Having disposed of their robes and put on comfortable school
sweaters, jeans, and boots, Alana and Jade headed up three flights of
stairs, through a corridor, and up through a trapdoor that didn't exist.
When they finally reached the Great Hall for dinner, they were sweating
and Jade was out of breath. Alana was incredibly athletic, the only
first year on the Quidditch team. She was a Chaser, and she always woke
up early to practice and stayed late after practices. Jade, on the other
hand, was thoroughly nonathletic, preferring instead to devote herself
to reading and, her favorite, Magical Melody Choir.

"It must be a
serious announcement," Jade said, staring at the Great Hall in shock.
The typical arrangement of small tables and cushy chairs was gone. In
their place were the four grand house tables, with tablecloths in the
colors of their respective houses. The hall's patented noisy chatter had
turned to hushed whispers, and the Founder ghosts sat at the dais with
the professors. Everything felt solemn, and as they walked to the
Grizzleheart table Jade felt nervous. What if the school was closing?
She loved Eaglesclaw with all of her heart. What if there was a huge
crisis and someone was in danger? It had happened before.

She
and Alana sat down across from one another at the table, and platters
of food appeared out of thin air. The tables were groaning under silver
dishes of chicken and dumplings, mashed potatoes, asparagus, and other
innumerable foods. Everyone had a goblet, magically filled with pumpkin
cider or chilled apple juice. The air of the Great Hall returned to its
typical camaraderie, everyone cheered by the prospect of food. Alana had
already started eating, and she gave Jade a thumbs up as she chewed her
Shepard's pie.

The headmaster stood up at his place along
the dais and cleared his throat mightily. The chatter continued. He
tried once more, but at that precise moment, a quintet of slaphappy
Lammasadors, gleeful from winning a Wizards' Duel, stood to sing a
victory carol at the tops of their voices. As Jade watched, he gritted
his teeth, lifted his beautiful wand into the air, and fired off a shot
of gunpowder into the air. The room went silent instantly at the loud
crack, and the fragrant gray smoke wafted slowly down into the thronging
students.

"I," the headmaster proclaimed, "have an important
announcement to make." Several students coughed, but he continued,
oblivious. "Many of you may have heard of the Triwizard Tournament. Can
one of you please describe it to your fellow students?"

Jade shot
her hand into the air, leaving her robe sleeve flapping. Headmaster
Albatross called on her, and she rose to her feet and raised her voice
to be heard all throughout the hall. "The Triwizard Tournament is a
tradition within the wizarding community, occurring once every century.
Three witches or wizards, at least seventeen years of age, compete in
three challenges to claim the prize of the Triwizard Cup and one
thousand Galleons. The event encourages inter-school relations, and each
witch or wizard comes from a different international wizarding school."
She sat back down, pleased with herself, and returned to her plate of
potatoes.

"Excellent," said Professor Albatross, smiling.
"Now, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, in Dartmoor, has been
chosen to host it this century. The good news, however, is that
Eaglesclaw School has been invited to compete in the Tournament this
century!"

Instant uproar ensued. Everyone turned to older
students, wondering who would be eligible to enter. Alana's jaw had
dropped, and her hand was hanging in the air, regardless of the fork in
it. Jade just beamed, speechless. A trip to England to socialize with
other wizards from across the globe? She wouldn't have traded it for the
world. "Remind me," she whispered to Alana, "to research the Triwizard Tournament tonight in the library."