Monday, October 31 1994

The Great Hall

Percival Ebonwood's POV

I look down. My palms were sweating; my ears ringing; my heart pulsing. With each passing moment, the weight of the cello pressed against my chest grew in magnitude. My hands were shaking.

A loud applause rang throughout the Great Hall as Dumbledore stood up. He waited for everyone to settle down. Notably, the older students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons were not there. They should be getting ready for the opening acts.

"Thank you, Mr. Bagman," Dumbledore said as he nodded at the man. "I can't express in words of how big of an honour it is for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to be able to host such an illustrious event. I can say from experience that you will experience a spectacle that cannot be replicated anywhere in the world.

Now, lets get onto the elephant in the room. Or should I say goblet? This goblet, in front of me, will be responsible for choosing a champion from amongst you. One representative to showcase the best aspects of your institutions. For the last 16 days, sixth and sevenths year students who are willing to become champions have submitted their name. And today we will draw names.

However before that, let us commence the opening ceremony. Professor Flitwick, when you are ready, the orchestra can begin."

As the conductor's baton rose, a hush fell over the Great Hall, a collective breath held in anticipation. As the first notes of the Elgar Cello Concerto resound through the Great Hall, the everlasting candles change to a soft blue. The door opened, and an entourage of Beauxbatons student came through.

The cello was cradled in my arms as Fleur stepped forward. She took another step before the student started following. They broke off into small groups and started the ballet. As the melody unfurls like a ribbon of silk, the Beauxbatons student moves closer to the goblet.

For two brief minutes, time seems to stand still. Gradually, the music started to fade as the dancers slowed their advance. And then, as quickly as it began, the music fell into silence, leaving behind an echo of its beauty that lingers in the air. The hall was quiet for a moment before the students stood up and an applause began.

The Beauxbatons students bowed as they received their applause before sitting down at the Ravenclaw table. We steadied ourselves and started preparing for the next performance. Once silence rang true, the door opened again, with Viktor Krum striking the floor in a rhythmic beat with a stick. The everlasting took on a deep red hue.

For this piece, I was taking the back seat, as I have used up a lot of my mental fortitude being the soloist. The orchestra began playing the Sabre Dance from The Gayane Suite No. 3. Compared to the graceful ballet of Beauxbatons, the aggressive athleticism displayed in the acrobatic routine caught the student's attention.

Once the routine finished, the Great Hall was filled with a louder applause than before. The Durmstrang students revelled in the attention and seemed to milk it even more. Karkaroff gave them a stare, and they immediately stopped. Led by Viktor, they took their place at the Slytherin table.

After they sat down, the piano started to chime as Hedwig's theme started to play. The everlasting candles started to dim before the room fell into darkness. A blue, green, red, and orange light travelled down the edges of the four tables.

The blue light formed an eagle that flew around the Great Hall a few times before stopping in front of the Headmaster's table. It fluttered its wings for a few seconds before it exploded into small blue particles. The green light formed a snake. The snake slithered from the end of the Slytherin table before stopping below the blue particles. It stood there for a few seconds before it exploded into green particles.

The red light formed a lion. The lion rushed down the middle of the Great Hall and pounced at the two coloured spectacle. The lion jumped through it, phasing past the headmaster's table and falling flat on its bottom. It got up and reoriented itself. The lion took a few steps back before rushing at the particles again. This time, when it reached it, it exploded into a multitude of red particles.

The orange light formed a small honey badger. The badger slowly trotted to the light in the middle. Once it got about three quarters of the way there, Cedric Diggory got up. He picked up the badger and placed it below the light. The badger turned to face Cedric. It nestled towards his leg, rubbed its head a few times, before turning to the light. Cedric quickly sat back down. Once he did, the badger exploded into orange particles.

The orange particles slowly moved towards the other particle. When they formed a sphere, all the particles started to move to a single point. The light started to get harsher and brighter until the room fell into darkness. A few moments later, a white ball formed where the sphere had disappeared. Suddenly, it exploded.

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A kaleidoscope of colours glimmered above our heads as Hedwig's theme came to an end. As the final notes played, the colours returned to where they came from. This time, it formed the Hogwarts crest. The crest stayed hovering for a few seconds before it vanished. The everlasting candles returned to their normal state as the room fell into applause once more.

When it stopped, Dumbledore stood up with a beaming smile.

"When I heard we had to do an opening act, I thought, 'What should we do? What represents Hogwarts?' Then it came to me: music. Music is a magic we all can experience. I was persistent in performing our school song, and I must thank the Board of Governors for helping me see the errors of my way. That performance was better than I could ever imagine. Now, everybody, join with me for one last round of applause for Hogwarts String Orchestra."

"Onto the main event: the choosing of champions. If you are chosen, come to the front, where you will receive the full rule book and a list of potential tasks you may face. Good luck to all of you. May Lady Magic smile upon you. Who should we start with first? Hmm, I think I will go for Durmstrang."

Dumbledore drew his wand and gave a sweeping motion. Instantly, the torches lining the hall gutter, then die, The only light came from the blue-white flames of the goblet. A hush descended. Then the flames crackled and turned red. A charred bit of parchment fluttered from the goblet, and Dumbledore plucked it out of the air.

"The champion for Durmstrang is... Viktor Krum."

A storm of applause accompanied Krum from the Slytherin table as he walked to the Headmaster's table. Dumbledore shook his hand, Madame Maxine said congratulations, and Karkaroff handed him a book. After receiving it, he entered the adjoining chamber.

Once more, the hall grew quiet. All eyes were on the goblet as the flame turned red. A second piece of parchment flew out and floated to Dumbledore's hand.

"The champion for Beauxbatons is... Fleur Delacour."

A fourth year whistled a tad too loud, which resulted in the professor shooting a glare at the boy.

After Fleur received the book, she entered the adjoining chamber.

"And lastly, the Hogwarts Champion. Percival Ebonwood."

Getting up from my seat and placing my cello down, I walked towards the headmaster's table.

"Congratulation, my boy. I know you'll make Hogwarts proud," Dumbledore said as he handed me the book.

Madame Maxine offered her congratulations, and Karkaroff gave a short nod. I then entered the adjoining chamber. Viktor was standing by the table, while Fleur was sitting on the sofa.

"You're a champion, too, Mon Coeur?" Fleur asked.

"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't," I replied as Viktor scoffed.

"What are you scoffing at?" Fleur asked.

"You're apparent stupidity," Viktor replied.

"You may not be stupid, but you are lacking in some departments."

"What departments?"

"The physical," Viktor said confidently.

"Common sense," I muttered under my breath.

"What!?"

"You are like a stick. I could snap you in two. The girls in Durmstrang have muscles. You do not."

"I'll let that slide," Fleur said as the door swung open. "Do zey want us back in ze hall?"

"U... u... u..." we heard as we turned around to see Harriet Potter.

The door crashed open, and Dumbledore stormed inside alongside Karkaroff, Madame Maxine, Prince, Crouch, and Mad-Eye Moody.

"What is ze meaning of zis, Dumbly-dorr!?" Madame Maxine furiously asked.

"Harriet, did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire?" Dumbledore asked.

"No, sir."

"Did you ask an older student to put your name in?"

"No, sir."

"Ah, but of course she is lying!" Madam Maxine exclaimed.

"The hell she is. The Goblet of Fire is an exceptionally powerful magical object. Only an exceptional, powerful Confundus Charm could have hoodwinked it. Magic beyond the talent of any fourth year," Moody said.

"You seem to have given this a fair bit of thought, Moody," Karkaroff quipped.

"It was my job once to think the way Dark Wizards do, Karkaroff. Perhaps you remember..."

"Barty... I leave this to you," Dumbledore said as he exited. "Tell me of your decision by nightfall."

"The rules are absolute. The Goblet of Fire constitutes a binding magical contract. Miss Potter has no choice. She is, as of tonight, a Triwizard Champion," Barty Crouch said as an uproar filled the room.

"How is zis fair? 'Ogwarts has two champions," Madame Maxine said.

"The girl is just a child. She should not compete," Moody said.

"Do you have any other ideas?" The room was silent. "That is what I thought."

"What if you increase the number of champions?"

"Who said that?"

I raised my hand. "Is that it? Raise the number of participants? You don't think I thought of that?"

"Increase the number of champions per school to three. Increase the number of schools participating to, I don't know, six?"

"The Triwizard Tournament format only works well with three schools participating."

"Make it into a league format, then," I said as Crouch motioned to go on. "Increase the number of tasks to five or six. Each task is worth 100 points. The winner wins the tournament. And didn't you say you wanted to make it the biggest tournament after the Quidditch World Cup?"

"Do you know how hard that would be to arrange? The logistics behind that? Inviting other schools in a short amount of time? What about the prizes and cost?"

"Nagini owes me a favour, so I could get Ilvermorny to come. I'm in contact with the daughter of the headmaster of Mahoutokoro. She knows about the tournament and has expressed interest in participating. As for the sixth, you decide. It could be a coalition of three smaller schools, each with one champion, or another one of the Eleven Great Schools. As for the cost and prizes, you would have international reach. You could make up the additional costs."

"Zis sounds better than your preposterous idea. I will inform the minister of this."

"I will also run by it with the minister. How long would it take to confirm their attendance?"

"I could get it done by Thursday."

"I expect news by Wednesday," Barty Crouch said as he walked out with a satisfied Maxine and Karkaroff. Moody stared at me for a few moments before following them out. "Should we head back to the feast?"

"Only after you tell me how you know the daughter of the Headmaster of Mahoutokoro, mon coeur?"

"We're pen pals."