DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE HARRY POTTER SERIES NOR AM I MAKING ANY MONEY FROM THIS. THIS IS JUST MY IMAGINATION RUNNING WILD!
Hey Guys!
Here is the 4th Chapter! Enjoy!
The dining hall of Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardry was buzzing with voices as all heads faced Headmaster Dippet standing in front of them with a grave face. The professors behind him had stern and anxious expressions as they quietly talked among themselves.
“We were honoured when Hogwarts School Witchcraft and Wizardry was chosen to host the Tri-Wizard Tournament. As you can see our staff were readily talking part in the preparations and I know how enthusiastic you all were about this new event. Alas, we were informed today that Beauxbatons Academy was under attack last night by Grindelwald’s army and there were heavy casualties. For that very reason, other schools are hesitant to go forth with this tournament as they fear tampering from outsides and the parents have taken actions. Even some of your parents have raised objections to this Tournament fearing for your safety and we completely understand their fears which is why with a heavy heart the council has decided to call off the Tri-Wizard Tournament.” Headmaster Dippet announced.
There was a stunned silence in the dining hall as the students looked at their headmaster with wide eyes. Then the silence broke.
“You can’t do that! We have waited for so many months for this day!” “That is so unfair sir!” “Does the council know how hard I have been training for this?!” “I thought Hogwarts was tamper-proof!” “Those girls are chickens! Disqualify their school!” “No! You can’t do that!” Came the students screams.
Dippet was agitated and he didn’t want to risk a sore throat or a throat infection so he gave Professor Dumbledore his ‘nod’.
“SILENCE!” Came the loud yell from the Transfiguration professor and the hall immediately went quiet and they now started at the professor.
“We understand how deeply disappointed this news make you but this is for your own safety.” Dumbledore said in a grave voice.
Yvonne walked with through the halls towards the library with a worried look. She knew how much Claire had wanted to take part in the Tri-Wizard Tournament. How disappointed and heartbroken she must be now that it was cancelled. She was sure Claire was probably plotting to murder the whole Council and Ava was trying to calm her down. The thought of Ava desperately pulling on Claire’s cloak in a useless attempt to stop her from running out the door like a manic with her wand ready to blast the council members made Yvonne chuckle. As she neared the Library she could hear faint voices up ahead. When she reached the library door, she stopped. That was Claire’s voice inside. Was she plotting a murder? With quiet footsteps she entered the library and searched for her sister. She had expected to see Claire looking through all the potions books searching for the perfect poison and Ava sighing but she had not expected to see Claire and Tom Riddle standing face to face, glaring at each other.
“Look I know it’s none of my business, but if I receive such threats again, I swear to god I will turn them into frogs or spiders!” Claire hissed loudly.
Tom sighed, “How does your receiving death threats from other girls make it any of my concern?” he asked with his usual ‘I am the best, peasant!’ voice.
“It is when the girls who are sending these letters happen to be members of your stupid fan club!” Claire replied angrily and thrust a handful of paper towards Tom.
Tom took the papers and skimmed through them carefully. After reading the last one, his usual arrogant smirk was plastered on his face.
“I’m glad you find this amusing, Riddle!” Claire scoffed and glared at the Slytherin prefect.
“You have to admit Miss Noire that these threats are quite imaginative and creative!” he said cockily. “They seem to be under the impression that we are in some sort of relationship.”
“No kidding!” Claire laughed sarcastically, “In what planet do we look like a couple? This just proves that these girls in your fan club have pea sized brains!”
Tom narrowed his eyes and looked at Claire, “Why don’t you inform them that you are not in any sort of relationship with me then?” he asked.
“I did! They don’t believe me! They seem to think that it is impossible that I don’t want to be in any relationship with you!” Claire said making a face.
Tom’s eyes narrowed dangerously as he reached forward, placed his hand under her chin and turned her face towards him while Claire started at him gobsmacked.
“Are you saying that the idea of being in a relationship with me is repulsive to you?” Tom asked, his blue eye had an unusual gleam them as her stared back at the girl in front of him. Claire was stiff as she looked into his eyes. They were light blue and she thought she could see silver in them too.
Jerking away she slapped his hand away from her and looked at him, her eyes ablaze.
“Don’t you dare try those mind games of yours on me, Tom! You, Alphard, Avery, Lestrange, Malfoy… You all are the same! Just make sure those girls get the clear picture!” Claire almost yelled.
Yvonne leaned forward to hear more from behind the shelves but she accidently knocked over a few books which were kept on a stool in front of her.
“Oh no!” she gasped.
“What was that?” she heard Claire’s voice.
Quickly gathering up her books, Yvonne dashed for the Library door and ran out and away before they could catch her.
“Who was that?” Claire asked as she caught a glimpse of a girl running out of the library. “Oh great! Just great!” she sighed and rubbed her temples.
“Now I am going to get more serious death threats!” she moaned.
Tom smirked a little, “Adventure never stops when it comes to you doesn’t it, Claire?” he asked. Claire turned to look at him with wide eyes.
“What?” he asked immediately tensing up and put his guard back on.Claire sighed, “You owe me big time for all this…” she said, picking up her book bag she left.
Ever since the Tournament was cancelled, the students were in a perpetual gloomy mood. They didn’t take their studies seriously and were not even pulling pranks or bullying. That made the teachers worry. So after a heated argument in the headmaster’s office, the professors came up with a plan.
“It has been brought to my notice…” Said Dippet during breakfast a few weeks later. “That ever since the Tournament had been cancelled, the prank levels had also dropped. Now that is an alarming news, wouldn’t you say so?” he asked smiling.
The students chuckled at the question and listened on quietly.
“Since the glorious event has been cancelled, does that mean we cannot have fun this year?” Dippet asked. The students started buzzing with excitement and looked at the headmaster with anticipation.
“So the professors and I are going to host our annual ball a little early this year! Say… 2 months from now! The exact date on which the Tri-Wizard Tournament was going to start!” Dippet announced.
The dining hall roared with whistles and claps and the students cheered loudly. This was a gift indeed! A huge gift! They wondered who convinced Dippet but they all had their answer. It must be Albus Dumbledore.
The students of Hogwarts now had a new reason to be excited and happy. They talked of nothing but the ball. Even if it was 2 months away, girls had started planning on which gown they’d wear and started praying for the perfect partner. The girls of Slytherin were boisterous as ever as they announced to everyone that they had ordered their gowns from the most expensive and fashionable designers. Olive Hornby being one of them. She talked about nothing but her gown which was being hand stitched by a very famous designer and was going to be encrusted with rubies and pearls.
Claire was least concerned about the ball. Nothing could replace Tri-Wizard Competition for her. Ava, on the other hand, seemed to have recovered quickly as she was now trying to convince Claire to accompany her to Hogsmead so she could buy a dress for the ball. After hours of coaxing and begging, Ava had finally convinced her best friend. As the weekend fell, most of the students left Hogwarts for Hogsmead. Girls went to pick out gowns while the boys went to the Three Broomsticks for butter bears or the candy shops.
Claire sat on a stool and watched Ava try on numerous dresses, trying to search for the one! After a few minutes, Claire had given up being gloomy and had joined her best friend in gown hunt. They spent the whole afternoon trying on dresses and accessories. Finally when the shopkeeper was absolutely reached her limit of tolerance, they picked one and rushed out.
Most of the carriages were gone and dusk had begun to fall as Claire and Ava exited The Three Broomsticks after drinking butter beer.
“So few of us are here…” Ava said looking around spotting a few students around them.
“Let’s go back to the castle now… I have 3 essays to finish.” Claire sighed and they both began walking towards the nearest carriage when they were blasted off the ground. With a loud thud, both girls landed a few meters apart from each other.
“Aguamenti!” Ava cried and put out the fire which had caught in her sleeve with her wand and she jumped up from the ground while Claire did the same.
“Are you alright?” Claire called out to Ava who nodded then pointed her wand in front, tensed and breathless.
“What was that?” Ava asked Claire who had joined her and was also ready with her wand pointed.
Claire however did not reply and stared ahead with wide eyes. Ava felt more agitated when she didn’t reply and turned to look at her and saw a horrified expression on Claire’s face as she stared ahead.
Following her gaze she saw four men wearing dark hooded cloaks coming towards them, grinning.
“Well what are you two brave lasses doing out here this late? Is it not time you returned to your famous Hogwarts?” One of the men asked, grinning from ear to ear. He had long stringy hair and small piercing eyes.
“Don’t you know that breaking curfew is a wrong thing? Especially when… You go outside. So many dangerous people out there. You ought to be careful!” said another.
“Grindelwald…” Claire whispered.
“Not to worry, missy! We are just his… Subordinates. Now if I was him… I wouldn’t have blasted you off the ground. I would have blasted you into pieces!” Said another sneering at the girls.
“Maybe they need to learn a few rules…The hard way!” he said.
Claire and Ava flinched but braced themselves. They were Gryffindors. Gryffindors do not run away.
The man gave a short cruel laugh, twirled his wand in his hand then his eyes darkened. His lips formed a thin line as his face turned shrewd.
“Confringo!” the man shouted, pointing his wand at the girls.
CLIFFHANGER!! Do not strangle me! If you do, you will never know what happened next! *Evil Laugh* I think I would have been in Slytherin! (O_O)
Don’t we all? 😀 I changed my room’s appearance and made it look more mature, you know by spreading my make-up everywhere! 😀 (Tee-Hee-Hee!)
Styles and Sensibilities 