Pinky-Promise (Fred Weasley Fanfiction)

Chapter 4: The Triwizard Tournament

The Great Hall had a warm glow, lit up by thousands of floating candles. I breathed a sigh of content, finally somewhere warm and dry. I walked to the Gryffindor table with Fred, George and Lee, taking a spot between Fred and Lee, with George on the other side of his brother. We sat through the sorting with occasional complaints of how hungry we were. We cheered with our house whenever a new Gryffindor came to the table, and muttered about the Slytherins. Finally the last kid was sorted into Hufflepuff, and food appeared in front of us. We dug in immediately, filling our plates with the delicious feast.

The boys were practically vibrating with excitement as we ate, every second was getting closer to when we found out what the 'big event' was at Hogwarts this year.

I was excited too, still speculating with them what the news could be. Lee Jordan was adamant that it would be Dumbledore and McGonagall getting married at the school, the idea of which made pumpkin juice come out of Fred's nose. "I'm pretty sure Dumbledore's gay!" George laughed.

Fred looked at him incredulously, "You're joking, right? What makes you think that?"

"I can see it George, he does seem kind of fruity." I giggled.

Fred whipped his head around to now look at me in disbelief. "Not you, too!"

That launched into a debate that lasted the rest of the feast, but when the food magically disappeared from our plates, we grew quiet. Patiently waiting as Dumbledore took to his podium. "So! Now that we are all fed and watered, I must ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices."

For once, Fred and George were dead silent at Dumbledore spoke. He gave the usual housekeeping remarks about the Forbidden Forest, and banned objects. Then, he said something shocking. "It is my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year."

The Great Hall exploded in groans and protests from most students. Fred and George were mouthing soundlessly at Dumbledore, too appalled to speak. I frowned, but didn't voice my complaints. I wasn't a Quidditch player, but I always loved watching the boys play. Especially Fred. Even in bad weather he always looked great flying on his broom, one hand on his club, defending his teammates.

Dumbledore began to speak again, ripping me out of my thoughts. "This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of our teachers' time and energy," Fred drew in a breath sharply, I was practically on the edge of my seat, eager to hear Dumbledore's next words, "but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts—"

But just as Dumbledore was about to say, a deafening clap of thunder sounded overhead, and the doors of the Great Hall banged open. We all whipped around to the source of the noise.

A disgruntled looking man stood in the doorway, breathing heavily as he leaned on a long staff, a black travelling cloak cling to him from the rain. He was brightly illuminated by a fork of lightning that flashed across the enchanted ceiling. He lowered his hood, and shook out a thinning mane of grizzled grey hair. He glowered at the room, before slowly beginning to walk towards the teachers' table. He limped heavily, a dull clunk could be heard his every other step as he made his way straight to Dumbledore. Another flash of lighting crossed the ceiling, I heard Hermione gasp across the table.

I stared at the man's face, it had deep, old scars running across it in all directions. Almost every inch of his face was scarred, but what was most terrifying was his eyes. One of them was small, and beady. It looked almost black. The other was attached with a weird sort of eye-patch. It stuck out of his face, rolling in all directions, never blinking. It stopped on me for a moment, and I saw it was a vivid, electric blue. "Bloody hell," Fred breathed, "It's Mad-Eye Moody."