"However, this year we have decided to do things a bit differently. First of all, it was unanimously agreed that for the student's safety, enrollment into the Triwizard Tournament shall be limited to those who are seventeen years of age or older."
Everyone booed.
"But!" He shouted over the noise, silencing the children. "But, there will be a host of smaller tournaments that will be open to students of any age. It was decided that instead of just showcasing the talents of three single students, why not showcase the best of what our three schools have to offer? Thus we will host an academic bowl, Quidditch and dueling matches, and an arts and music competition alongside the main tournament. The details of which will be announced once our friends from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang arrive in one month's time.
The Triwizard Tournament is something to take seriously. The age line is in place because the competition will be incredibly difficult. The single one of you who is chosen as Hogwarts Champion will have a great honor and glory in representing our school. But do rest assured, there will be opportunities for all of you to prove yourselves this year, and I remind you that even if you are not chosen to participate in any of the activities you will still represent our school when our guests arrive."
"Blimey," Ron had a sharp grin on his face. "This is going to be wicked! A dueling tournament. Do - do you think I could enter?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Honestly, Ronald, it's all you talk about, of course, you should enter!"
"Ron, you're a great duelist," Luna assured him. "And so are you, Harry. Do you want to enter?"
"I dunno. The Quidditch one might be fun too. It would be less dangerous, so mama won't be mad." Quidditch called to him a little more than dueling did, and if he was being honest, he wasn't sure how good at dueling he was in a situation where he couldn't use illegal curses.
"The academic bowl sounds fun," Hermione said, as the boys gave each other a good-natured look of commiseration.
"That sounds like extra studying for fun, Hermione!"
"Well, I agree with her," Luna said. "Perhaps, gentlemen, it's a little more impressive to be the smartest student at school over the best Quidditch player."
Harry and Ron grumbled.
"Nerds," Ron coughed into his hand.
"Boys," Hermione rolled her eyes. "We'll just have to study together, Luna."
"Actually - perhaps I could participate in the art competition, so that way we are all involved in the different tournaments. I've really developed an appreciation for ceramics lately."
"That's a great idea," Hermione said. "Say, who do you think would make it as the Hogwarts Champion?"
As dinner ended, the mood of the castle was much brighter as the students gossiped and talked with each other. The Weasley twin's loud discussion about age potions led to lighthearted arguments up and down the table. When Harry finally made it upstairs to his dorm, he slept easy, thinking about his upcoming normal and happy school year.
Draco Malfoy paced up and down the length of the Slytherin common room, muttering to himself.
"Don't you see, Pansy? This is evidence that I'm right!"
Pansy hummed agreeably, her attention glued to her potion's textbook. Draco Malfoy had some strange, unfounded ideas and no one else was very interested in hearing about them.
"Potter threatened to kill me," he insisted. "That proves he's a Dark wizard in hiding!"
Pansy hummed again and patted Draco's arm.
Draco stopped pacing to pull out his notebook - frantic scribbles lined the pages.
October 8 - Potter's owl's wing falls off when delivering mail. Owl does not react, no blood. Potter pats it on the head and the wing reattaches? No one else appears to notice except Granger, who offers the owl a sausage.
February 20 - Made a joke about Potter's dead parents (it was very funny). Potter shrugged and said. "The fuck do I care about them, they're dead?" Everyone nodded as though that is healthy.
March 15 - Made a joke about Weasel being poor and his mum being fat (it was very funny). Potter stared at me for at least forty seconds without moving, and then said in a calm tone, "I need you to leave. If I curse another student I'll get grounded again and you're really tempting me, so fuck off." I gracefully retreated.
May 7 - Professor Adams talked to Potter after class. I eavesdropped and overheard a discussion on some kind of blood magic. "Make sure the sacrifice is fresh," she said. Are they killing people now?
September 1 - Potter threatens to kill me on the train. Weasley agrees, Granger says he can't because "there are too many witnesses". Others in the compartment made faces agreeing that this was weird. Potter shrugged and attempted to bait me. I gracefully retreated.
If you asked Pansy (or Theo or Daphne or anyone in Slytherin, really) they would tell you that Malfoy was a bit obsessed with Harry Potter. If you pried Pansy further, she would gladly gossip that Draco was either jealous of Potter's fame or he was extremely in denial about his gay love. Malfoy denied those accusations bitterly, but he did have a notebook dedicated to every interaction he'd ever had with the other boy, so…
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