Chapter 356 - – Extreme Makeover Edition (1/2)
As the next day was Saturday most students generally be late for breakfast, but this time around when Rowan and Regulus, who usually were the first ones up for once were actually beaten by scores of others. There were over forty students in the entrance hall some eating toast and others examining the Goblet of Fire. It had been placed in the center of the hall on the stool that normally bore the Sorting Hat. A thin golden line had been traced on the floor forming a circle ten feet around in every direction.
”Think anyone's put their name in yet?” Regulus remarked out loud.
”All of Durmstrang already did,” replied a nearby Slytherin 7th year.
Nodding their thanks, they moved towards the Great Hall, when a loud popping sound was heard from behind them. Turning around they saw two Gryffindor boys with great white beards having been thrown out of the circle.
”I did warn you,” said a deep, amused voice, as they turned to glance at Professor Dumbledore coming out of the Great Hall. ”I suggest the both of you head up to Madam Pomfrey, she is already tending to a few likeminded students who thought to age themselves by a few months. Though I must say, neither of their beards is anything as fine as yours.”
Rowan and Regulus shook their heads, before entering the Great Hall. The decorations in the Great Hall, as usual, had changed to reflect Halloween. A cloud of live bats is already fluttering around the enchanted ceiling, while hundreds of Hagrid's carved pumpkins, both giant and small leered at them from every corner.
Sitting down, Rowan served herself a nice plate of hash browns, scrambled eggs, and sausages. With a good squirt of ketchup, she happily digs into the meal as Regulus says, ”Have any of the 7th years Slytherins entered in?”
”Vern Crabbe has,” Rowan said with a mouthful pointing at the annoying pudgy git. ”But I doubt he will be chosen as Hogwarts champion given that he barely managed to pass his final exams last year. It'll be a miracle if he doesn't fail all of his N.E.W.T.'s.”
”Fair point,” Regulus said with a sigh. ”I don't think this year's Slytherins have much of a chance.”
”No, I'd hazard to say that it'll be Frank Longbottom or Zaid Patil,” Rowan gestured to the head boy and older brother of the pretty Ravenclaw seeker, Asha Patil. Both Gryffindors and the future fathers of one Neville Longbottom and the Patil twins.
Regulus glances at the Gryffindor table and reluctantly nods his head. ”Longbottom is powerful and clever, while Patil is as well. And though I think you might be right, it's still a shame really. I'd have liked to see a Slytherin champion for once. Maybe next time.”
Rowan nods her head in agreement as they return to eating. She finished first and excused herself leaving Regulus with his two friends, Florinda and Flortentia. The two girls still looked alike as ever with their only distinguishing features being their hair and colored hair ribbons.
Deciding to go for a brisk morning walk, Rowan is on her way out when she sees Madam Maxime enter the hall before her followed closely by her students. Stepping aside she waits as she watches Madam Maxime organize them into a neat line.
One by one the Beauxbatons students stepped across the Age Line and dropped their slips of parchment into the blue-white flames. As each name entered the fire it turned briefly red and emitted sparks. When all the Beauxbatons students had submitted their names Madam Maxime led them back out of the hall and out onto the grounds again.
Rowan trailed after them as she made her way across the grounds. It was not surprising at all to find the gigantic powder-blue carriage parked a mere two hundred yards from Hagrid's front door. The students were quickly climbing back inside, while the elephant-sized horses were grazing in a makeshift paddock alongside it.
Hiding a knowing smirk, Rowan knocks on Hagrid's door, Fang's booming barks can be heard from inside. ”Bout time!” said Hagrid, when he flung open the door. ”Thought you'd forgotten where I live!”
”I'm an apprentice to Professor Dumbledore,” Rowan apologized. ”Severus and I are busy all the time, Hagrid.”
Hagrid looks rather sheepish as he adjusts his best (and very horrible) hairy brown suit, plus a checked yellow-and-orange tie. This wasn't the worst part of the fashion police travesty. No, he had evidently tried to tame his hair, using large quantities of what appeared to be axle grease. It was now slicked down into two bunches – two pigtails', perhaps?
Channeling her inner Tiffany, Rowan says, ”Hagrid go wash that ridiculous grease out of your hair. And then I'm going to give you a makeover!”
Hagrid blankly stares at her until Rowan barks, ”Chop! Chop Hagrid! I don't have all day!” Hagrid hurriedly removes his coat and tie, before pulling out a large metal basin enchanted to refill itself with water. As best as he can he begins to wipe off the axle grease until his hair at least looks manageable.