"A Night of Lights and Rivalries"
Ron and Harry arrived in front of the Great Hall doors, where Padma was waiting for them. She looked at Ron with a mix of discomfort and resignation, focusing on his worn-out clothes. The sleeves were frayed, and the old fabric made his robes look like an outdated women's coat that didn't suit him at all.
Ron, feeling Padma's gaze, blushed slightly and lowered his head. Harry, standing next to him, could do nothing but share the awkwardness while Parvati "his dance partner" waited patiently.
"Blimey..." murmured Ron, trying to hide between them, just as he noticed Fleur approaching.
Fleur walked imposingly, wearing a majestic silver satin robe that perfectly matched her hair and that of her companion. The sight of the two of them was like a direct hit to the hearts of men and women alike, as the mere vision of that pair left everyone spellbound.
Especially because, for some magical reason, Fleur's companion was surrounded by thousands of glowing lights floating around him like a procession of fairies.
"Professor Einar?" asked Harry, recognizing him in surprise. The man was not wearing his characteristic mask.
Sometimes, Harry forgot just how incredibly handsome Einar could be. He usually kept his face hidden, but in moments like this, Harry thought it was better that he did... otherwise, every woman at Hogwarts would end up single, hopelessly waiting for a prince who could match that appearance and presence.
"Hello to you all," greeted Einar, smiling so radiantly that he drew sighs from several nearby girls.
"As true gentlemen tonight, you had better behave up to the standard of your companions," he added, bowing politely toward Padma and Parvati, two students who always stood out in class.
Both girls beamed with happiness at being recognized by him.
Einar's gaze then fell on Ron, who was trying to hide unsuccessfully. He observed his clothes with a strange expression before letting out a light chuckle.
"Well... certainly different cultures," Einar commented humorously. "Now I don't feel so odd wearing earrings."
"Where's Hermione...?" muttered Ron, quickly changing the subject when he noticed both Fleur and Einar giving him curious looks.
It was then that the Durmstrang students made their entrance. Leading them was Viktor Krum, accompanied by a young woman whom Ron and Harry didn't immediately recognize.
Hermione was wearing a blue robe that accentuated her figure impressively. She looked so beautiful she seemed like a completely different person.
Einar observed her for a few seconds before nodding with an approving smile. Hermione, noticing his gaze, blushed slightly, but upon seeing Fleur beside him, her blush shifted into a challenging, almost competitive look.
Fleur simply responded with a friendly smile.
"Professor, why are so many fairies surrounding you?" asked Padma curiously, eyeing the tiny creatures twinkling around Einar like living stars.
"Well, it seems they got attached to me at first sight," Einar replied calmly, raising a hand. Immediately, several fairies flew toward him, competing to perch on his skin.
"Haha... even I, being part Veela, can't do that!" laughed Fleur, watching with fascination as the fairies seemed to fight to be part of Einar's magical aura.
"The students must enter the Hall. Champions and their partners, please stay here," announced McGonagall firmly, though she gave Einar a clear look of approval. He could easily be the face of Hogwarts.
In seconds, the rest of the students rushed inside the Hall, leaving Einar, Fleur, and the champions with their respective partners.
Viktor approached, accompanied by Hermione, wearing his usual serious expression.
"Mr. Einar, I must thank you for your potions to boost competitiveness among the champions' levels," Viktor said respectfully. "To be honest, I felt a bit uneasy having to compete against students trained by the man who sent my headmaster flying with just a sigh."
Einar smiled serenely.
"A victory is worth more when it is achieved fairly," he responded calmly.
"You must know my companion. I had to ask her to come with me..." Viktor added, glancing sideways at Hermione. "She was the only one who didn't come running like a desperate fan. That's all."
It seemed they had already clarified they were attending only as dance partners, with no romantic implications.
"You don't have to say that," Hermione whispered, slightly embarrassed.
"Hello, Professor... and hello to you too, Harry," she greeted them, offering a nervous smile.
Harry could barely blink, still stunned by his friend's transformation.
Parvati looked at her the same way "half surprised, half disbelieving.
Meanwhile, the boys from the school's nerd club stared at Hermione with poorly disguised hatred, feeling betrayed.
Pansy Parkinson, accompanied by Crabbe and Goyle "who made an odd trio without Malfoy's presence" seemed to be boiling with jealousy.
Once all the students had entered, McGonagall turned to the champions and their partners.
"Follow me in pairs, one after the other," she ordered.
They did so, advancing as the Great Hall attendees watched with excitement, clapping enthusiastically.
The center of all attention remained Einar, whose fairies, understanding McGonagall's severe look, flew into the hall and dispersed, decorating it even more with their magical light.
The Great Hall looked spectacular: silver garlands hung everywhere, fake snow fell from the enchanted ceiling, and a giant Christmas tree sparkled in a corner. The four long house tables had disappeared, replaced by round tables seating twelve people each.
Einar, Fleur, Viktor, Cedric, Harry, and their companions were guided to the main table, where the judges awaited them.
Madame Maxime clapped politely. Karkaroff, however, shot Hermione a look of disdain... which quickly vanished when he noticed Einar's cold, silent stare fixed on him, sending a chilling warning.
Ludo Bagman clapped cheerfully, smiling as always, while Percy Weasley "filling in for the absent Crouch" tried his hardest to look important.
The night had barely begun, and it already promised to be unforgettable.
When they approached, Percy quickly pulled out the chair beside him so Harry could sit in it.
The boy immediately understood his intention and took the seat without saying a word.
Fleur sat next to Padma, and Einar took a place beside her.
Then Hermione settled near Viktor, while Cedric and Cho Chang joined the group.
"¡I've been promoted!" announced Percy with a radiant smile directed at Harry and Einar, whom he knew well.
His expression showed a nearly comical pride, as if he had been named supreme ruler of the universe.
"Now I am Mr. Crouch's personal assistant," he added grandiosely. "And I have come in his stead."
Einar offered a light smile of congratulations, although his eyes gleamed with the kind of patience one reserves for a child boasting of a minor achievement.
Harry, on the other hand, couldn't contain his curiosity:
"Why didn't he come himself?"
"I'm sorry to say," Percy began, adopting a grave tone as if he were sharing a state secret, "that Mr. Crouch is ill.
Since Monday he has been... somewhat strange. It's surely an excess of work. Although, of course, he remains as magnanimous and intelligent as ever.
He had a small personal setback with his house-elf, Blinky or something like that... He dismissed her quickly after an... incident.
Anyway, now he needs care, and without his elf, his life must be much less comfortable. Poor man.
These quiet holidays must be exactly what he needed. As for me, I am satisfied that he trusted me to represent him."
Percy's chatter, full of vanity and unnecessary details, even began to bore Einar, who, raising an eyebrow, couldn't help but recall a certain pompous merchant from Whiterun.
So, with a mocking tone in his voice, he asked:
"And has he stopped calling you Waverly?"
Percy cleared his throat.
"Ahem... no. But it could be considered an affectionate nickname he gave me. Technically he always calls me that... so it reminds me..." he added hastily, trying to maintain his dignity.
Seeing that Percy was difficult to pull out of his self-absorption, Einar decided to ignore him, focusing on something else.
He watched as Dumbledore casually asked for food on his plate and, without hesitation, imitated him: he requested a steak to eat in peace.
The others quickly caught on and began ordering their favorite dishes, as long as they were on the menu.
After all, the house-elves would already have everything prepared to serve them whatever they asked for.
Meanwhile, Viktor was chatting animatedly with Hermione, describing his castle at Durmstrang as a way to pass the time between bites.
Parvati, largely ignored by Harry, also listened curiously.
"Enough, Viktor," Karkarov intervened, letting out a dry laugh, although his eyes remained two shards of ice directed at Hermione.
"If you keep talking, you'll end up giving her clues to find our castle."
"If you keep so much secrecy," Dumbledore commented jokingly, "one would think you don't want any visitors."
Karkarov smiled, showing yellowish teeth like those of an old wolf:
"Don't you think it's better to protect the secrets of our teaching, so that outsiders cannot steal information that should not leave the world?
Each school should take pride in guarding its own mysteries."
"I have never pretended to know all the secrets of Hogwarts, Igor," Dumbledore replied amicably.
"This very morning, I stumbled upon a room I had never seen before, which displayed a marvelous variety of chamber pots.
When I tried to find it again, it had already disappeared.
Perhaps it only appears at specific times... a special hour, the waning moon... or simply when someone needs to empty their bladder," he added, winking at Harry.
Einar rolled his eyes.
It was obvious that the old man wanted Harry to investigate that supposed secret bathroom.
And knowing Dumbledore, it surely wasn't just a bathroom.
Suppressing his growing desire to explore, Einar mentally noted to investigate the matter later.
Meanwhile, Fleur, having listened to the conversations about the castles, eagerly began to describe Beauxbatons, her school, displaying an elegant bearing and a barely concealed touch of arrogance:
"In our dining hall we have ice sculptures that never melt, because, in reality, they are enormous diamond statues that shine everywhere.
We also have wooden nymphs that sing serenades to us while we eat.
And if we had something like that silly poltergeist, we would expel it immediately.
We also don't keep those ugly armors," she added with growing enthusiasm, delivering her final comment with a hint of disdain.
Hermione, Cedric, Cho, and Harry immediately turned their heads toward Einar.
Everyone knew how much he appreciated weapons and armor.
It was no coincidence that he insisted his students learn blacksmithing and the handling of all kinds of weapons.
With a smile that did not reach his eyes, Einar replied:
"It's true that the decoration of this castle and the poltergeist can be... a bit annoying.
However, I don't think insulting the armors, forged by ancient warriors who conquered, protected, and ruled, is something that should be taken lightly."
Fleur, realizing her mistake, covered her mouth with one hand, showing sincere regret.
She had often seen, from the windows of her carriage, how Einar taught his students the art of war, handling the weapons she had just scorned.
"I... I'm sorry," she said quickly, bowing her head slightly.
"I didn't measure my words well. Even if I don't like something, it's not my place to disdain it."
"It's fine," Einar responded calmly.
His students sighed in relief.
After all, Einar, since he had been forced to deal with so many young people, seemed to have become more patient than at the beginning.
It wasn't like that time when, after being insulted by Ron, he summoned a storm over his head to scare him, or when Malfoy scorned weapons and ended up with a dagger pointed at his neck.