Chapter 195: The Banquet
To the French editor, Loupirate
The font that is *in things like this*
Needs to be converted into French
Ty
/—/
When all the students had entered the Hall and settled down at their House tables, the staff entered, filing up to the top table and taking their seats. Last in line were Professor Dumbledore, Professor Karkaroff, and Madame Maxime. When their headmistress appeared, the pupils from Beauxbatons leapt to their feet. A few of the Hogwarts students laughed. The Beauxbatons party appeared quite unembarrassed, however, and did not resume their seats until Madame Maxime had sat down on Dumbledore's left-hand side. Dumbledore remained standing, and a silence fell over the Great Hall.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, ghosts and - most particularly - guests," said Dumbledore, beaming around at the foreign students. "I have great pleasure in welcoming you all to Hogwarts. I hope and trust that your stay here will be both comfortable and enjoyable. The tournament will be officially opened at the end of the feast," said Dumbledore. "I now invite you all to eat, drink, and make yourselves at home!"
He sat down, and Arthur lunged forward and immediately grabbed a turkey leg as if he was a starving wild animal. Scarlett followed in suit in an albeit less ferocious manner.
Theodore sighed.
"Why are you so addicted to those damn turkey legs?"
"They're delicious, haven't you tried it before?"
Theodore let out an expression of disgust.
"I did and I didn't like it. It was too greasy."
Arth stared at Theo with mock anger.
"How dare you! Apologize to the Turkey Leg God."
"If there was indeed such a god in this world, I would be severely disappointed."
Theo gave a scrutinizing glare at the foreign dishes in front of him.
"What's that?"
Arth shrugged.
"I dunno."
"What about this?"
"No clue."
"How about this one?"
"No information available."
Theodore sighed.
"I thought you were a walking library?"
"Even a library can't hold all the books."
"Do you know what this is?"
Theo pointed at a large dish of shellfish stew that stood beside a large steak-and-kidney pudding.
"Bouillabaisse," said Arth.
"And How in the world do you know that?" asked Theo.
"It's French," said Arth, "I had it on the holidays last Christmas. It's decent. Turkey legs are still better."
The Great Hall seemed somehow much more crowded than usual, even though there were barely twenty additional students there; perhaps it was because their differently colored uniforms stood out so clearly against the black of the Hogwarts' robes. Now that they had removed their furs, the Durmstrang students were revealed to be wearing robes of a deep bloodred.
Arth noticed that Ludo Bagman and Mr. Crouch had arrived. After a few pleasantries, Ludo Bagman sat next to Professor Karkaroff's other side, while Mr. Crouch was next to Madame Maxime.
Arth stood up.
"Where are you going?" Asked Theo and Scarlett at the same time.
"I'm going to say hello to Ludo Bagman and Mr. Crouch, don't mind me."
Arth slowly made his way to the staff table. Before he arrived however, Ludo Bagman saw him first.
"Arth! My boy! Come over here! I almost forgot that you still go here! Come on, next to me!"
Arth was promptly forced to sit down next to Bagman who then started to rapidly introduce him to the other professors.
"This here is Arthur Kingscrown. Smart fellow honestly. He helped organize the Quidditch World Cup and even helped my department with finding one of our missing members. Sometimes, I forget that he is still a student going to school."
Mr. Crouch let out a sigh.
"Ludo, contain yourself. You are a department head. Please act in such a manner."
Mr. Crouch hesitated as if pondering something before letting out another sigh.
"I can't deny that the boy is a natural. I've never seen anyone else as efficient."
Arth let out a wry smile.
"I'm not that great."
"Oh don't be modest my boy, you are a genius!"
Professor Karkaroff gave Arth a condescending look before extending his hand.
"I suppose that even Hogwarts needs to have their own talented individuals. Nothing against my Victor though."
Arth turned away from Professor Karkaroff and faced Madame Maxim.
"Bonsoir Madame Maxime. Comment allez-vous ? "
There was a surprised look on Madame Maxim's face which was quickly replaced by a smile.
"Je vais très bien. Vous parlez très bien français."
"Merci, je l'ai appris de ma mère."
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