"Finally here."
Lucas felt several wards scanning his body, most likely for equipment.
The strict security rules of Hogwarts were made clear beforehand - all their luggage needed to be left in the carriage, to be inspected before they could use it.
The air here was significantly colder now, and amidst the girls who were wearing thin satin, he received grateful glances from Ilana and Sabrine, who were standing behind Fleur, all three of veela wearing warm layers underneath.
But soon after this, Lucas received a sudden shove that made him stumble from his position.
Lucas had been lined up in the front along with other handsome boys, and this broke their formation - a crime Madame Maxime would have punished with expulsion.
The perpetrator walked past Lucas, giving him an 'I'll hex you later' look as he made his way over to the Principals.
Lucas returned the look, not at all bothered.
"Madame Dumbledore, eet eez an onneur. Monsieur le Meenister sends 'is regardz," the person said in heavy French accent.
This was Alaric Rosier, the Ministry Liaison and head of security.
After the huge debacle of the Quidditch World Cup, the Ministries and the parents of France and Bulgaria raised serious concerns about the safety measures taken for the Triwizard Tournament.
Britain, for once, had to relent and let the other two ministries send their own security personnel for the safety of their talented students.
Alaric Rosier is just their figurehead. More people will be arriving in the following days.
And, he is Alec Rosier's uncle.
So obviously he was furious with Lucas right now after finding out what he had done.
He didn't do much, just hitting Alec and his goons in places where it would hurt like hell without leaving an obvious mark.
For this much, the Rosiers can't really retaliate now that they are in Hogwarts.
"You are playing with fire," Lucas heard someone say from behind.
It was Ruby's voice. Yes, Ruby and Violet had also come. But not from school, but as Ministry personnel.
….
The Golden Quartet was currently standing among the other Gryffindors, watching the procession.
"Those horses are MASSIVE!" Said Ron, looking at the elephant-sized Abraxans.
"Those are Abraxans," observed Harry. "I think I've heard Hagrid mention them."
At this moment, the door opened and they saw a very tall woman step out of the carriage, looking very graceful and poised despite her size.
Olive-skinned face; large, black, liquid-looking eyes; and a rather beaky nose. Her hair was drawn back in a shining knob at the base of her neck. She was dressed from head to foot in black satin, and many magnificent opals gleamed at her throat and on her thick fingers.
"Wait, is she also a…?" Adeline began, her voice uncertain.
"Yeah… yeah I think she is…" Hermione affirmed, their chemistry not even warranting Adeline to say "half-giant". "I've read about her. She's actually amazing."
But as Madame Maxine stepped aside, everyone's attention was suddenly diverted. The person who stepped out seemed to suck away everyone's attention, making her impossible to ignore.
"That's the silver haired girl!" Hermione exclaimed. "From the world cup!"
"It IS her." Adeline also recognized her at first glance. Their group was kind of hard to miss in the VIP box.
Hermione turned her head, only to see Ron gazing longingly at the girl, a dazed look in his eyes.
"Hopeless," she muttered under her breath. "Do you think we should ask her about Lucas?" She asked Adeline instead.
"Yeah, I think we should." Adeline was also thinking of this. In fact, she was so concerned about this that she didn't even care about Harry drooling over the girl.
Lucas Castellin.
They had had a pleasant conversation with the guy and the protean charm hack was turning out to be really useful for the two of them.
But what really made them remember him was him escorting Adeline to her tent.
Because later that night, the Dumbledores were attacked, making it a 'Oh - what if I wasn't attacked earlier because I wasn't alone' moment.
Spells have no eyes, and she really couldn't respond to a surprise barrage when alone, no matter how talented.
So, Adeline wanted to at least thank him once.
"Wow."
"So handsome!"
"I like that one!"
But just when they were thinking about it, they heard excited whispers and screams from the girls this time, as the Beauxbatons boys emerged from the carriage.
"What?!"
But Adeline quickly noticed something outrageous.
"What is HE doing here?"
He had grown taller, and his frame sturdier, if that was possible within a month.
His hair was longer too, casually tied behind his head in a man bun, highlighting his chiseled jawline and golden irises.
Indeed, it was Lucas Castellin himself, the guy they were just talking about.
"I thought he was homeschooled? What is he doing here?"
"Beats me," Hermione shrugged. "Whatever the case, I'm actually glad to see him."
"What are you guys talking about?" Ron inquired, a bit irritated.
From time to time, Adeline and Hermione start talking in low voices, their words sounding like coded messages.
"An international friend we made during the Quidditch World Cup," said Hermione.
"Oh, is it that silver haired girl?" Ron suddenly got excited when he heard that.
"No, Ron. Can you try to be more mature?"
"But he does seem to know the silver haired girl," Adeline added.
"Really? Then this bloke seems worth befriending," Ron decided.
Soon, it was time for the arrival of the Durmstrang ship.
The smooth black surface of the black was now uneven, with waves rising to the shore.
Some disturbance was taking place deep in the center; great bubbles were forming on the surface, waves were now washing over the muddy banks.
Then a whirlpool appeared, as if a giant plug had just been pulled out of the lake's floor. A long black mast rose out of the river, followed by a massive ship, creating a large turbulence in the huge surface of the lake.
To Adeline, it looked similar to those cursed pirate ships of the old wizarding tales.
Finally, with a great sloshing noise, the ship emerged entirely, bobbing on the turbulent water, and began to glide toward the bank.
A few moments later, they heard the splash of an anchor being thrown down in the shallows, and the thud of a plank being lowered onto the bank.
Bulky silhouettes disembarked one-by-one, covered in heavy fur. The person in front was especially imposing, standing well over 6 feet (6'5), his bulky frame covered in luxury fur.
He had long blond hair and beard, tied in braids, and a scar ran across the corner of his left eye, all the way down to his right ear.
"Headmistress Dumbledore."
The man stepped forward, holding out his hand, expecting to kiss the back of Ariana's hand. But Ariana simply nodded, taking a step back.
"Principal Ragnar. Welcome to Hogwarts. May you and your delegation find our hospitality welcoming."
"Who is that?" Asked Adeline, noticing the colder reception from her aunt.
"Ragnar Skuldsson. He's a viking leader," Hermione replied. "Their warrior race has rapidly integrated into the Bulgarian power structure after joining the Death Eaters."
Durmstrang is considered to be the base of all Death Eater activities, with the surrounding ministries and the school under their control.
It is also widely rumored to be the origin of their rise. Which is, not a surprise at all (cough Grindelwald cough)
"Krum! Harry, it's Krum!" Ron had once again become a fanboy.
But Harry's focus was on someone else - Malachor Lestrange.
"Don't bother. It was his mother, not him," said Adeline, trying to comfort him.
"Yeah, but I bet he's already part of them," Harry snapped, looking in Malachor's direction. "If his mother was stopped earlier, my father wouldn't have-"
…..
Lucas looked at the unfamiliar Principal with some surprise.
It seems that Karkaroff is out of the picture. Which is not a surprise since the man was simply too weak a character, having a cowardly and submissive nature.
As he studied the students of Bulgaria, he was surprised again. From their body language, these clearly did not look like simple figures.
With his increased magic sensitivity, he even felt a trace of dark magic in the air after their arrival.
"They don't look like nice people." Gabriel grabbed hold of his sleeve, having already broken formation to sneak up to him at some point.
"They are not. And so are many more people in the place. Are you wearing anti-legilimency lenses?" He asked in a low voice.
Gabrielle nodded, blinking her big eyes.
Anti-legilimency lenses were Sebastian Delacour's inventions. But he only made a few, which were just about enough for their group.
They all had a thin transparent material covering their irises, which blocks mind reading. Of course, that doesn't guarantee immunity from a master, but still, it's a precaution.
Other than this, Apolline had also actually erased the details of Lucas's unique abilities (magic absorption, resistance and release) from Gabrielle's mind while Fleur had great occlumency, meaning double protection.
…..
Both the processions were led into the castle. They walked through the antichamber where ghosts were floating and the large double door opened, showing the familiar Great Hall.
The Beauxbatons students were not very impressed, but Lucas looked at it with nostalgia.
The enchanted ceiling mirroring the sky above, the long wooden tables glowing with candlelight, and floating flames, and the gleaming bronze cutlery.
He wondered if his mother had the same feeling or she could not remember it at all.
"Where do we sit?" Gabrielle pulled on his robe, pulling him out of his memories as the Hogwarts students began filing into the halls.
"As far as I can remember, we might be bothered least at that one," said Lucas, pointing out the table where the Ravenclaw uniform students were headed.
As Lucas had discovered the hard way, it is not easy hanging out with an all-beautiful girl-group. Too many guys think they have a chance too if they see him with them.
Fag, sissy, girl, impotent, mind-magic user - all sort of labels have been put on him to justify his astronomical luck.
Lucas could not blame them. Because he was also like them in his previous life.
But just as he took his seat, he saw a person appear with the Professors that made him freeze.
It was his mother, Aurora Dumbledore.
'What is she doing here? Is it related to the Tournament?'
He studied the people at the table. Making sure there were no other gaps in the information he had gathered before arriving here.
There was Flitwick, the diminutive Charms professor, and the stern Professor Mcgonagall of Transfiguration. Further left, there was Snape, the Dark Arts professor, still looking gloomy.
But then there was also a beautiful blond woman with pale skin.
Her face was striking rather than soft: sharp cheekbones, cool grey eyes, and a perpetual 'the world owes me money' expression.
She was dressed in immaculate dark silks and velvets, her elegance severe, controlled, and unmistakably pure-blood noble.
This was Narcissa Malfoy, the Potions teacher after Slughorn's retirement.
Two other notable additions were Barty Crouch Sr. and Ludo Bagman.
And among these Professors, his mother was sitting with Lily Potter, appearing quite natural, even exchanging words with them from time to time.
Lucas turned his focus back to eating, so as to not be a weirdo who keeps staring at one person.
For some reason, his mood was now several degrees better and his appetite had increased.
The tables this time had cuisines from the other schools' local culture as well.
But the problem was, Hogwarts students also started eating other foods as if they had just re-discovered eating.
Gabrielle stopped after she saw all French food disappear.
"Why aren't you eating?"
Gabrielle pouted. "Doesn't taste good. When can I eat your food again?"
Lucas sighed. "Wait a second."
He can sometimes understand the joy of pampering that his mother used to get. But Gabrielle gets this treatment from everyone. Even her friends at Beauxbatons.
He left his seat and went over to the Gryffindor table, which was right behind him.
"Hermione?"
Hermione, who was idly chatting with the rest of the Quartet paused, her head swiveling to him, only to be surprised.
"Oh - Lucas?"
"Yeah, hi. Long time no see. You didn't expect to see me, right?"
"Yyeah."
"Could you pass me the bouillabaisse? The one on our table is already finished."
"Oh, right," Hermione immediately passed it over, sending a spoon clatter down in the process.
"Thanks. Let's catch up later. I'll explain how I got here."
"Yeah…yeah I was actually - curious about that," Hermione began to converse, but lowered her voice when she saw Lucas already walking away with the platter.
"Here you are, little lady."
"Why thank you, kind sir," said Gabrielle, giggling with delight.
"Hey, what about us? We are starving too," said Ilana with a pout, mimicking Gabrielle.
"You should try the British cuisine for once."
"Come on, most of it just seems like boiled or roasted ingredients or half finished unseasoned dishes to me," said Sabrine, placing her judgment.
"Well, you have to give credit where it's due. The roast beef with gravy, Yorkshire pudding, and Shepherd's pie are actually good dishes. They are just adjusted to the people's taste here."
[Yorkshire pudding: batter of flour, eggs, and milk, poured into very hot fat and baked so it puffs up. Eaten with gravy and beef.
Shepherd's pie: Minced lamb with vegetables, topped with mashed potatoes]
Lucas picked some salt, pepper, and lime from the table and worked on the three dishes, mixing in some other gravies from the table as well.
"Here. Try it now."
Obviously, the girls found it eye-wideningly good.
Even Fleur and Gabrielle took seconds from the modified dishes.
Fleur frowned. "We can't use the kitchen here, though."
"Yeah, no custom meals I guess," Ilana shrugged.
Lucas hadn't stopped his magical ingredient recipe diet.
With Fleur's authority as the Head Girl, he could temporarily borrow a corner stove in the kitchen and common ingredients for his custom meals, meaning he only needed to bring the magical ingredients.
Of course, since Fleur was sponsoring, Lucas wasn't stingy on the quantity, making enough for their whole group.
Lucas kept silent about the fact that he knew the way to the Hogwarts kitchens and could actually get unlimited access thanks to house elves.
Dinner was over soon. Thankfully, the dessert was great, which meant the veelas were satisfied.
Ariana Dumbledore stood up at this moment, finally addressing the crowd for the first time.
"Dear Guests, welcome to Hogwarts."
Ariana's voice was quite… soothing. Despite its coldness. It had this velvety tone that seemed to wrap you into listening to her.
"The Triwizard Tournament, and the accompanying activities between the three schools will be scheduled starting tomorrow.
"Now, with the removal of age line, and the rising security concerns, we have brought Miss Aurora Dumbledore, the Head of Department Of Research And Mysteries and Mrs. Lily Potter, the vice Head, who will be in charge of task designs, 'and' the protective gear for the participants.
"We can guarantee that unless you face instant death from your fellow participants, you will be saved before you die."
For this, a huge applause broke out, especially from the Hogwarts students, who trusted the wizarding legend Aurora Dumbledore blindly.
"Finally, the reward for the Tournament.
"Since this is a new format and the circumstances are different compared to 5 years ago. The rewards will also be different.
First - The winning team takes home 20 thousand Galleons, to be distributed among the two Champions.
Second - They can apprentice under me, or any Department Of our Ministry to gain valuable experience directly from the Department Head for a year.
Third - ....
Ariana continued speaking, but Lucas was kinda stuck on second.
Along with everyone else.
Apprenticeship under Ariana. THAT'S something anyone would kill for.
....
A.N.: if you see any errors or typos, comment. I'll edit after I wake up. Gn