Astrid--

After a few minutes of relative silence and fish soup, I decide to start sizing up the competition.  The Hogwarts students are obviously too numerous to even count, but I take note of the air-headedness of Delly and Weasley.

I realize the most efficient way to go about is to follow Headmaster Malfoy's circuit around the foreign schools.  He is over in the opposite corner of the room, talking to what I realize as the American team.  They're the smallest registered magical school to date, with only three students.  All of them have come.

Malfoy leans in and greets the American Headmaster.  They exchange words, and there's some talking between each other.  Two of the students are stuffing their faces, but one talks conspiratorially to the Headmaster after Malfoy leaves.  The gluttons shouldn't be a problem, but the boy... he seems intelligent.

"I wonder what they're talking about." Ulrik says.  I don't know why, but I feel embarassed that he caught me spying.

"Probably something secretive." I say.

"Like they're all Death Eaters." Ulrik speculates, narrowing his eyes sarcastically and looking off into the distance.

"What is it with you and Death Eaters?" I ask.

"I'm opposed to them.  Isn't everyone?"

"Yeah." I say, trying to find some Hogwarts students that would actually compete.  Now that the age limit has changed, it's hard to single them out.

Instead, I look at the teachers at the end of the hall.  Professor Longbottom has gravy on his tie, and is sheepishly trying to clean it with his wand.  There aren't many other interesting things up in that direction.

"Is he a Potter?" Ulrik asks, pointing to a dark-haired bespectacled boy.

"Have you heard of a Potter in Hufflepuff?" I point out wearily.

"No, but he sure looks like it." Ulrik says.

I look at the boy for a minute more. "Barely.  He's more like a Weasley if you're going to accuracy." Potter and Weasley were an item back when they got married.

"Yes?" the Weasley girl pipes up.

"I was just saying to all of our visiting schools that the games are going to be absolutely excellent this year." Headmaster Malfoy announces from the Teacher's table.

"Obviously, with all of these amazing deathly events you rigged up." Ulrik turns toward the head of the hall, his arms crossed.

"Stop being so cynical." I say, trying to grin widely.

"Wipe that smile off your face, Grimsenn." he says.

I stay quiet, and turn to listen to Headmaster Malfoy.

Um, I'm just going to write cause I don't want this to die, so someone please change this if ya'll don't like it.

Danielle ~

I sat near the Scandinavian school students, cause frankly, I was curious. I didn't see why so many people were freaked out by them.

"I was just saying to all of our visiting schools that the games are going to be absolutely excellent this year," the Headmaster said, pulling me out of my thoughts. "This welcoming feast has been a success. Tomorrow, students will be permitted to begin entering their names for the Multi Wizard tournament. In three days time, we will draw the names to see who our competitors are. A final welcome to the visiting schools, and I look forward to the tournament."

(That was a really stupid pitiful speech. Somebody fix this.)

The Gryffindors rose, several glancing over their shoulders at the Scandinavian students. I still didn't see what the big deal was.

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This was incredibly stupid, but there ya go. I'm trying to keep this alive. YA'LL CAN CHANGE THIS.

Danielle ~

The Gryffindors rose, and the traditional Hogwarts anthem started up. I was ready to beat my head against the table. And Susan got WAY too into it. 

"Sing!" she hissed, still smiling through the words. Out of how many kids singing, how could she tell I was lip syncing? Oh well, that's Susan for you. We all sat down quite quickly after that, though Susan was still beaming. Seriously, how could she do that? Then the Snow Queen students sang, giving me literal chills down my back. Then the room became silent and cold, aside from one student singing. Susan grabbed my arm, nearly making me jump out of skin. Even after the singing stopped, and people started talking again, I could still feel the chill on my skin. 

Next were the Americans, who weren't too bad. A bit improvised, I figured, but still good. I applauded genuinely, nudging Susan to do so as well. Heck, compared to ours, we really had no room to judge.

Finally, the singing was finished, and after a final word from the Headmaster, the feast was brought to a close. Hogwarts students stood and drifted off toward their houses' common rooms, talking in small groups. I followed Susan in a sort of daze, lost in thought. Excitement was welled up inside me, in anticipation for the Multi Wizard Tournament. Everything that had happened in the Great Hall moved to the back of my mind. I was ready and game.