12. THE TRIWIZARD WHAT THE FUCK

As the thunder rumbled around them, and the pitter-patter of the rain on the train windows got louder, Elara's mind drifted to their summer adventures, where they went to the Quidditch World Cup final to watch Ireland and Bulgaria play, leading to an Irish win, but a capture of the snitch by Bulgarian seeker and legend, Viktor Krum.

The aftermath of the match wasn't as pleasant, considering some death eaters decided to make an appearance, torture a few muggles and cast the dark mark into the night sky. She remembered her father pushing her into the woods, where she ran, along, surrounded by trees.

//FLASHBACK//

Elara had gotten separated from Theodore and Bianca, and was forced to remain alone until the forest had quietened down, and she moved from where she was sat, hidden behind a tree. Her wand was clutched tightly in her hand as she stepped out from behind the tree cautiously.

The forest was quiet. There were no screams, or booms, or laughter. Just quiet. Elara walked down the pathway, headed back in the direction that she had come from, hoping to find her father, the Weasleys or any of her friends.

As she walked back into the huge clearing where the tents were set up, she saw many of them had burned down, especially the ones in the middle, the ones around the edges had managed to survive, but barely. Fires still glowed in some places, and Elara had to be careful where she stepped.

She saw a group of people stood quite near to where she was, and she ran in that direction. When she was closer, she slowed down to a walk, and got closer. "Excuse me?"

The adults turned around, and one of them stepped closer. "Elara?"

"Cedrella!" Elara almost cried in relief as the older woman wrapped her in a hug. "I'm so glad I found you."

"Oh sweetheart, we've been worried sick looking for all you kids. Do you happen to know where the others are? Bianca? Blaise?"

"W-we got separated, and I can't find anyone." Elara pulled away and looked up at Cedrella, eyes wide.

"Come along, your father is losing his mind trying to find you, Harry and Theodore. Come with me quick, I'll take you to him, and maybe he's found the others."

"I hope so." The dark haired teenager followed Cedrella as she lead her down another path towards where their tent was, and when they got closer, Elara could see a group of people surrounding a fire.

"Sirius!" Cedrella called out, and one of the men turned around and walked closer. Elara sighed in relief and ran towards the figure, throwing herself in her father's arms.

"Dad." She buried her head in his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her small body.

"Little moon." Sirius kissed her head and then pulled away. "I'm so glad you're safe, where did you go? What happened?"

"I got separated from Theo and Bia. I just hid in the forest till it got quiet, then I went out looking for you, and I found Cedrella."

"Well I'm glad you're alright. Theodore and Bianca were close to crying their little hearts out if we didn't find you soon." Sirius grinned as he lead his daughter back towards the group.

"You found Bianca?" Cedrella gasped. "What about Blaise?"

"Bianca and Blaise are both safe." Cedrella ran towards the others and the pair could see her wrapping an older girl and a younger boy in a tight hug. Bianca and Blaise. Elara felt as though a weight was lifted from her shoulder when she saw that they were safe.

"Is everyone alright?" Elara asked her father.

"No serious injuries or anything life threatening. And Theodore is fine." Sirius sighed. "Harry is with Arthur, he's alright, just a little shaken."

"Thank God." Elara's eyes widened then. "Please tell me you saw Draco?"

"I haven't El. I'm sorry. But I'm sure he's safe, his father wouldn't let him get hurt." Sirius assured his daughter.

"Dad, I might have to turn our house into a home for kids with asshole death eaters as parents." Elara looked up at her father, looking very serious.

"Go ahead, love." He smiled at her, and hugged her once more before heading over to talk with some of the other adults. Elara's eyes scanned her surroundings and she looked at everyone stood there, seeing Theodore stood with an Auror, who didn't look very happy.

As she got closer, she could hear Theodore's voice getting louder as he got frustrated and annoyed at the Auror, who was evidently questioning him to see if he knew anything about the attack. Elara walked towards them and placed her hand on Theodore's shoulder.

"Hello Auror-" She paused to look at his badge, "Williams. Can I help you with something?"

"Williams here was just wondering if I had been in contact with my father about this attack, and I'll tell him again, in front of you, that I haven't spoken with my father since the beginning of the summer." Theodore glared at the man stood in front of him. "And now, I'm going to ask you again, and for the last time to leave me the fuck alone."

"You heard him." Elara winked, lifting her wand and pointing it at the older man, the tip glowing a dangerous purple colour. The man begrudgingly stepped away, seeing through the corner of his eyes Cedrella Zabini and Sirius Black giving him the death glare.

"Hey Theo."

"Hey Lara."

Wordlessly, the pair hugged each other, for no words were needed at the moment, just the comfort of their arms around each other, and that silent comfort was enough.

//FLASHBACK OVER//

"Lara. Train's stopped. We're here." Theodore nudged Elara, who sat up then, and combed through her hair. She stood and looked out of the window, wincing when she saw a flash of lightning.

"Oh crap, I don't fancy going out there right now. This weather is a menace."

"It's a good thing we've got magic then, huh?" Theodore grinned, before standing and heading out of the compartment with Elara following behind him. He led them to one of the doors and right as they stepped out, Elara waved her wand and muttered a few words causing an invisible umbrella to appear above her.

Now that she stood in the rain, it simple slid off an unseen surface and none of it touched her. She walked closer to Theodore and linked her free arm through his, allowing the umbrella to shield both of them.

The wind blew harshly and they both shivered. Theodore dragged Elara towards the carriages and helped her in, before he himself got in. Elara sighed in relief when she felt the warmth of the carriage. They were then joined by Bianca, who smiled at the pair.

Soon enough their carriage arrived in front of the steps into the castle. Elara turned to the other two; "Ready to make a run for it?"

"You know it." Bianca winked.

"Let's hope we don't slip and crack our heads open." He coughed. "Elara."

"It was one time Theodore, let it go." She rolled her eyes, before swinging the door open and making a run for it. She dashed up the steps followed by her best friends and surrounded by countless other students doing the same thing. They all rushed for the cover of the castle.

When they made it in, they were met with another obstacle. Peeves. He was throwing water balloons at students in an attempt to soak them more than they already were. As he approached Elara, she took her wand out and pointed it at him. "Go on. I dare you."

He chuckled nervously and flew away and towards a group of third years who squealed when they were pelted with the balloons. Elara snickered, rolling her eyes as the trio walked into the Great Hall and sat at the Slytherin table.

Soon when everyone was gathered in the Great Hall, McGonagall brought out the first years, who looked absolutely soaked, all of them shivering, and one of them wrapped in what looked like Hagrid's moleskin overcoat.

Then the old hat was placed atop the three-legged stool, and it began singing.

A thousand years or more ago,

When I was newly sewn,

There lived four wizards of renown,

Whose names are still well known:

Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,

Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,

Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad,

Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.

They shared a wish, a hope, a dream,

They hatched a daring plan

To educate young sorcerers

Thus Hogwarts School began.

Now each of these four founders

Formed their own house, for each

Did value different virtues

In the ones they had to teach.

By Gryffindor, the bravest were

Prized far beyond the rest;

For Ravenclaw, the cleverest

Would always be the best;

For Hufflepuff, hard workers were

Most worthy of admission;

And power-hungry Slytherin

Loved those of great ambition.

While still alive they did divide

Their favorites from the throng,

Yet how to pick the worthy ones

When they were dead and gone?

'Twas Gryffindor who found the way,

He whipped me off his head

The founders put some brains in me

So I could choose instead!

Now slip me snug about your ears,

I've never yet been wrong,

I'll have a look inside your mind

And tell where you belong!

After the sorting and after everyone had finished demolishing the food laid before them, Dumbledore got to his feet. 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 all fed and watered. I must once more ask 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 has this year 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 all that the forest on 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."

At the statement, Elara's mouth dropped open in shock as she turned to face Theodore and the other members of her team that were sat nearby. "What?"

Dumbledore continued, "This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout 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 toward 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, then began to walk up toward the teachers' table.

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

The lightning had thrown the man's face into sharp relief, and it was a face unlike any anyone had ever seen. It looked as though it had been carved out of weathered wood by someone who had only the vaguest idea of what human faces are supposed to look like, and was none too skilled with a chisel. Every inch of skin seemed to be scarred. The mouth looked like a diagonal gash, and a large chunk of the nose was missing. But it was the man's eyes that made him frightening.

One of them was small, dark, and beady. The other was large, round as a coin, and a vivid, electric blue. The blue eye was moving ceaselessly, without blinking, and was rolling up, down, and from side to side, quite independently of the normal eye — and then it rolled right over, pointing into the back of the man's head, so that all they could see was whiteness.

The stranger reached Dumbledore. He stretched out a hand that was as badly scarred as his face, and Dumbledore shook it, muttering words people couldn't hear. He seemed to be making some inquiry of the stranger, who shook his head unsmilingly and replied in an undertone. Dumbledore nodded and gestured the man to the empty seat on his right-hand side.

The stranger sat down, shook his mane of dark grey hair out of his face, pulled a plate of sausages toward him, raised it to what was left of his nose, and sniffed it. He then took a small knife out of his pocket, speared a sausage on the end of it, and began to eat. His normal eye was fixed upon the sausages, but the blue eye was still darting restlessly around in its socket, taking in the Hall and the

students.

"May I introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?" said Dumbledore brightly into the silence. "Professor Moody."

Elara's eyes widened in shock as she realised who this man was. Mad-Eye Moody, legendary dark wizard capturer, and famed Auror. He was here, and he was going to be teaching them.

It was usual for new staff members to be greeted with applause, but none of the staff or students clapped except Dumbledore and Hagrid, who both put their hands together and applauded, but the sound echoed dismally into the silence, and they stopped fairly quickly. Everyone else seemed too transfixed by Moody's bizarre appearance to do more than stare at him.

Moody seemed totally indifferent to his less-than-warm welcome. Ignoring the jug of pumpkin juice in front of him, he reached again into his traveling cloak, pulled out a hip flask, and took a long draught from it. As he lifted his arm to drink, his cloak was pulled a few inches from the ground, and below the table, several inches of carved wooden leg, ending in a clawed foot.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "As I was saying," he said, smiling at the sea of students before him, all of whom 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 that 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 loudly, causing Elara to laugh.

The tension that had filled the Hall ever since Moody's arrival suddenly broke. Nearly everyone laughed, and Dumbledore chuckled appreciatively.

"I am not joking, Mr. Weasley," he said, "Though now that you mention it, 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, and the young Black rolled her eyes at Dumbledore's attempts to be funny.

"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 a most excellent way of establishing ties between young witches and wizards of different nationalities — until, that is, the death toll mounted so high that the tournament was discontinued."

At the mention of death toll, people around the hall had mixed reactions, some grew excited and other worried. Elara turned to her friends, who both shook their heads, but she stuck her tongue out and flipped them off. "I'm gonna do it."

"There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the tournament," Dumbledore continued, "None of which has been very successful. However, our own departments of International Magical Cooperation 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."

This caused Elara to scowl. "Well, where's the fun in that."

"The heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving with their short-listed contenders in October, and the selection of the three champions will take place at Halloween. An impartial judge will decide which students are most worthy to compete for the Triwizard Cup, the glory of their school, and a thousand Galleons personal prize money."

"All the more reason for me to compete." She said to her friends.

Dumbledore spoke again, and the Hall quieted once more. "Eager though I know all of you will be to bring the Triwizard Cup to Hogwarts," he said, "The heads of the participating schools, along with the Ministry of Magic, have agreed to impose an age 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."

Elara stood, an angry look on her face. "What the fuck!" She yelled, and she wasn't the only one. It was a matter of 2 months until she turned 17 and she wasn't going to be allowed to compete.

"This," — Dumbledore raised his voice slightly, for several people had made noises of outrage at these words, and the Weasley twins were suddenly looking furious — "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 Fred's 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 arriving in October and remaining 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 your lessons tomorrow morning. Bedtime! Chop chop!"

Dumbledore sat down again and turned to talk to Mad-Eye Moody. There was a great scraping and banging as all the students got to their feet and swarmed toward the double doors into the Entrance Hall.

Elara sat back down and crossed her arms over her chest. "That so isn't fair. If they had just waited a few months, then I would be able to compete."

"Lara, that's why they didn't wait. They knew that if you participated, then you would win, and everyone else would have no chance at all." Theodore threw his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him.

"Right, sure. That's totally why." Elara rolled her eyes.

"Let's head to the common room so I can give you the wine El." Bianca winked, and Elara's eyes widened in happiness.

"WINE! YES!" She stood quickly, grabbed both Theodore and Bianca's arms and dragged them to the common room, running at top speed to get there as quickly as possible.

"Woah- wait, Bianca, you got her wine?" Theodore asked the Zabini heiress, who nodded, a smirk on her lips. "Oh God."

By now they had arrived at the common room, and waited behind a crowd of people, who stood waiting for a prefect to say the password. A prefect stepped forward, the sliver and emerald badge gleaming on their chest. "Serpent."

At that, Elara turned to her best friends, "Wow, these passwords are getting more creative by the day. I'm so impressed." Then, as the crowd flowed into the common room, the trio followed, and Elara kissed Theodore's cheek before leaving towards the dorms with Bianca, the thought of Italian wine on her mind.

And although she wasn't supposed to drink it just yet, considering they had classes the next day, Elara couldn't resist pouring her and Bianca a little glass, which they savoured before jumping into bed.