smiling at me dreamily, not seemingly aware that I was watching. Draco was an odd boy, quite clearly not well liked, but I couldn't understand why yet. I found him interesting, I suppose. I felt like such a cliche for even thinking this, but he genuinely seemed quite misunderstood. 

Just as I had settled myself onto the table, accepting my sorting, Professor Dumbledore stepped forth onto the raised platform and he continued to make a speech.

"Well, now that we're all settled in and sorted, I'd like to make an announcement. This castle will not only be your home this year, but home to some very special guests as well." Dumbledore was interrupted by a hunched, dirty man with long greasy hair running in a humorous manner towards him and whispering frantically. "Tell them to wait, Argus, thank you" he murmured back and the man ran out again. Dumbledore continued. "Hogwarts has been chosen to host a legendary event: The Triwizard Tournament." Everyone erupted into excited chatter. I had never heard of the Triwizard Tournament before, but it must be a big deal.

"For those of you who do not know, the Triwizard Tournament brings together three schools for a series of magical contests. From each school, a single student is elected to compete. Now let me be clear. If chosen, you stand alone. And trust me when I say, these contests are not for the faint-hearted" Dumbledore explained. More faces around me began to grin, excited by the danger of this tournament. I certainly was not as keen on the idea of these frightening contests as the rest of my schoolmates. 

"But more of that later. For now, please join me in welcoming the lovely ladies of the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and their headmistress, Madame Maxime" Dumbledore gestured to the door of the Great Hall which was opened to reveal a group of stunning French girls, all dressed in blue, strutting in, followed by a monstrously tall woman. Every single boy's mouth dropped to the floor at the sight of these beautiful girls whilst the rest of us girls sat there rolling our eyes, unimpressed by their obvious, however successful, attempt at seduction. Dumbledore greeted Madame Maxime and she went to take a seat with the rest of the professors. 

"And now our friends from the North. Please greet the proud sons of Durmstrang and their high-master, Igor Karkaroff" Dumbledore said, the door opening once again for this school. Now, it was the girls' turn to be star-struck. Behind all the other performing gymnasts and martial artists, was Victor Krum, the famous Quidditch player that Ron was slightly enamored. He was a lot more handsome close up, but not exactly my type. "Dumb Krum" was what Ron's brothers, Fred and George, had called him and I had to agree. He didn't look like the most intelligent of males. Igor kissed Dumbledore on both cheeks and then sat down next to my uncle Severus.

After our magnificent feast, which was undoubtedly the best food I had ever had, Dumbledore stood up again to speak once more. "Your attention, please. I'd like to say a few words" he said. The entire hall hushed to an eerie silence to hear Dumbledore's words. "Eternal glory. That is what awaits the student who wins the Triwizard Tournament. But to do this, that student must survive three tasks. Three extremely dangerous tasks. For this reason, the Ministry has seen fit to impose a new rule. To explain all this, we have the head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, Mr Bartemius Crouch". 

An awkward grey haired man, presumably Mr Crouch, started to step forward when the enchanted ceiling started to rumble. Lightning flashed above us and everyone started screaming. Panic rippled throughout the hall, so I decided to stand up, the same as the girl next to me and started to head out of the Hall. Then, suddenly, the ceiling was calm. Everybody stopped and looked at Dumbledore. The man shaking hands with him was the most curious man I had ever seen. He had clearly been walking out in the rain, both his mousy hair and brown trench coat being absolutely soaked. His unnerving false eye whizzed around the room so fast, I couldn't tell if he was focusing on me or everyone.

"That's Mad-Eye Moody". 

"What's he doing here?" 

I heard everyone whispering. I'd heard of Mad-Eye Moody before, I was sure Amos had told Ced and I about him. He was an auror, filled a lot of cells in Azkaban, but was apparently slightly mental nowadays, according to Amos. Moody stood at the side and watched as Mr Crouch stepped forwards.

"After due consideration, the Ministry has concluded that, for their own safety, no student under the age of 17 shall be allowed to put forth their name for the Triwizard Tournament. This decision is final!" he said. This didn't bother me much, but around me came an uproar of anger, people shouting things like "that's rubbish!" and "you don't know what you're talking about!", along with other rude insults.

"Silence!"Dumbledore bellowed over the angry shouts of the furious students. A bejeweled gold casket stood in front of Dumbledore, He waved his wand over it and it seemed to melt, to reveal a goblet made of stone with blue and white flames glowering from inside of it. It was a daunting and powerful object, striking a feeling of fear in my heart. "The Goblet of Fire. Anyone wishing to submit themselves to the Tournament need only write their name upon a piece of parchment and throw it in the flame before this hour on Thursday night. Do not do so lightly. If chosen, there's no turning back. As from this moment, the Triwizard Tournament has begun".