A Hogwarts Legend: Chaos Begins [4] (SLOW UPDATES)

Chapter Twenty Two

Chapter Twenty Two - "Ron is such a fangirl."

"I don't believe it!" Ron says, in a stunned voice, as the Hogwarts students file back up the steps behind the party from Durmstrang. "Krum! Viktor Krum!"

"For heaven's sake, Ron, he's only a Quidditch player," says Hermione.

"Only a Quidditch player?" Ron says, looking at her as though he can't believe his ears. "Hermione - he's one of the best Seekers in the world! I had no idea he was still at school!"

As we recross the Entrance Hall with the rest of the Hogwarts students, heading for the Great Hall, I see Lee Jordan jumping up and down on the soles of his feet to get a better look at the back of Krum's head. Several sixth-year girls are frantically searching their pockets as they walk - "Oh, I don't believe it, I haven't got a single quill on me -" "D'you think he'd sign my hat in lipstick?"

"Really," Maya says, as we pass the girls, now squabbling over the lipstick.

"I'm getting his autograph if I can," says Ron, "you haven't got a quill, have you, Harry?"

"Nope, they're upstairs in my bag," says Harry.

We walk over to the Gryffindor table and sit down. Ron takes care to sit in the side facing the doorway, because Krum and his fellow Durmstrang students are still gathered around it, apparently unsure about where they should sit. The students from Beauxbatons have chosen seats at the Ravenclaw table. They're looking around the Great Hall with glum expressions on their faces. Three of them are still clutching scarves and shawls around their heads.

"It's not that cold," says Elinor irritably, who's watching them. "Why didn't they bring cloaks?"

"They probably didn't realise how cold it would be," I shrug. "They underestimated the classic British weather."

"Over here! Come and sit over here!" Ron hisses. "Over here! Hermione, budge up, make a space -"

"What?"

"Too late," says Ron bitterly.

Viktor Krum and his fellow Durmstrang students have settled themselves at the Slytherin table. I can see Draco, Crabbe and Goyle looking very smug about this. As I watch, Draco bends forwards to speak to Krum.

"Yeah, that's right, smarm up to him, Malfoy," says Ron scathingly. "I bet Krum can see right through him, though ... bet he gets people fawning over him all the time ... where d'you reckon they're going to sleep? We could offer him space in our dormitory, Harry ... I wouldn't mind giving him my bed, I could kip on a camp-bed."

Hermione snorts.

"They look a lot happier than the Beauxbatons lot," says Harry.

The Durmstrang students are pulling off their heavy furs and looking up at the starry black ceiling with expressions of interest; a couple of them are picking up the golden plates and goblets and examining them, apparently impressed.

Up at the staff table, Filch, the caretaker, is adding chairs. He's wearing his mouldy old tail coat in honour of the occasion. I'm surprised to see that he adds four chairs, two on either side of Dumbledore.

"But there are only two extra people," I say. "Why's Filch putting out four chairs? Who else is coming?"

"Eh?" says Ron vaguely. He's still staring avidly at Krum.

Ron is such a fangirl.

When all the students have entered the Hall and settled down at their house tables, the staff enter, filing up to the top table and taking their seats. Last in line are Professor Dumbledore, Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxime. When their Headmistress appears, the pupils from Beauxbatons leap to their feet. A few of the Hogwarts students laugh. The Beauxbatons party appear quite unembarrassed, and don't resume their seats until Madame Maxime has sat down on Dumbledore's left-hand side. Dumbledore, however, remains standing, and a silence falls over the Great Hall.