TRI-WIZARD TOURNAMENT AND NEW DADA TEACHERS

The next few weeks all passed by in a blur. Morgana immediately walked over to the Slytherin compartments, not paying anybody a glance. It was finally their seventh and last year of Hogwarts, meaning that she would start being a dark lady very soon. Not that she wasn't a dark lady before, it's just that she would start gathering up followers and go on raids soon.

She smiled slightly as she walked into the compartment where her girlfriend and friends were at, "Bonjour, ma belle." Amara said after getting a kiss.

"Hello, love." Morgana replied and sat down next to her.

♥︎

"Father said that there's an event happening at Hogwarts this year." Leo started, catching their attentions.

"I overheard him talking to aunt Cissa about that as well." mused Regulus.

"What's the event?" Amara asked, playing with Morgana's rings.

"I dunno. Do you know, Morgana?" Leo asked.

Morgana nodded, not looking away from her girlfriend, who was too busy playing with her hand to notice. "Yeah. The tri-wizard tournament is happening. That's all Marvolo told me."

"Tri-Wizard tournament?!" Regulus and Leo asked simultaneously in shock.

"What's the tri-wizard tournament?" asked Amara, looking at the boys.

"It's three students from three schools competing against each other." Regulus answered due to Leo still being in shock, "The winner wins eternal glory and a prize, which is probably money."

Amara hummed and went back to playing with Morgana's rings, unknowingly giving her girlfriend butterflies.

♥︎

The students all sat down in the great hall, excited to be back at school. When the sorting was over, they all finally started eating.

"I wonder who's going to be our new DADA teacher." Amara said, frowning slightly as she looked at the empty seat.

Morgana smirked as she drank her juice, "Oh it's a great surprise.."

♥︎

When the puddings, too, had been demolished and the last crumbs had faded off the plates, leaving them sparkling clean, Albus Dumbledore got to his feet again. The buzz of chatter filling the Hall ceased almost at once, so that only the howling wind and pounding rain could be heard.

"So!" said Dumbledore smiling around at them all. "Now that we are fed and watered, I must ask once more for your attention while I give out a few notices. Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to tell you that the list of objects forbidden inside the castle this year has been extended to include Screaming Yo-yos, Fanged Frisbees, and Ever-Bashing Boomerangs. The full list comprises some four hundred and thirty-seven items, I believe, and can be viewed in Mr. Filch's office if anybody would like to check it,"

The corners of Dumbledore's mouth twitched.

He continued, "As ever, I would like to remind you that the Forest in the grounds is out of bounds to students, as is the village of Hogsmeade to all below third year,"

"It is also my painful duty to inform you that the inter-house Quidditch Cup will not take place this year," Dumbledore continued, "This is due to an event that will be starting in October and continuing though out the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts-"

But at that moment, there was a deafening rumble of thunder, and the doors of the Great Hall banged open. A man stood in the doorway, leaning upon a long staff, shrouded in a black traveling cloak. Every head in the Great Hall swiveled towards the stranger, suddenly brightly illuminated by a fork of lightning that flashed across the ceiling. He lowered his hood, shook out a long mane of grizzled, dark grey hair, and then began to walk up towards the teachers table.

A dull clunk echoed through the Hall on his ever other step. He reached the end of the top table, turned right and limped heavily towards Dumbledore. Another flash of lightning crossed the ceiling.

The lightning had thrown the man's face into a sharp relief.

The stranger reached Dumbledore. He stretched out a hand that was as badly scarred as his face, and Dumbledore shook it, muttering something. He seemed to be making some kind if enquiry of the stranger who shook his head unsmilingly and replied in an undertone. Dumbledore nodded and gestured the man to an empty seat on his right-hand side.

"May I introduce one of our new Defence against the Dark Arts Teachers," said Dumbledore brightly, into the silence, "Professor Moody."

"Moody? Auror Moody?" asked Regulus in shock. Leo nodded, "Half the cells in azkaban are filled thanks to him.." he sneered.

Another man walking into the great hall caught everyone's attention. Morgana smirked as her friends, Harry, Hermione and Amara looked at her in shock.

"And please welcome our other DADA teacher, Professor Thomas Gaunt!" Dumbledore exclaimed. The silence in the great hall was broken with applause. Tom made eye contact with Morgana and gave her a discreet wink, making her smirk grow wider.

Dumbledore cleared his throat again.

"As I was saying," he said smiling at the sea of students before him, some were still gazing transfixed at Mad Eye Moody, "we are to have the honor of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event which has not been held for over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year,"

"You're JOKING!" said Fred Weasley loudly.

Nearly everyone laughed, and Dumbledore chuckled appreciatively.

"No I am not joking Mr. Weasley," he said, "Though I did hear an excellent one over the summer about a troll, a hag and a leprechaun who all go into a bar –"

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat loudly.

"Er – but maybe this is not the time... no..." said Dumbledore. "Where was I? Ah, yes, the Triwizard Tournament... well, some of you will not know what this tournament involves, so I hope those who do know will forgive me for giving a short explanation, and allow their attention to wander freely. The Triwizard Tournament was first established some seven hundred years ago, as a friendly competition between the three largest European schools of wizardry – Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. A champion was selected to represent each school, and the three champions competed in three magical tasks. The schools took it in turns to host the Tournament once every five years and it was generally agreed to be the a most excellent way of establishing ties between young witch's and wizards of different nationalities – until, that is, the death toll mounted so high that the Tournament was discontinued."

"Death toll?!" Amara angrily exclaimed, her eyes widening with worry as she noticed her girlfriend looking intrigued and determined.

"There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the Tournament," Dumbledore continued, "none of which have been very successful. However, our own Departments of International Magical Co-Operation and Magical Games and Sports have decided the time is ripe for another attempt. We have worked hard over the summer to ensure that, this time, no champion will find himself or herself in mortal danger."

"The Heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang have already arrived, and on Halloween we will have the Champion Selections. An impartial judge will decide which students, are most worthy to compete for the Triwizard Cup, the glory of their school and a thousand galleon personal prize money."

"Eager though I know all of you will be able to bring the Triwizard Cup to Hogwarts," Dumbledore continued, "the heads of the participating schools, along with the Ministry of Magic, have agreed to impose an agreed restriction on contenders this year. Only students who are of age – that is to say, seventeen years or older – will be allowed to put forward their names for consideration. This" – Dumbledore raised his voice slightly for several people had made noises of outrage at these words – "is a measure we feel is necessary, given that the Tournament tasks will still be difficult and dangerous, whatever precautions we take, and it is highly unlikely that students below Sixth and Seventh year will be able to cope with them. I will personally be ensuring that no underage student hoodwinks our impartial judge into making them Hogwarts champion." His light-blue eyes twinkled as they flickered over to Fred and George's mutinous faces. "I therefore beg you not to waste your time submitting yourself if you are under seventeen,"

"The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be staying with us for the greater part of this year. I know that you will all extend every courtesy to our foreign guests while they are with us, and will give your whole-hearted support to the Hogwarts champion when he or she is selected. And now, it is late, and I know how important it is to you all to be alert and rested as you enter you lessons tomorrow morning. Bedtime! Chop Chop!"