Chapter 335 - Announcement (2/2)
”As usual I would like to remind you all that the forest on the grounds is out of bounds as is the village of Hogsmeade to all those below the third year,” Dumbledore mouth twitched as if to hide a smile. ”And that the Whomping Willow is to be left alone.”
Turning to the side of the room, Dumbledore says, ”It is with great honor I introduce Professor Lye, a retired Auror, who will be the newest professor for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position.” The entire student body politely claps as the older gentlemen stood up and waved at them, before sitting back down. The clapping quickly fades away as everyone returns to staring at the figure of the headmaster.
”Now it is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not be taking place this year!” Gasps of shock fill the room especially from the Slytherin side as they were counting on Regulus Black to avenge them this year.
”This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teacher's time and energy – but I am sure that you will enjoy it immensely. I have the great pleasure to announce that this year at Hogwarts-.”
Rowan's stomach flops as she quickly begins to do math in her head. The Triwizard cup was theoretically every five years with the last known tournament being held in the future, 1994. Counting backward from 1994, exactly four years consecutively, she gets the following years: 1989,
1984, 1979, and 1974. Her face turns sickly green for a moment, of course, this would be the year.
Taking a deep breath, Rowan calms her nerves. Everything would be fine. She was in her fourth year and couldn't participate. And by the time, 1979 rolled around, she'd have graduated from Hogwarts. What could possibly go wrong?
”-We are to have the honor of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event that has not been held in over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year.” The room is filled with scattered applause as most of the school body seems to be utterly crushed.
”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.” There is a heavy silence as even the Gryffindor's are unnerved at the words, death toll.
”There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the tournament,” Dumbledore continued, ”none of which has been very successful. However, our won 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.”
”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 during the Halloween Feast. 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!”
Excited whispers sprang out between the older students as they seemed rather enthusiastic at the prospect of glory and riches. Rowan, on the other hand, shook her head. Even if she'd been able to participate, she would have never attempted it. Who'd willingly put themselves into a Death Trap?