Fire melting Ice.

The Tournament

I always looked forward to the start of year feast and the sorting at Hogwarts. Watching the exited yet nervous faces of the eleven year olds walking into the Great Hall for the first time was always a nice thing. I could imagine seeing everything for the first time again, looking at all the students and wondering which house you would call home. These new faces lit up in wonder when they looked around at the house tables and the enchanted ceiling of the hall, which was bewitched to look like a rainy night sky today. I listened as the sorting hat started singing:

 A thousand years or more ago,

When I was newly sewn,

There lived four wizards of renown,

Whose names are still well known:

Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,

Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,

Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad,

Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.

They shared a wish, a hope, a dream,

They hatched a daring plan To educate young sorcerers

Thus Hogwarts School began.

Now each of these four founders Formed their own house, for each Did value different virtues In the ones they had to teach.

By Gryffindor, the bravest were Prized far beyond the rest;

For Ravenclaw, the cleverest Would always be the best;

For Hufflepuff, hard workers were Most worthy of admission;

And power-hungry Slytherin Loved those of great ambition.

While still alive they did divide Their favorites from the throng,

 Yet how to pick the worthy ones When they were dead and gone?

'Twas Gryffindor who found the way,

He whipped me off his head The founders put some brains in me So I could choose instead!

Now slip me snug about your ears, I've never yet been wrong,

I'll have a look inside your mind And tell where you belong!

Everyone clapped when the hat finished its song and Professor McGonagall called the first student to be sorted. Gryffindor got the most new students and I was happy that we had so many new brave children in our house. Dumbledore stepped up to the podium when the sorting was over and with a twinkle in his eyes started his speech.

"I have an exciting announcement to make, this year Hogwarts will be hosting the Tri-wizard tournament. We will also be housing the two competing schools this year so I must ask you to make these visitors to our school feel welcome. Please join me in Welcoming the students of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and the Durmstrang Institute of learning". Dumbledore walked out of the hall and we followed curious to see the students of the French school for magic.

 They looked up in amazement when Dumbledore pointed and they saw a gigantic, powder blue, horse-drawn carriage, the size of a large house, soaring toward them, pulled through the air by a dozen winged horses, all palominos, and each the size of an elephant.The carriage landed and Hagrid rushed forward to open the doors and help the Headmistress of the school out of it.

Madam Maxine was one of the most impressive women I had ever seen and she carried herself gracefully. "Welcome to Hogwarts, now the students of the Durmstrang Institute of learning should be arriving soon." Dumbledore called out above the excited whispers.

They gasped in surprise as they saw the tip of something emerging from the Black lake. Slowly, magnificently, the ship rose out of the water, gleaming in the moonlight. It had a strangely skeletal look about it, as though it were a resurrected wreck, and the dim, misty lights shimmering at its portholes looked like ghostly eyes. Finally, with a great sloshing noise, the ship emerged entirely, bobbing on the turbulent water, and began to glide toward the bank.

The headmaster stepped onto the grounds first. Igor Karkaroff was a sinister looking man who leered at the students as he went to greet Dumbledore. Once everyone was out of the ship and carriage Dumbledore led everyone into the castle to enjoy the feast. The students of the Beauxbatons Academy stood at attention for their Headmistress when she entered the room until she took her seat at the head table, showing great respect for her.

Meanwhile the students of the Durmstrang Institute merely walked into the Great hall behind their Headmaster and went to sit at the Slytherin table.The students of the Beauxbatons academy wore blue robes of fine silk and were very refined in their manners. The Durmstrang students wore fur cloaks, fur hats and blood red robes, they seemed tough and hardened somehow. Dumbledore took his place behind the podium once more and continued his speech.

"Well now that everyone is here I can tell you more about the tournament and the rules for entering. The Triwizard Tournament is a test of bravery, wit and cunningness, it will take everything in you to complete the tasks and some will fail. It is not a game and should not be taken lightly, wizards and witches have died in this tournament. The champions who will be chosen to compete will have to complete three dangerous tasks and therefor only wizards and witches who are seventeen and older will be allowed to enter the tournament. To enter you must simply write your name on a piece of paper and put it in the Goblet of Fire. Good luck to you all, now enjoy the feast".

The tables filled with food and everyone started eating. Ron kept looking at the Beauxbatons students with a stupid look on his face while Harry and I just laughed at him.

"Do you think one of them would fancy me, Harry?" Ron asked with a glazed look in his eyes.

"Sure mate, who wouldn't fancy you?" Harry replied and continued eating. I smiled at Harry and looked around at the new students who would be sharing our home with us this year. Somehow my eyes met a pair of stormy grey ones and I couldn't help but stare for a minute at the Slytherin who was scowling at me from across the hall. This year was certainly going to be interesting.