Challengefic: Buffy Summers And The Goblet Of Fire (2/?)

[annelise@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Buffy Summers And The Goblet Of Fire, Part Two.
Comments/Flames/Etc. to: annelise@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Anne-Lise offers a warm smile. "For Kirayoshi, who knows what this 
is all about!"

--

"If you wish to impress by the way that you dress and further your 
ambition, then the Slytherins will take you in, for such is their 
condition. As for the diligent, yet reticent, the Hufflepuffs are for 
you. Through their study, and by research, they can make your dreams 
come true. The Adepts in the Art, and pure of heart, are Gryffindor's 
domain. Grim casualties of Destiny; They seek neither glory, reward, 
nor fame. And last of all is Ravenclaw, for those that yet remain. 
The sturdy and reliant fall within their broad refrain. Please, now 
come and try me on! See where you belong. Can't stay to chat; I'm 
just a hat! Blessed with insight... And with song!"

Buffy looked over at Willow as they sat around the Gryffindor's 
table in the Great Hall. "I hate that hat," she said.
"It is rather pitiful. No respect for iambic pentameter anymore." 
Willow stared forlornly at the Sorting Hat as yet another first year 
placed it bravely on his head.
Buffy blinked. "I actually understood some of that."
"This is a school!" Willow pointed out. "There's always a danger of 
education."
"Ha!" Buffy gave Willow a wry grin. "I laugh in the face of such 
danger!"
Willow nodded. "True, but you also panic in the face of exams."
"Its my Achilles' Heel," Buffy agreed.
"Hey guys!" Xander joined the pair at the table. "Did I miss 
anything?"
"Only the sorting song," Willow replied. "Although not really an 
aural delight this year."
"I heard one of the new first years is half-Veela!" Xander said with 
a grin. "Any idea if she's gone through sorting yet?"
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Xander! You have no self-control."
Xander shrugged. "Its over-rated."
"Well, if you get into trouble again like you did last year, chalk 
me up for a big 'Told-you-so.'" Buffy admonished.
Xander's grin faded. "How was I to know she was a succubus?"
"She was mute, and had pale green skin?" Willow suggested.
Xander pouted. "Well okay, there may have been subtle signs."
"She wore a T-shirt with 'Honk if you wanna be sucked' written on 
it." Buffy added.
"Subtle signs," Willow agreed.
"Anyway!" Xander changed the subject. "We've another new Defence 
against the Dark Arts teacher this term."
"Again?" Buffy groaned and Willow let out a long sigh. "That means 
Snyder's going to be taking Potions for another year, and you know 
how he hates us." All three Scoobs brooded over their misfortune.
"Can I have your attention please?" Albus Dumbledore, the wizened 
headmaster of Hogwarts, clapped his hands and gestured for silence. 
The students reluctantly settled down.
"As you know," he began, "our last Defence against the Dark Arts 
master has now left us after being slain by one of our errant pupils."
All eyes turned to Buffy, who froze like a deer caught in 
headlights.
"Hey, he was evil. Okay?" she muttered.
"And since matron was unable to restore him..." Dumbledore looked 
down at his notes. "Because someone ground his bones into dust..." 
All eyes again focused on Buffy, who flashed them all a self-
satisfied grin. "Then I am pleased to announce our new Defence 
against the Dark Arts master... Rupert Giles!"
On cue, the doors to the Great Hall were flung open and in stalked 
their new teacher. Leather-clad, and wearing shoes that squeaked a 
little as he walked, the newcomer joined Dumbledore up on the podium.
"He's cute!" Willow whispered to Buffy, who gave her friend an 
appraising stare.
"Sonorus!" exclaimed Giles as he pressed his wand to his throat. He 
looked around the Great Hall at the gathered students. "Some of you 
know who I am." As he spoke, Giles' voice became magically 
amplified. "And some of you know me by my reputation. Be that as it 
may, Albus here invited me to take the job on for a year... See if I 
can whip you sorry lot into shape. Be warned! Cross me, and you'll 
find out why they call me The Ripper!" Giles glared around the Hall 
one last time, took a quick swig from his hip-flask, and stormed out 
like a poor man's Darth Vader.
"He's dashing too!" Willow confided in a whisper to Buffy.
"Huh!" Buffy remarked jealously.
"So, why do they call him The Ripper?" Xander asked.
"Well duh!" Cordelia shot him a scathing look from the Slytherin 
table. "Its because... If you anger him, he rips up your test papers 
and gives you an 'F'!"
"Eek!" Willow quailed, petrified by the concept. Buffy gave her a 
comforting hug.
>From the podium, Albus Dumbledore clapped his hands together and 
gestured once more for silence. "The other matter I'd like to inform 
you about is the inter-school Quidditch tournament."
"Aw yeah!" Xander brightened. "This year we're gonna cream your 
asses!" He raised a fist in generic defiance. The Slytherins regarded 
him with pitying disdain.
"I regret to inform you," Dumbledore continued over the 
disruption, "that this year the tournament will be cancelled." 
Silence.
Xander recovered first. "No way!"
"Yes way!" Dumbledore raised his hand to forestall further 
comment. "You see, this year, instead of the Quidditch tournament, 
Hogwarts has the distinct honour of hosting the Tri-Wizard 
Tournament!"
Voices broke out all over the Great Hall as the students excitedly 
discussed the importance of the news, what it would mean, what they 
should do... And in the case of the Slytherins, what they would wear."
"No way!" Xander cried, quietly. Both Buffy and Willow gave him a 
consoling hug.

*

End Part 2.