The Cupboard Series 4: The Fourth School

Chapter 12

"The morning mail, Headmistress," Dobby stated.

Replacing her china cup on its saucer with a soft clink, Minerva took the small bundle of letters from the elf. After a brief nod of her head in thanks, the elf sketched a quick bow before popping away.

As was expected, a good half dozen of the letters looked to be correspondence from even more parents trying to convince her to allow their child to attend the Academy. She really wished that they'd take the hint and give up. It seemed that nothing, not ads in the Daily Prophet, not individual replies, were enough to make some people understand that they simply had no room for any other students this year.

Loopy writing done up in brilliant emerald green ink caught her attention and her lips pursed. She'd know that writing anywhere. Of late, it had never boded well. Flicking her eyes up and around the table, she noted that neither Remus nor any of the students were paying her any kind of attention.

Picking up her butter knife, she slipped its edge under the waxed seal and flicked, opening the envelope. A thick piece of parchment slipped into her hand.

To the Headmistress of Diricawl Academy of Magical Studies, she read.

Dear Minerva,

As I am sure that you are aware, this year Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will be hosting an International event that has not been seen for many hundreds of years. I am, of course, referring to the TriWizard Tournament.

The three largest and most prestigious magical schools within Europe, namely Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Beaubatons Academie of Magic and The Durmstrang Institute will be gathering to compete for everlasting fame and glory.

In a show of goodwill, I would like to invite the staff and students of our country's newest and smallest school, Diricawl Academy of Magical Studies, to come to Hogwarts to watch all aspects of this momentous event.

There will be three main Tasks that encompass the TriWizard Tournament, along with the Choosing of the Champions and the Yule Ball. The first of these, the Choosing of the Champions, will be held during our Halloween Feast on October thirty-one. We would like to invite you to arrive the day before, the same day that the delegations from Beaubatons and Durmstrang will also arrive.

I await your owl at the earliest opportunity.

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore

Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot; Supreme Mugwamp of the International Confederation of Wizards; Order of Merlin, First Class.

This, Minerva decided, was definitely something that needed careful consideration. On the one hand, she was tempted to simply dismiss anything to do with Dumbledore at first sight. But then, she wondered what sort of educator that would make her for ensuring that her students missed out on an experience that they'd be unlikely to ever seen again in their lifetime.

Tapping the now folded letter against her chin, she let her eyes survey the students around her.

Hermione and Daphne were deep in conversation, a book propped up between them, the short spat from yesterday having thankfully been quickly overcome. But then, she blamed Harry for that. He'd insisted that, even though the manor was his home, that he be treated exactly like any of the others, even to the point of giving up all claims on his room and stating rather emphatically that the choice of rooms should be left up to the individual students. That had led to Daphne and Hermione each attempting to claim the single female room for themselves. In the end, it'd come down to a coin toss, with Hermione being the winner.