New Romantics | Hermione Granger Book IV

|43| Chapter Forty-Three

F O R T Y  T H R E E

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"It's all happening!"

Lavender's squealed proved to be true as the Triwizard Tournament was finally becoming a reality for Saffron when she, Lavender, Hermione and Parvati arrived back from a particularly amusing Care of Magical Creatures class (where Draco and Hagrid got into an argument about whether or not he would attend the extra classes Hagrid was putting on to observe the awful Skrewts, Saffron was firmly on Draco's side in the matte, as the Skrewts were becoming more insufferable by the day), when they saw a big sign in the entrance hall.

TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT

THE DELEGATIONS FROM BEAUXBATONS AND DURMSTRANG WILL BE ARRIVING AT 6 O'CLOCK ON FRIDAY THE 30TH OF OCTOBER. LESSONS WILL END HALF AN HOUR EARLY

"Less potions!" Parvati exclaimed, high-fiving Saffron, as the Gryffindor fourth-year boys joined up with the girls, observing the sign. "That's a cause for celebration!"

STUDENTS WILL RETURN THEIR BAGS AND BOOKS TO THEIR DORMITORIES AND ASSEMBLE IN FRONT OF THE CASTLE TO GREET OUR GUESTS BEFORE THE WELCOMING FEAST.

"Only a week away!" said Ernie Macmillan the Hufflepuff member of the fourth year Charms Club excitably. "I wonder if Cedric knows? Think I'll go and tell him...."

"Cedric?" Ron said in confusion

"Cedric Diggory," Lavender stared at Ron as though it was obvious. "He's trying out for the tournament!"

"That idiot, Hogwarts champion?" said Ron, making his way towards the Great Hall where lunch was underway.

"He's not an idiot!" snapped Lavender with venom.

"You only like him because he's handsome," retorted Ron.

Lavender shrugged her shoulders indifferently. "And what about it?"

With the appearance of the sign came a prolonged sense of widespread excitement. It was on the minds of everyone in the school and came up constantly. Saffron thought she was going to be sick of the chatter when the delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang finally arrived. But even she couldn't deny that it was going to be fascinating to meet foreign students and to see how different the magical culture was in their societies.

There was a certain level of pressure put on the event with Filch cleaning everything left right and centre, in addition to shouting at anyone who brought any mud or dirt into the castle. Again, Saffron was confused as to why they wouldn't just hire a magical caretaker but obviously, Dumbledore had his reasons. But he wasn't the only one with anxiety surrounding the arrival of their guests, as both Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape told Neville not to mention his magical capabilities to them, which Saffron thought was a pretty low blow on the professor's behalf.

This pressure did translate to a beautiful castle on the day of the thirtieth of October. Saffron was already in a good mood after having a small get together with her siblings, Harry and Amanda to celebrate her sister finally coming of age and to know that the day of the true beginning of the tournament was on them was a relief, as the build-up seemed never-ending. She just hoped that her paranoia over it wouldn't come to fruition. Anyway, the beauty Saffron noticed was the banners in the Great Hall, the grass looking particularly fresh in the grounds and bouquets of flower sticking out of the holders that were around the castle being brand new.

At breakfast that morning, Saffron followed Ron over to Fred and George who, for the first time ever, were detached from the long line of Gryffindors sat together and talking in hushed voices together.