~a few weeks later~

The whole Hogwarts castle buzzes with excitement early in the morning. It's almost time for the two competing schools to arrive at Hogwarts. You are all in the middle of making your way to the Great Hall when a rather small carriage led by 7 whinnying pegasi flies into view. The excited students gather towards the openings in the bridge, trying to get a better look. You, gratefully were near one of the openings and see the majestic creatures as they fly right in front of you. You glance to see Hermione next to you. As well as Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. "Aren't they amazing?" Hermione asks, turning to you. "They sure are." You reply, pointing to a long flag rising out of the water. "Look at that," You say. The flag rises higher until a whole ship is out of the water and afloat. "Wow! How amazing is that?" Daphne says, smiling.

After a while, you are all put into the Great Hall, sitting with your respective houses. Professor Dumbledore stands. "Now that we're all settled in and sorted, I'd like to make an announcement. This castle will not only be your home this year, but home to some very special guests as well. You see, Hogwarts has been chosen to host a legendary event: the Triwizard Tournament. Now for those of you who do not know, the Triwizard Tournament brings together three schools for a series of magical contests. For each school, a single student is selected to compete. Let me be clear. If chosen, you stand alone. And trust me when I say, these contests are not for the fainthearted. But more of that later. For now, please join me in welcoming the lovely ladies of the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, and their headmistress, Madame Maxime."

A whistle is heard and the doors open, revealing a group of young ladies, all wearing matching blue hats and dresses, as well as matching ponytails down their backs. They do a small routine, and the hall echoes with gentle claps and whistles. Professor Dumbledore rushed to the front again. "And now our friends from the North, please greet the proud sons of Durmstrang, and their high master, Igor Karkaroff." A procession of young men enter, and do a somewhat tribal routine, fire included.

A little while later, students gather around as others start to place their names in a goblet at the center of the room, glowing with blue fire. One student from Durmstrang places his name in the goblet. The students clap lightly. Another from Ravenclaw places his name in and the students clap again. You and Daphne take a seat next to Hermione on the bleachers and watch as the Hufflepuff from before is ushered forward by his friends. "Come on, Cedric." One says. "Put it in!" Says the other. Daphne rests her cheek in her hand. "Cedric," She sighs. He carefully places his name in the goblet and the students clap as he hugs his friends. The doors open and the Weasley twins, Fred and George run in, each holding a vial in his hand.

"Haha, yeah!" One yells. "Yes!" Shouts the other. The students around them cheer. They run towards the bleachers, high-fiving the students. "Thank you, thank you. Well lads, we did it." George says. "Cooked it up just this morning." Fred continues. Hermione turns her back to them. "It's not going to work." She says in a sing-song tone. The twins crouch next to her. "Oh yeah? And why's that, Granger?" Fred asks. She points to the age line. "You see this? This is an age line." She explains, turning to one brother. "Dumbledore drew it himself." The twins look at each other. "So?" Fred asks. She scoffs, closing her book. "So a genius like Dumbledore couldn't possibly be fooled by something pathetically dimwitted such as an aging potion." Hermione says.

"Uh, that's why it's so brilliant." George says. "Because it's so pathetically dimwitted." Fred continues. They both laugh and stand, shaking the vials. "Ready Fred?" George asks. "Ready George." Fred replies. "Bottoms up." They both say, downing their potions. They jump over the age line. Nothing happens. The students cheer. They walk around the circle of students shortly before walking towards the goblet. "Ready?" They ask each other. They place their names in the goblet at the same time. Again, nothing happens. They high-five as the students clap. Then, the fire from the goblet leaps out in streaks and throws Fred and George out of the age line. They turn towards each other, now donning short, white beards. "You said-" Fred starts. "You said-" George interrupts. They start wrestling each other on the ground. The students start cheering for a fight. Hermione shakes her head, returning to her book. The room goes silent as Viktor Krum enters. Everyone watches as he places his name in the goblet, not saying a single word. He glances Hermione's way as he walks out, and you swear you could see a hint of a smile on her face.

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~♡ Miki