Twin Troubles

Looking for Trouble

After all of the first years are sorted into their houses, Dumbledore takes to the podium.

"Here comes the spiel," Fred whispers to me. I stifle a laugh. The whole room is silenced and all eyes lay upon the headmaster.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, first years, and to our returning students, welcome back. We are pleased to be here at Hogwarts to have hopefully another wonderful year. This term Hogwarts will not only be home to all of you, but will host students from two other schools as well. These two schools being the Durmstrang Institute and the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. Our guests from these two schools will be arriving in a few days time. Now, you may all be wondering why these two schools will be joining us this term, and the answer is quite simple, and one that I believe you all will very much enjoy. This year, Hogwarts will be hosting, for the first time in over two hundred years, the Triwizard Tournament!" Dumbledore announces. The Hall erupts into excited chatter. I turn to see a confused look likely to be spread across the face of our recurringly magically confused chosen one. Sure enough, the boy was looking at our dear headmaster like he had said we'd be racing clouds or something.

"This is going to be Wicked! Are you ready to see your best friend win the Triwizard Tournament, little missy?" Fred says to me.

"Shut up you great bloke. If anything, I'll win the tournament. Plus, you're not her best friend, I am," George informs his brother.

"You both are my best friends and I would find no pleasure in seeing you compete in this thing. Not to sound like a Hermione or anything..."

"What?"

"But it does sound awfully dangerous. Plus, there's probably a catch," I say to both of them. They both shrug and redirect their attention back up to the podium as Dumbledore starts to speak again. I swear when that old guy opens his darn mouth, it's like the whole school is cast under a silencing charm, even me! And I never stop talking.

"And now we will hear a few words from Bartemius Crouch, Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation," Dumbledore steps aside as a rather stiff looking bloke assumes his place. 

"That's the guy who thought we casted the dark mark at the World Cup," Harry whispers to me. I nod as I mentally congratulate the boy for being somewhat helpful.

"The Triwizard Tournament is a series of three Dangerous tasks that one participant from each school must participate in. The ministry and the schools will be overseeing each of these tasks to make sure nothing gets out of hand. Due to recent restrictions to decrease the risks of the tournament, to enter the competition you must be at the age of seventeen..." Crouch explains. I can't hear much of what he says after this because...

"RUBBISH! THAT'S RUBBISH!" Fred and George both shout. There are other outbursts of displeasure from many others. Lee and I merely shrug, we don't really seem to find entering a competition with fatal tasks to be a fun use of time, so the age restriction scarcely bothers us. Dumbledore brings the room back to a hush as Crouch hurries off to who knows where. Probably to groom that ghastly mustache of his.

"More information about the Triwizard Tournament will be given when our guests arrive. Until then, I leave those of you eligible to ponder whether this is a challenge you are willing to take on. Until then restrictions of the ground remain the same, no one may venture out into the Forbidden Forest, and Mr. FIlch, our caretaker, asks me to remind you all that the Third-Floor Corridor is strictly off limits. Now I think a closing with our schools anthem will do the trick, all please rise," Dumbledore says. I stand up with a smile, I love the Hogwarts anthem, you can sing it in any tune and as loudly and obnoxiously as you choose. Dumbledore casts a spell above his head and the lyrics appear for the first years. We then begin to sing;

Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy, Warty Hogwarts,

Teach us Something Please,

Whether we be old and bald,

Or young with scabby knees,

Our heads could do with filling,

WIth some interesting stuff,

For now they're bare and full of air,

Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing,

Bring back what we've forgot,

Just do your best, we'll do the rest,

And learn until our brains all rot

When we're finished we all cheer as Dumbledore dismisses us with a smile. Man, I love that old guy. I walk up to the Gryffindor Common Room with Fred, George, Lee, Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny. We all gather around the fireplace when we arrive after a few frustrating attempts of trying to get past the fat lady who was apparently deeply engaged in conversation with the centaur portrait next to the door.

"I would go up to bed, but I'm not all that tired tonight," Ron says.

"Me neither, I'm all riled up for that Triwizard Tournament!" Fred says back.

"Me too, Fred and I will find a way around this age restriction rubbish, the one of your boys will be bringing home the gold!" George says. I roll my eyes.

"Tournament Shmournament. Sketchy stuff happens at this school every year, and now we're hosting that tournament with not one, but three super dangerous tasks? If you ask me, this school is just looking for trouble," I say to them all. "I'm tired as a Malfoy's house elf, goodnight everyone."

"Goodnight Mari," I hear from them all at different times. Ginny decides to follow my lead. "I'm tired too," She says with a laugh. I smile at her as we walk up the stairs. I like Ginny, she's pretty chill. She's like a third sister to Hermione and I. I change into some bedclothes, brush my teeth, then lay in my bed. I think about what trouble would arise from this tournament. But I bet you all the gold that the winner receives, that it's gonna have something to do with Harry Freakin' Potter.