The Arrival of the Schools
Then, everyone watched as the majestic winged horses descended from the sky. They were enormous, much larger than ordinary horses, and pulled behind them an imposing blue carriage. With a powerful beat of their wings, the horses rapidly descended, causing the carriage to bounce a couple of times before coming to a creaking halt.
All eyes immediately turned to the emblem engraved on the carriage door: two golden wands crossed with three shining stars above them. Quickly, a young man dressed in an elegant blue suit leaped from the carriage and, without wasting time, searched for something beneath the structure. Within seconds, he skillfully unfolded a golden staircase.
And then, with an elegance that captivated everyone, an imposing woman emerged from the carriage. Her mere presence caused some spectators to gasp in surprise.
As she stepped into a more illuminated area, her refined appearance became fully visible, and she offered a soft smile as she advanced. The crowd watched in fascination as she approached Dumbledore, who, with a welcoming expression, initiated an applause that was quickly followed by all present.
"Dear Madame Maxime, welcome to Hogwarts," Dumbledore said with his characteristic warmth, gently taking the headmistress's hand and kissing it courteously.
"Dumbledore, I hope you are well," Madame Maxime responded, her thick French accent evident in every word.
"In excellent shape, thank you," he replied with a kindly smile.
Madame Maxime stepped aside, allowing her students to come into view. The Beauxbatons students visibly trembled from the cold, their light robes no match for the freezing Scottish weather. They gazed at the imposing castle with a mix of admiration and apprehension.
"And Karkaroff?" Madame Maxime asked, her gaze sweeping the area in search of the Durmstrang students.
"He should arrive at any moment," Dumbledore answered calmly. "Would you like to wait with us or prefer to go inside?"
"The latter," she said quickly, but then, in a softer tone, she added, "Though my horses…"
"Our Care of Magical Creatures professor will gladly take care of them," Dumbledore assured, directing his gaze to Hagrid. However, the half-giant was utterly entranced, staring at Madame Maxime as if he had seen a celestial vision. With a resigned expression, Einar gave him a shake to bring him back to reality.
"Hagrid!" Dumbledore called, making the gamekeeper jolt.
Hagrid approached Madame Maxime awkwardly, clearly nervous.
"My horses are quite temperamental. I hope you can handle them," she remarked, fixing her gaze on him.
"Don't worry, ma'am… Madame… I'm used to big and strong things," Hagrid responded enthusiastically. His words caused several muffled snickers among the students, while Einar shook his head. Realizing the unintended double meaning, Hagrid hurriedly tried to correct himself. "I mean animals… Yes, that's what I meant!"
Madame Maxime seemed to ignore his blunder and, with a slight nod, added,
"Very well. And please, note that my horses only drink pure malt whiskey."
"Don't worry, they'll be fine with me," Hagrid assured, though his nervousness was evident. He headed toward the horses with determination, but as he guided them away, he kept giving himself small smacks on the head, scolding himself for his lack of tact.
"Allez," Madame Maxime commanded firmly, and her students immediately followed. The Hogwarts students stepped aside to let them pass, watching them with curiosity.
From the side, Flitwick leaned slightly toward his colleagues and commented with amusement,
"Well, we're witnessing a romance in the making. Hagrid fell at first sight."
"Not surprising," Madame Hooch said with a smile. "This might be the first time he's seen someone close to his height."
"Though his complete lack of tact with women isn't exactly the best first impression," Sinistra remarked dryly.
Flitwick, however, frowned slightly as he looked around.
"Those Durmstrang lot are certainly taking their time… If they don't arrive soon, their students will freeze out here."
The Hogwarts students also began to grow restless. They kept speaking in hushed voices but were rubbing their arms in an attempt to keep warm.
Then, Einar turned around, drawing everyone's attention.
"I'll give you all some warmth, so don't be alarmed," he announced firmly.
"YOL."
Suddenly, a fiery blaze swept through the air, momentarily enveloping everyone. A wave of panic rippled through the crowd, and more than a few people jumped in surprise. But to their astonishment, they felt no harm. Instead, a comforting warmth spread through their bodies, and their clothes, now infused with heat, became pleasantly cozy.
A murmur of relief spread among the students, who quickly began to thank him.
Einar, as if nothing had happened, turned around and returned to the professors, who were looking at him with genuine interest.
"No matter how many times I see it, your ability remains impressive… including your magic," said Flitwick with a smile, still in awe.
Einar shrugged calmly.
"It's just a little different. It's designed for combat. In any case, the spells and enchantments here have more uses beyond fighting."
"I don't want to sound too opportunistic, but… would it be okay if you taught me some of those spells?" Flitwick asked slowly.
"Of course. I also need help understanding some enchantments, so we could exchange information," Einar replied casually.
"Brilliant!" Flitwick exclaimed cheerfully.
"I think they've arrived," Einar said, turning toward the Black Lake. Immediately, both professors and students began to hear a suction-like sound coming from the water.
"The lake…" someone murmured, and all eyes turned in that direction.
The surface of the water stirred with increasingly large bubbles until a whirlpool began to form. Then, slowly, a black mast emerged, followed by the hull of a ship rising majestically from the depths. Its appearance was that of a sunken vessel returning to life, like a specter escaping the abyss.
With precise movements, the ship advanced to the shore, where the anchor was dropped, and a wooden gangway extended to the ground. Then, in perfect formation, the Durmstrang students disembarked with firm steps, wrapped in thick fur cloaks that made them appear even more imposing.
The man leading the group stepped forward toward Dumbledore with a calculated smile.
"How are you, my old friend?" he greeted loudly, extending his hand.
"Excellent, thank you," Dumbledore replied kindly, shaking his hand.
"Ah, old Hogwarts," Karkarov commented, observing the castle with a smile… though his eyes reflected no emotion. "It's wonderful to be here… Viktor, go warm yourself up." Then, turning to Dumbledore, he added, "I hope you don't mind. Krum has a cold."
A murmur of astonishment spread among the Hogwarts students as they finally recognized Viktor Krum. Many held back their excitement, while a particularly thrilled redhead kept nudging Harry enthusiastically.
"Great… another scheming old man," Einar muttered under his breath, watching Karkarov attentively. From the very first moment, he noticed the man's movements, full of cunning, as if every gesture was carefully calculated. But what was more concerning was the trace of dark magic emanating from him. That same stench, the dark mark, he had felt before: on Snape, on the Malfoys, and on the Death Eaters he had eliminated during the Quidditch World Cup.
He would have to keep an eye on him. Although, as long as he didn't cause trouble, he would ignore him"just as he did with Snape.
With the arrival of the Durmstrang students, the group made their way toward the castle. Many at Hogwarts wanted to approach Krum for an autograph, but the stern looks from the professors kept them at bay. Some girls even began rummaging desperately through their bags, searching for something to catch his attention"until one found a lipstick, sparking a small scuffle to claim it.
Einar, sighing in exasperation, walked over and gave them a light tap on the head before snatching the lipstick and tossing it to Flitwick.
When they reached the Great Hall, the Beauxbatons students sat at the Ravenclaw table, observing the place with critical expressions.
"It's not that cold. Why didn't they bring a cloak?" Hermione commented with evident annoyance.
Einar passed by her and whispered playfully, "Maybe I should hit them with some stronger fire."
Hermione smirked at the comment.
The Durmstrang students, on the other hand, headed straight for the Slytherin table, while the professors took their seats at the main table. Madame Maxime and Karkarov sat on either side of Dumbledore, leaving two seats still empty.
As soon as Madame Maxime took her seat, the Durmstrang students stood as a sign of respect before sitting back down. A few Hogwarts students couldn't help but snicker at the scene, while Professor McGonagall rubbed her forehead in frustration, refusing to look at such a spectacle.