Hufflepuff In The Family

The Triwizard Tournament

After the sorting, Dumbledore stood up to address the hall. Everyone waited anxiously as he grinned at us all, before simply saying "Tuck in!" There were large cheers from around the hall as everyone looked at the plates that had been empty moments before that were now piled high with food of all sorts.

Danielle's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree the moment the food appeared on the plate. She grabbed every type of food and heaped it onto her plate while Kelly and I watched, amused by her obliviousness. She looked up at us with a mouth full of food.

"What?" She mumbled with a mouth stuffed with a chicken wing. I shook my head and began to eat my own food.

Kelly was staring very critically down at all the food. "Problem, Kell?" I asked her. She shook her head and waved her hand dismissively.

"Nothing. It's just over the summer, I decided to go vegetarian. Just looking for something decent?"

Danielle looked at her with horror. She swallowed what was in her mouth and spluttered. "Vegetarian?! But that means no... no bacon! No chicken or beef or-"

"I'm well aware of what it means Dee, I just wanted to do something different." Danielle and I shared a look but didn't say anything. Kelly was one of those people who never seemed satisfied with the life she had. She was always making changes; changing the colour of her hair, trying a new diet, learning a new skill. She's quite possibly the most adventurous person I know and it honestly shocks me that she's stayed with the two most predictable people in the entire year, if not the school. Danielle would probably jump off a cliff if her friend did and I'd sooner burn one of my books than change anything about myself.

Eventually, everyone finished eating and Dumbledore clapped his hands and the plates cleared themselves. I turned to face Dumbledore, having to lean slightly to see around Kelly. He went through the normal start of year notices, but I wasn't paying attention until he said one particular thing.

"It is my painful duty to inform you that the inter-house Quidditch cup will not take place this year," he said, bowing his head slightly.

I paled and my two best friends looked at me with sympathetic eyes. I was so ready to try out for my team this year but apparently that wouldn't happen. I looked over at my brother who was sharing angry and confused looks with Fred, George and Harry. None of them paid any attention to me. I hadn't really told them just how badly I'd wanted to join.

After the mumbles dyed down, Dumbledore continued. He said that instead there would be an event starting in October but before he could say anymore, the doors banged open to reveal a man in a dark cloak. I head Danielle inhale sharply in fear for the man was most peculiar looking. Scars decorated every inch of the man's face and the most startling part was the fake eye that whirred and whizzed in every direction.

"Everyone, please welcome Mad-Eye Moody, your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher." Moody scanned everyone's faces. He would turn in one direction and the eye would stare in the opposite. It was incredibly unsettling.

Ron was finally looking at me and I crossed my eyes and he snorted suddenly across the hall. Still, I recognised the name and after a minute of thinking, I realised my dad had mentioned his name the other day.

Dumbledore recovered from the intrusion smoothly, returning to what he was saying. If I'm being honest, I zoned out for the first half but the looks of intrigue around me made me listen to what he was saying.

"It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year."

From across the hall, Fred yelled: "You're joking!" Everyone in the hall laughed, even Dumbledore chuckled. I had no idea what it was but clearly the lesser set of twins knew and so did quite a few others. Ron raised an eyebrow but I shrugged to indicate I had no clue either. Harry turned to face Ron and I saw them exchange a few words.

I looked at my friends. Danielle was clearly just as clueless as I was and I had no clue what Kelly knew because she was staring intensely at Dumbledore as he began to explain the competition.

I felt everyone's jaws fall open as he explained in more detail. I was shocked. How had I never heard about this?

When Dumbledore mentioned the death toll, several faces paled and nervous mumblings broke out again.

The excitement that I had felt this morning had faded but was replaced by an eagerness to see what would happen this year. It certainly wouldn't be like any other year we'd experienced as of yet.