Chaos and Order - A Multiverse Fanfic

In light of the Triwizard Tournament, and the shadow of the unknown Hogwarts monster, the School postponed the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff.

Before the time came to officially start the tournament, Durmstrang and Beauxbatons had already spent two weeks at Hogwarts.

In the first week of May, summer came creeping over the grounds around the castle.

Sky and lake alike turned periwinkle blue, and flowers as large as cabbages burst into bloom in the greenhouses.

There was an atmosphere of excitement in the School, despite the many attacks and dark undercurrents surrounding the wizarding world outside.

It was already clear what was the objective of the Tournament — to scout candidates for Aurors as soon as possible.

Almost all those who had made it to the 1st and the 2nd Groups of each School were already destined to become Aurors or similar high-ranking posts.

However, what kind of attention each individual needed was yet to be decided.

Rita Skeeter buzzed through the entire School, taking random notes. She had been granted permission to take interviews from the 2nd Group of the older students only, to her chagrin.

It was Darcie's interview she wanted the most because without meeting her, she couldn't twist the little Malfoy's words.

Soon, she entered the Great Hall, where all the candidates of the 1st Group had gathered.

In the Great Hall, in front of the high table, Dumbledore, Umbridge, and Madam Villanelle were standing against a crowd of youngsters, lined up in three columns.

Instead of Cornelius Fudge, the minister of magic, another person was leading the meeting this time.

The Head of the Department of International Magical Co-operation — Bartemius Crouch Senior!

Rita Skeeter silently went around the students and made herself stand next to the rows of Professors. "A word…" she said, finding Snape near to her.

Snape's lips twisted, and he slithered, moving away.

"Tch!" Rita tsked.

Suddenly, Lockhart approached her. "Hello," he said, smiling. "Come for me, Ms. Skeeter…"

Rita's lips twisted as much as Snape's. But Lockhart was still better than nothing.

"Sure, Professor," she said, smiling back. "What have you been doing this year? Anything remarkable?"

"You mean other than signing diaries?" Lockhart shot back, winking.

Rita's lips twitched.

…

"The Triwizard Tournament used to have three stages," Crouch Sr said, his voice echoing clearly in the Great Hall. "We have decided to retain that format for the 2nd Group only. For the 1st Group, the Tournament will happen in two stages."

As the students exchanged glances, Dumbledore handed over a bag-sized pouch to Bartemius.

"Here's what you will need to do to pass the first stage," Crouch Sr said, holding the pouch up for all to see. "This pouch holds tiny replicas of dragons. You will be fighting with one dragon…"

What?!

Almost all the thirty students from the three Schools shifted on their feet nervously, whispers roaring around them.

Bartemius tried to silence the crowd, but Umbridge stepped forward first, putting her wand against her throat. "Silence! 50 Points from Gryffindor!"

"…?"

"…?"

"…?"

Even Rita's magic quill paused, as if it couldn't believe what it was hearing.

"No… No need, Umbridge," Crouch Sr stuttered, frowning at the oddball. "Thank you. As I was saying, you will be fighting with one dragon… in groups of two… BUT they aren't true dragons."

Umbridge, not knowing why there was no need to deduct Gryffindor's Points when Dumbledore kept awarding them for similar, random reasons, frowned heavier than Crouch Sr.

Still, holding her chin up, she backed away, giving a hard stare at the black-skinned witch.

Madam Villanelle stepped forward, then.

She waved her wand, and a shiny outline of a dragon, the size of a full-grown man, appeared between her and the students.

Crouch Sr nodded. "Thank you," he said, stepping next to the dragon, which now stood a head taller than him. "Madam Villanelle has graciously offered the services of her magic for the first stage. The dragons will be scaled down to the sizes you can see over here next to me.

"Their firepower won't be potent enough to kill, but it will be dangerous… the chances of getting burned and hospitalization are immense.

"So, if any of you would like to back out, this is the moment to do so. No one will think low of you. You all have already proven yourselves."

All shifting had already stopped.

Harry and others didn't know how things had gone in Durmstrang and Beauxbatons for the selection, but each one of the Hogwarts students had bled to reach here.

There was no way they would back out now, especially if it wasn't a true dragon they were facing.

Seeing the look in Hogwarts students' eyes, Dumbledore silently nodded to himself.

"Alright." Crouch Sr let out a rare, small smile. "Here's what you will need to do, then. Each dragon will be protecting five, cylindrical objects, which are related to the second stage.

"The two students facing a dragon must obtain the objects, while simultaneously defending himself against the dragon.

"The judges, including myself, will be Dumbledore, Karkaroff, and Madam Maxime. We will be awarding each student points, depending upon their performance; these points will be relevant to the second stage as well.

"AND… there will be Bonus Points for constraining the dragon with any means possible."

Standing among the students, Darcie's eyes narrowed.

Crouch Sr's eyes landed on her briefly before he looked away.

"You can also give up any time during the first stage, but only if both the students agree on that," he explained. "However, you must obtain at least one object to proceed to the second stage. A team of our finest wizards will be watching over you the entire time to prevent unforeseen accidents.

"I will advise not to count on them… for obvious reasons."

The reasons were too obvious to all of them — they would lose points!

"Now," Crouch Sr continued, "I want one student from each School to come forward and randomly select one dragon from the pouch.

"The entire 1st Group students from that school will have to contend against that dragon. OK. Let's start with the bright ones from Beauxbatons."

Madam Maxime suddenly straightened her spine, becoming three inches taller.

A bright flower left the row, hopping lightly on her steps.

Black poked Draco's ribs. "That's a veela," he said. "Wanna bet?"

Draco made a face. "You think I will fall for this trick? Such an obvious losing bet…"

Black's mouth twitched.

Meanwhile, the girl had already approached Crouch Sr.

"Well, hello," the old wizard said, bending his waist a little. "Your name?"

"Fleur Delacour," she introduced herself with a French accent, smiling at the students. "Fourt' yea'."

Harry, Ron, Draco, and Black looked at each other, all holding a blush on their cheeks.

"If I had to fight her for the selection," Black whispered, "then I would have surely lost. Phew!"

From the front, Darcie looked over her shoulder and stared at Black. Their eyes matched, the enmity taking shapes of ethereal bolts of lightning.

In the front, Fleur plunged her hand into the pouch and took out a fire-breathing, tiny dragon.

"Ooohhhh…" Crouch Sr made a face. "Chinese Fireball."

Sulking, Fleur dropped the dragon back into the pouch and went back to her column.

Then, from the column of Durmstrang, Viktor Krum stepped forward.

"That's him!" Ron hissed to the boys. "That's him! Viktor Krum! He's already been picked up by the Bulgarian National Team. Must be better than Darcie…"

Draco narrowed his eyes at the burly boy.

With no particular expression, Viktor pulled out a dragon, saying his name with heaviness in his voice. "Viktorr Krrum. Fourthhh Yearrr."

Crouch Sr's brows shot up. "Wonderful," he said, smiling at Karkaroff. "Peruvian Vipertooth."

When Viktor had gone back, they all looked at Hogwarts students.

"Cough! Cough!" Black coughed, stepping out. "Arlen Black. Second year…"

Ron, Harry, and Draco just gaped at Black as the other few laughed.

From the side, Rita Skeeter, for the first time, laughed. "Is he the infamous Celebrity Crusher?!"

Lockhart sneered, moving away.

Rita's eyes narrowed. "Fascinating…"

Black had already left the column. It wasn't like Crouch Sr had asked Darcie to step out, but it was something that didn't need to be said.

They all expected Darcie to go up and choose the dragon.

Black didn't care, marching like he was going to have lunch. Suddenly, Harry pulled back his robe. "Let Darcie go…" he hissed.

"Why?" Black said, not whispering anymore. "Darcie's going out to pull out Hebridean Black…"

Crouch Sr, letting out a full smile, shook his head. "No. No. Hebridean Black is not among these…"

Black frowned at the small-mustached wizard. "She will pull it out anyway…"

And none could help it any longer.

From the professors to the students of the three schools, from Headmasters to Darcie herself, they all began laughing at the obvious joke.

*****************

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