The Triwizard Tragedy

~~*~~

The whistle on the train sounded for the last time, giving its final warning that it was about to pull out. At last the Hogwarts Express was leaving the station and they were on their way to Hogwarts for another exciting year. The narrow corridors of the train were filled with students running about trying to find their friends in order to talk about the events of the World Cup and other activities of the summer. The World Cup was the topic of choice in Lilyana's compartment. It wasn't exactly something she, herself was keen on talking about, but the others had brought it up. Four of the six in her compartment had attended the game and were having a lovely time discussing the game and giving a play by play for Holly Medvec, whose parents where muggles and didn't keep up with the going ons of the wizarding world.

Unfortunately for Lilyana this proved to be a long ride. She hadn't attended the game so there was nothing for her to share, plus Cedric had already told her enough about it as it was. She was quite content with the book she was reading, so that kept her occupied while her friends did not. She half hoped Cedric might come visit her during the journey, but that was a long shot considering he had prefect duties and would want to see his Hufflepuff friends.

The train pulled into Hogsmeade station as it always did. Lilyana tugged the hood of her cloak over her head as she stepped off the train. Rain poured from the black sky as students hurried off to the carriages that waited to take them to the castle doors. Standing on the tips of her toes Lilyana scanned the crowd for Cedric. It wasn't difficult as she spotted him almost instantly since he was a lot taller than most of the others.

Squeezing her way through the sea of students, she came up behind him and poked him hard in the ribs. He whirled around. When he realized who it was he laughed. She grabbed his hand and they made a mad dash for the nearest carriage. Soaking wet, they sat in the dry confines of the carriage.

"So, was your dad really upset when you got home?" Cedric asked as soon as they were settled in the carriage.

Lilyana shook her head and chuckled, glancing out the window at the approaching castle. "Not really, at first he said he was, but once he saw the Prophet lying on the table and the headline he knew exactly where I was," she explained, wiping the water off her nose. "He told me next time just to wake him up if I feel the need to run off in the early morning."

Cedric grinned. "Well I am glad you didn't get in trouble."

Lilyana made a face and poked him in the arm, playfully. "Why didn't you come visit me on the train?" she asked in a mock whiney voice.

"Come on, Lil, you know I have duties as a prefect. I barely even had time to talk to anyone in my house. A group of second years thought it would be a brilliant idea to let a cat loose in their compartment, but when someone opened the door, it escaped," he explained casually. "Of course, I was the only prefect they could find, so I had to search for this little cat. Finally we found it hiding in a compartment full of Slytherins. It was quite the train ride."

Lilyana laughed. "Awe, my hero!" she said sarcastically as he rolled his eyes and laughed too.

~~*~~

Lilyana and Cedric parted ways when they reached the Great Hall. Cedric sat with his fellow Hufflepuffs and Lilyana strolled over to the Ravenclaw table where her friends from the train were gathered. She slid into the seat next to her best friend Aaralyn, who was cursing Peeves, the resident school poltergeist, who apparently bombarded the first arrivals with water balloons.

The noisy hall was silenced by the emergence of Professor McGonagall and a new batch of first years waiting to be sorted. The scruffy old Sorting Hat sang its yearly song and then each of the new students was assigned to a respective house. Shortly after the Sorting Ceremony was over, Professor Dumbledore rose from the staff table positioned in front of the room.

"I have but two words for you, tuck in," announced the headmaster before he sat down to a table full of delicious smelling foods.

Lilyana helped herself to her favorites; not realizing how hungry she had been, since the last time she had eaten was earlier on the train. She chatted with her friends about the events of summer and even gave in to talking about the ever popular topic of the Quidditch World Cup.

As the feast ended, Dumbledore rose from his seat once more, this time for his annual reminder of the rules and regulations. Unexpectedly, and to much outrage from the students, he announced that the inter-house Quidditch Cup would not be held this year. The students that played for their house teams were looking the utmost offended at the very thought. Just as Professor Dumbledore was about to explain the reason for this catastrophe, the large oak doors of the Great Hall swung open and a scruffy old man stumbled in. His arrival was accompanied by a tremendous crack of thunder from the storm outside. The visitor hobbled between the tables of students toward Dumbledore. The sudden appearance caused the students to break out in whispers. The man's physical appearance alone was enough to get anyone talking. He was completely misshapen and had a glass eye, which whirled around in the socket. Dumbledore shook the man's hand and then addressed the students as the man took a seat at the staff table.

"I would like to introduce your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Moody," proclaimed Dumbledore as students continued to whisper to one another.

Once the whispers ceased, Dumbledore continued on with his announcements. "Now, as I was saying, this year our school will be host to the Triwizard Tournament."

Someone near the center of the room yelled 'you're joking', to which Professor Dumbledore assured him he most certainly was not joking. Dumbledore continued by explaining the history of the Triwizard Tournament and that the students from two other schools would be arriving towards the end of October.

"There is one restriction this year, however. No student under the age of seventeen will be permitted to enter the tournament. The committee feels that those under age have not acquired enough knowledge to complete the potentially dangerous tasks that will be assigned. Furthermore, I asked that whoever is chosen as the Hogwarts champion will be supported whole-heartedly by the entire school. Now, go rest for your lessons tomorrow. Bedtime! Chop chop!" Dumbledore concluded his announcements and then sat back in his chair as the students cleared out of the Hall.

~~*~~

There was much chatter in the Ravenclaw common room when Lilyana and Aaralyn entered, mostly consisting of complaints from younger students on how they weren't allowed to enter the contest. The two girls joined the group of sixth and seventh years that were congregated in the corner of the common room.

"I'll be seventeen in December, it's not fair that I can't enter," shouted an infuriated boy with curly brown hair. He pounded his fist on the table they were all huddled around.

"Calm down, Torin," Lilyana said as she neared the group. "Honestly, think about it, if you were seventeen would you really consider putting your name in? Or are you raving like a loon just because you can't?" she asked as Torin narrowed his eyes at her.

"I don't know, but right now I don't have a say in the matter, because I am not old enough and yet I am in my sixth year!" he raged on, with a fiery glint in his eye.

Lilyana glanced at Aaralyn, who rolled her eyes. They knew Torin liked to get worked up over things, but he definitely wasn't the only one to feel this way.

"Alright you lot," Aaralyn said over the group. "Who of us will be seventeen by October?"

Six of the ten Ravenclaw sixth years would be eligible to submit their name to the Goblet of Fire and all of the seventh years. They discussed the matter a little further before heading off to their dormitories to think about the decision that lay ahead.

Lilyana jumped on Aaralyn's bed when they reached their dormitory. "So are you thinking about putting you're name in the Goblet?"

Aaralyn shrugged as she pulled out her pajamas from the trunk at the foot of her bed. "I am seriously considering it, but I think that I need to talk to my parents about it first."

"Can you imagine how many clothes you could buy with a thousand galleons?" Lara suddenly said from behind the blue curtains of her four-poster.

Lilyana rolled her eyes and Holly tossed a pillow at Lara. "Well I hope whoever enters is someone who will win it for Hogwarts," said Lilyana as she threw herself into her own bed, pulling the curtains closed. She had to do a lot of considering with this Triwizard Tournament. Did she really want to enter? If she did, what would be her chances of being chosen? Could she compete at the dangerous level they are requiring of the Champions? All this echoed through her mind as she drifted off to sleep.