The Champion's Tent

[Amable Didier]

Amable had arranged for this task to take place off of Beauxbatons grounds. Most of the school was portkeying to the enclosed space, guarded by Aurors in the French Ministry (they were taking no risks of what occurred in the last TriWizard Tournament). The location they were now at was unplottable, and defended in many ways that Amable had gone to great lengths to secure and test on his own. These were his pupils, not just the champions, being put at risk if dark forces disrupted the tournament. He wouldn't have that.

The Champion's Tent was located about one hundred metres from the edge of a fearsome looking forest. It was about ten in the morning, the task was set to begin at noon, and the day was bright. Not a cloud was in the sky as the cool fall wind blew across the land. The trees of the forest were beginning to turn colour, but they were still thick enough to block out the sun. It would be in that forest that the first task would take place.

Amable paced a moment in the tent before the champions and their guests arrived. He straightened up and greeted them all with a warm smile, giving special focus to Aubrey, his school's champion. "You're quite prepared for this?" Professor Didier enquired, "I hope that hint was enough of a help to you. But regardless - it's too late now. I trust you'll be splendid." Amable gave Aubrey a reassuring smile with his words before backing up and addressing those assembled within the tent.

"You will have one hour to prepare yourselves for this, mentally and physically. After that hour, the Weighing of the Wands will be officiated within this tent. We will then exit the tent together, judges will take our seats and you will stand by the forest. I will explain the task and then each champion shall complete the task separately. Is that understood? We will draw lots for order now." With this, Amable withdrew a small bag from his robes, with three enchanted galleons in it. The galleons displayed a numeral between one and three (inclusive) and were charmed not to be effected by any other magic. He offered the bag first to the champion of Hogwarts New Zealand, who drew the number two. Next, he offered the opportunity to draw to the champion of Durmstrang who drew to go first. This left Aubrey with going third, however he made he draw the final coin forproof that three numbers had been in the bag. "That's the order, then. Mademoiselle Craven followed by Monsieur Goulding, followed by Mademoiselle Derlinch." Amable confirmed for all present, "While one champion completes the task, the other two may wait in the tent or watch from the stands at their leisure."

Amable then nodded to the three, wished them the best of luck, and wandered off to another area of the tent where he could answer any questions needed and wait for Dorothy Ollivander to begin the Weighing of the Wands.

 

[Evie Powell]

Evie was glad to be in France, she missed her son with all of her heart but she was enjoying some peaceful time looking forward to been fully energised and ready to take on full task of being a mother when she saw her beautiful son again. It was the was the morning of the first task and Evie had full confidence in Moko, knowing she was a great student and that she would do the school proud in this task and the rest to come. Entering the Champions tent, ready for what the day was to bring she listened to the Beauxbatons Headmaster talk them through what was to happen and watched as the champions drew galleons from a bag to decide who was to go first, second and third. As Moko drew the galleon with the number one on it, Evie let a small smirk spread across her lips. Moko was to be the first to complete the task and she would surely be a tough act to follow after.

When Professor Didier left them to go check on the next part Evie pulled Moko aside and spoke low and in their own tongue so as not let anyone else hear. "I'll keep the quick Miss Craven. I assure you have taken the hint into full consideration and are completely prepared for today's task. I have no doubt that you will do splendid today and will be sure to bring honor to our school. Now go and get ready, and good luck!" Evie let Moko go back to what she was doing and waited for the task to start. Having judged at the last TWT she knew what was expected of her for it but it was always good to be over prepared.

 

[Aubrey Derlinch]

Aubrey held her chin up, listening to Didier speak. She listened to every word carefully, just as she did at the ceremony, her heart raced in anticipation of the dangers to come. She knew what she had to do, she knew that someone who knows wands would weigh it and see that it was elligible, or something like that, she wasn't exactly sure. She knew that the first part was going to be easy. The next part, she wasn't sure of. The headmaster gave her a reassuring smile, and she smiled feeling a slight bit of confidence in herself. She knew this wasn't the time to be faint-hearted. She took a deep breath in and focused, like she normally did. She tied her hair back into a bun to keep it out of her eyes, and she had worked on her agilty and fitness on in that week. Maybe she should've concentrated more on the clue. Now she was panicking inside because she hadn't. She went over to her small bunk and began doing sit ups, as soon as the Headmaster was finished speaking. She started thinking about a word she vaguely remembered on the scroll. Something about darkness. It stressed her out knowing that probably wasn't the main focus. She knew for next time that she would plan ahead for the next task. For the time being, she just had to battle it as she went along.

 

[Moko Craven]

Moko had awoken energized and rearing to go. Today was the first task and as apprehensive as she had been in the days preceding this, for some bizarre reason she was utterly calm today. It was as if she knew that if she were not prepared now for the task she would never be. Getting changed into her Durmstrang track suit she placed her wand into the sheath she had strapped to her leg. Taking a steadying breath she made her way outside and headed down to the champions tent. Soon enough the Beauxbatons headmaster was speaking to them and issuing them each a coin. Moko could not help but smile at being called out first, still she could not feel the knot that should have been tearing up her insides and hoped it did not come half way through the task at hand.

Her own headmistress came to her and spoke quietly. Listening intently she smiled and nodded her head to reassure her that all would be well or she hoped it would at least. All thoughts of Alex Cullen had finally been banished from her mind, there was only one thing she had to do now and that was to complete this task to the best of her ability. There was nothing else she could do, if she failed then humiliation would be her bed fellow for quite some time but Morrigan Craven had no intention of failing. It was not in her to fail, she was a grade 'O' student, the top in her class at DA. She knew herself that she was sometimes referred to as a force to be reckoned with and today she would finally show them just how true that statement really was.

 

[Mike Gray]

Here it was. The most important day of Mike's life so far. He was up early and ready to rock and roll. Ten o'clock couldn't have come any slower, as Mike practically ran towards the Champion's Tent. He waited patiently for the Headmaster of Beauxbatons school to start, and so took a seat whilst he gave a pep talk to Aubrey Derlinch. Mike took deep breaths, anticipating what lay before him. The Headmaster then spoke to the people in the tent. He listened as he told them of the order the events would happen in. Mike didn't want an hour to prepare themselves, he was too anxious yet excited to prep himself for today's task. Mike fiddled around with his wand, as the news came that they would be weighing them. He then listened as the news came of the order they would be completing the task. Mike was glad he was second. At least he wouldn't have to go first and not be completely positive on what he was supposed to do. He could also see how the first competitor tackled the task and see if he could use some of those tactics or improve them.

 

[Gellert Coote]

Gellert Coote was the last to arrive in the Champion's tent, having been trying to owl the ministry in New Zealand and keep up on all present events with regard to his job at home, Gellert's time and attention was very much divided when out of the country. He smiled toward Mike, an obviously fake smile that he used in his political campaigns as well. He didn't like teenagers particularly, but he was here for his country (and likely moreso himself) so he put up with them.

When the Headmaster from Beauxbatons had finished speaking, Gellert walked over to Mike and placed a heavy hand on his shoulder, squeezing it slightly as he did so. "You'll do fine, m'boy. You're representing our country, too, remember. I'm sure you'll do us all proud." Gellert nodded solemnly at this comment. Now was New Zealand's time to make up for the last tournament that had fallen apart so horribly. At almost felt like a mockery, just to be invited to take part in another tournament. As if the Wizarding World was just looking to see how New Zealand would fumble this time.

 

[Amable Didier]

As the hour for the Weighing of the Wands drew nearer, and the tension in the tent thicker, Amable drew himself out from the corner which he had previously stood in, toward the centre of the tent. He clapped his hands together, to draw attention to himself, then looked about him to all those in the area, a warm smile on his face. "Our guest should be here for us now. Shall we?" With this, Amable walked toward one edge of the tent and held the flap open for the guests to exit before himself and meet Dorothy Ollivander for the Weighing of the Wands.