Chapter 36: The Triwizard Tournament
The excitement in the Great Hall was palpable as the students of Hogwarts sat eagerly awaiting the arrival of the delegations from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. The atmosphere buzzed with chatter, speculation, and mounting anticipation. Harry sat comfortably at the Slytherin table, flanked by his queens—Daphne, Tracey, and Hermione. Each of them was as relaxed as Harry himself, though there was a glimmer of curiosity in their eyes, especially as the time for the arrivals drew near.
All eyes were fixed on the doors, and then, with a great creak, they swung open. A cold breeze swept through the hall, carrying with it a sense of grandeur. The Durmstrang students were the first to arrive, their dark, fur-lined cloaks billowing as they entered. At their head was Igor Karkaroff, tall and imposing, his beard flecked with gray. Karkaroff shook hands with Dumbledore, the air between them cordial but tinged with tension.
The Durmstrang students marched in with precision, their tall and muscular frames giving off an aura of power and discipline. Harry noticed Viktor Krum among them, the famous Quidditch star and Seeker for the Bulgarian national team. Krum's eyes briefly flickered toward Harry, who acknowledged him with a faint nod. Their rivalry on the pitch had already sparked global interest, and now they would meet on an entirely different stage.
Once Durmstrang had taken their seats, the tension in the room spiked again. It was time for Beauxbatons to arrive.
The doors opened once more, and the students of Beauxbatons glided into the hall. Unlike Durmstrang's rigid and austere entrance, theirs was one of grace and elegance. The girls, led by the imposing yet regal Madame Maxime, moved as if they were floating. Their soft blue robes fluttered like butterfly wings in the breeze, and many of the male students in the hall leaned forward, mesmerized.
But Harry remained composed, watching with a knowing smirk. He felt the eyes of several Beauxbatons students land on him, and it wasn't hard to guess why. His reputation preceded him. World-famous for his Quidditch feats, his handsome and powerful looks, and his influence in the magical world, he was easily the most well-known student in the hall.
And then, among the Beauxbatons girls, there was one who stood out even more. Fleur Delacour. With her silvery-blonde hair cascading down her back and her piercing blue eyes, she moved with the grace of someone used to attention. But when her gaze fell on Harry, her confident demeanor wavered for just a moment.
As the Beauxbatons students found their seats, Fleur made her way toward Harry with a purpose. The hall seemed to quiet slightly as she approached, her eyes locking onto his. Harry stood, his tall, 180cm frame cutting an impressive figure. His broad shoulders, chiseled jawline, and sharp green eyes seemed to draw her in as she finally stood before him.
"Harry Potter," Fleur said, her French accent thick but elegant. "It is an honor to finally meet you. You are... quite famous and really handsome."
Harry flashed a charming smile, his voice smooth as silk. "The pleasure's mine, Fleur. But, I should warn you..." His tone dropped, becoming slightly more playful. "I If you're thinking about joining, you'll have to share."
The words were teasing but held an undertone of seriousness. Fleur blinked, momentarily taken aback by Harry's directness, but her surprise quickly morphed into a smile of amusement. The confidence she had was still there, but now she was intrigued.
"We shall see," Fleur said, a sly smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She glanced briefly at Daphne, Tracey, and Hermione, each of them calmly sizing her up. "It might be worth considering."
With that, she turned gracefully and returned to the Beauxbatons table, leaving Harry with an amused grin on his face. His queens chuckled softly, clearly not bothered by the interaction. They knew Harry's playful nature, and Fleur's interest was no threat—it was more a compliment to his growing legend.
Once the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students were seated, Dumbledore stood, calling for the attention of the entire hall. His eyes twinkled with excitement as he prepared to explain the reason for the grand arrivals.
"Welcome, students of Durmstrang and Beauxbatons, to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," Dumbledore began, his voice filling the hall. "We are gathered here for an event that has not taken place in over two centuries... the Triwizard Tournament!"
A murmur of excitement swept through the hall. Students from all houses leaned forward in anticipation.
"The Triwizard Tournament," Dumbledore continued, "is a magical competition between three schools, designed to test courage, skill, and magical prowess. However, due to the dangers involved, the tournament was discontinued for many years. But, thanks to the efforts of many wizards and witches, the tournament has returned—with new precautions to ensure the safety of all participants."
Dumbledore went on to explain the rules. Each school would have a champion selected by the Goblet of Fire, a magical artifact that would choose the most worthy contestant from each institution. The champions would then face three dangerous tasks, designed to challenge their magical ability, wit, and courage.
"The winner of the tournament," Dumbledore added, "will receive eternal glory and a prize of one thousand Galleons."
Harry's interest piqued. He had heard stories of the Triwizard Tournament, of its incredible difficulty and the high stakes involved. The thrill of competition ignited a familiar fire inside him.
After Dumbledore's announcement, food magically appeared on the tables, and the feast began. While the hall buzzed with talk of the tournament, Harry remained focused. The thought of entering the competition was tempting. His queens knew the look in his eyes and exchanged knowing smiles—they could sense his excitement.
As students around him speculated on who would enter, Harry turned to his queens. "This could be fun," he said casually, taking a sip of pumpkin juice. "Imagine the look on their faces when I'm chosen."
Daphne smirked. "You'll have to hold back to make it a fair fight."
"Or maybe he should just let them try," Tracey added with a wink. "It's not every day people get a chance to be completely outclassed."
Hermione, ever practical, raised an eyebrow. "You do realize this tournament is supposed to be incredibly dangerous, right?"
Harry shrugged, a confident smile playing on his lips. "Dangerous for others, maybe."
As the feast continued, Dumbledore explained how students of age would be allowed to submit their names into the Goblet of Fire, which would be placed in the entrance hall. Only those over seventeen were permitted to enter, but Harry had never been one for rules when they didn't suit him. He had his ways.
Soon, the conversation turned back to the visiting schools, particularly Beauxbatons. The Beauxbatons girls had been casting glances at Harry all evening, and Fleur seemed especially interested. Tracey chuckled. "Looks like you're the star attraction."
Harry simply smirked. "Let them watch. It's always more fun when they know who they're up against."
As the evening wore on and the feast drew to a close, the excitement for the tournament only grew. The students, filled with food and buzzing with anticipation, began to leave the Great Hall and retire to their dormitories. But Harry's mind was already elsewhere—thinking ahead, planning, and preparing for what was to come.
This was going to be an interesting year.
(AN: I'm still unsure as to let Fake Moody exist or make it so the real one teaches at Hogwarts and Harry could enter due to using the Time turner along with the time Clones from during the First Year for long time periods, thus being Older since he did live longer in a shorter Timeframe similar to Hermione. Do Tell me in the Comments and Drop some Stones please.)