Fred Weasley x Reader

Chapter 17

 Miss me?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Readers pov

Silence. Pure silence filled the Great Hall. Usually, new professors would be welcomed with applause. This time however, everyone seemed to be too transfixed on Moody's face.

"Moody? As in, Mad-Eye Moody?" I mumbled.

"That's him, all right." Fred whispered.

"I thought he was mental?" George muttered.

"Apparently he's sane enough to work here," Lee responded. 

"That doesn't mean anything. Snape and Trelawney teach here." Fred added. 

I rolled my eyes as they snickered and turned my attention back to Mad-Eye. He didn't seem to care about the cold welcome and continued to eat. He reached into his cloak and brought out a hip flask and drank from that, completely ignoring the jug of pumpkin juice in front of him. 

"As I was saying," Dumbledore continued with a smile, "we are to have the honor of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event that has not been held for over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year." 

"You're JOKING!" Fred shouted near my ear and I jumped in my seat, startled. I turned around to hit the back of his head lightly. Laughter filled the hall as nearly everyone laughed, and Dumbledore chuckled appreciatively. 

"I am not joking, Mr. Weasley. And Miss Y/l/n? Please refrain from swatting Mr. Weasley," He paused as more laughter filled the room, "though now that you mention it, I did hear an excellent joke over the summer about a troll, a hag, and a leprechaun who all go into a bar...

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and looked over the top of her glasses at him.

"Er- but maybe this is not the time...no... 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 know will forgive me for giving a short explanation, and allow their attention to wonder freely."

The twins and Lee all had mischievous looks in their eyes as they listened to the headmaster intently. 

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

"Death toll? Did he really just say death toll?" I whispered to the boys. Most of the school didn't appear bothered by this news, instead students whispered excitedly. Fred shrugged and kept his eyes trained on Dumbledore.

"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 shortlisted 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."