The Forging of the Bonds

Chapter 5. The New Tournament.

"I still can't believe how good Malfoy is," Kate said.

"Guys, stop talking about fencing. If this is a ploy to get me to join, it's not going to work."

"Sorry, Mike. But why won't you?"

"I don't want to fence. Okay?"

"Sure, mate," Dave agreed. "Come on, let's watch the other schools arrive."

They proceeded outside, where almost all the students were gathered. Professor McGonagall and the other teachers were there as well, waiting for something. Mike watched McGonagall, who looked somewhat apprehensive.

The ground trembled, and... waves began to form on it. Professor Potter stepped forward and drew his wand.

Something began to emerge out of the disturbed ground. An enormous silver bump, which, as it rose higher, was revealed to be the top of an arch. The arch, about twelve feet wide, rose until it stood twenty feet high, and then, a marble platform emerged, complete with a staircase descending from it to the ground. Almost every student gasped, either because they didn't know what they were seeing, or because, like Mike, they had an idea and couldn't believe their eyes.

Two green stalks began growing out of the platform, entwining around the silver columns. Everyone watched them climb out, then arch towards the top. As soon as they met, there was a bright flash of light, and the entire arch began to glow. After a few seconds, the glow subsided, leaving bright white lights running from the top of the arch down the vines and into the base.

Suddenly, the lights turned from white to red, and people began stepping through. Mike still couldn't believe it, but at least his suspicions had been right.

He should have known from the design of the arch, the platform, the lights, that this was Beauxbatons. In front of everyone was a woman too old to be a student, but still looking young. She was tall, had long blond hair, and...

He recognized her. It was his Aunt Gabrielle. He hadn't seen her in a while, but he'd known she taught at Beauxbatons. I guess she's head now.

"'Arry!" she nearly screamed. "'Arry Potter!"

"Gab... Gabrielle?" Potter said. "I can't believe it!" He stepped forward and kissed her hand. "A Portgate? I thought they forgot how to make these!" So it was true. A real Portgate. Wow, Mike thought.

Aunt Gabrielle introduced her students. Since he planned on entering, he watched the delegation, thinking about who could be chosen from among them. Most of the students were girls, but they seemed to be all older than him. He knew Aunt Fleur was in the last Tournament, and finished last. Still, he didn't underestimate his Quidditch opponents, and he wouldn't do it here.

Professor Potter was talking to Aunt Gabrielle in French when a sound of an explosion turned everyone's heads towards the lake. A sailing ship appeared in mid-air and slowly landed on the lake surface. The flag on top of its mast displayed the Durmstrang symbol: a brown bear on a white background. The standard unfurled just as the ship cast anchor, and the bear greeted them with a powerful roar.

A group of people, dressed in heavy brown robes and cloaks, marched up the ramp. Mike observed that the gender ratio here was the reverse of Beauxbatons students'. A fierce-looking man of medium height, with long blond hair, walked in front. This had to be the headmaster.

The man approached the group of teachers and introduced himself. "Gunther von Klausberg," he said. "It's an honor."

Professor Potter said something in German, out of which Mike only managed to pick 'Herr Klausberg'. The words caused the man to crack a small smile before turning serious again.

The teachers headed into the Great Hall with the students behind them. Aunt Gabrielle and Gunther von Klausberg took seats at the High Table. Two more tables stood in front of the hall, much smaller than the four house tables. The guests took seats and the feast began.

Mike carefully observed the newcomers. Standing out among the Durmstrang contingent were two identical twins, very tall, with short dark hair. They somehow looked familiar, though Mike couldn't place them.

Once the feast was over, McGonagall called the room to attention. A tall, dark-skinned woman in flowing red robes entered. "Welcome!" she said. "I'm Padma Patil, head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports at the Ministry of Magic, and one of the judges of the Triwizard Tournament."

"It was a tradition of the Tournament, that we unfortunately had to forgo the last time, that a former winner speak at the opening. Professor Potter?"

Harry Potter got up, smiled at McGonagall, and began to speak.

"The Triwizard Tournament is a wonderful opportunity to obtain new experiences, and form new ties of friendship. However... for those of you who will end up participating, you will not have much time to do that. For this, and other reasons, I strongly urge you to think extremely carefully before entering--to end up in the Tournament unwittingly is a fate I would not wish upon anyone. Also, no one under the age of seventeen will be allowed to enter--and please don't waste your time making aging potions--they won't work." A few people laughed. Potter waited for them to stop, then continued. "And finally, the Tournament itself will be a bit different."

Now even those who were still chatting among themselves stopped and looked up. For a moment, there was not a sound to be heard.

"The Tournaments of the past tested the participants' magical skills, courage, resourcefulness, and ability to think on the fly--which is all well and good. But there was one skill the Tournament did not and by its very nature could not test." He paused, scanning the room. Then he dropped the word. "Teamwork."

Did I hear right? Mike thought. How do you incorporate teamwork into the Tournament?

Two Ministry officials brought out a pedestal with a large cup hewn out of wood. Potter tapped it with his wand, and flames filled it. "The Goblet of Fire," he said, "will select two Champions from each school out of the candidates. If you wish to enter, and are over seventeen, drop in a piece of parchment with your name and school clearly written on it."

He looked over his audience once more. "Please note that you will not know who your co-champion will be, and whatever team each school gets, will participate. Dropping your name constitutes a binding magical contract, and you will be obliged to see it through. So once again, think before you do that. Good luck to the champions. Tomorrow, you will know who you are."

"It's settled then!" Mike said excitedly. "Me and Dave are going to storm this Tournament!"

Kate chuckled. "How do you know it'll select either of you?" Then, a bit sadder, she added, "Too bad I'm not yet seventeen."

"Well, as long as it's not someone from Slytherin, I can work with them."

Laura Whittle approached them. "Mike, Dave, are you sure about this... it could be dangerous."

"Dangerous?" Mike asked.

"Yeah... last time, they had the champions fight dragons."

A few younger students squealed. Mike and Dave remained nonchalant, though. "They won't go for a repeat, and I doubt that there is something more dangerous that they'll use."

"Well, good luck... but Professor Potter said to consider it very carefully."

"Yeah, well, he is the one to talk. Entered underage..."

"He didn't do that on purpose!" Kate suddenly protested.

"How do you know?" Mike asked.

"My dad told me. He was there."

"So were my parents. They never said anything."

"They never said he cheated his way in, did they?"

"Well, no, but--"

"Guys, stop it," Dave interrupted.

"Yeah, sure," Kate agreed. "I doubted Mike's ego could have gotten any bigger. I was wrong."

Mike chuckled. "Sure thing, Kate."