Prelude to the Triwizard Tournament

Next year, in their fifth year, Oleandra and the rest of the students in her age group would be taking their O.W.Ls, a standardized test. The results students would obtain would determine their future career paths, so the teachers were giving their fourth year students extra homework, to make sure they knew everything they needed to know in order to excel. For instance:

Professor McGonagall was making the fourth years do all sorts of Transfigurations, as well as refreshing them on subjects she had already covered the previous years. Despite her talent, Oleandra needed to practise more than ever, as she had basically forgotten everything Professor McGonagall had taught her in years one through three. Before lifting part of the curse on her, she had been completely hopeless at Transfiguration, so she had never seen the point of practising; meaning that she was way behind the others.

Professor Trelawney thought Oleandra was a True Seer, so, of course, she received stellar grades in Divination, as Trelawney didn't want to doubt anything that Oleandra had written in her homework.

As for History of Magic, Professor Binns was droning on and on about the Goblin Rebellions of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Apparently, some bloke named Parry Hotter had singlehandedly put an end to the rebellions by going on a massive killing spree as a fifth year student at Hogwarts. Hotter had also been a notorious poacher, going around the Forbidden Forest and collecting endangered species to sell them on the black market, but by that point, there had scarcely been a soul brave enough at Hogwarts to confront him.

In Oleandra's Study of Ancient Runes class, Professor Babbling was desperately trying to find a balance between her ordinary students and Oleandra's group, who were miles ahead on the subject. Even Hermione was beginning to struggle under the workload, but that was just the way she liked it!

In Astronomy, one of her favourite subjects, Oleandra had to create her very own map of the stars from scratch. This was very easy for her, so she mostly concentrated on finishing her special constellation spell in time for the Triwizard Tournament.

Herbology was a cinch for Daphne, as she could simply convince the Bubotubers to efficiently milk themselves of their pus. Oleandra had a little more trouble, as with the rest of the Slytherins and Ravenclaws! 

Potions class was a bit more unbearable than usual; Professor Snape had hinted that he might poison one of them to test the antidotes they were brewing. Ordinarily, this wouldn't have been a problem for Oleandra, but unfortunately, she'd been paired with Neville Longbottom. Now she had to worry about being poisoned by her own antidote on top of the actual poison!

In Charms, which was currently Oleandra's worst subject, now that she was better at Transfiguration, she was supposed to read three whole books to prepare to learn Summoning Charms. The mechanics behind the spell were quite complex, as it required locking onto a faraway object and then designating an unobstructed path for it to follow back to you with magic.

Even Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures class was growing more tedious, requiring students to come outside of class hours to take notes on the Blast-Ended Skrewts, although Oleandra was mostly worried about the other monster Hagrid had hidden in his cabin.

And finally, as time passed and the fated date approached, one fine day, Oleandra saw that a notice had been posted in the Entrance Hall, which read:

TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT

The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving at 6 o'clock on Friday 30th of October. Lessons will end half an hour early. Students will return their bags and books to their dormitories and assemble in front of the castle to greet our guests before the Welcoming Feast.

"Only a week away," said a boy dressed in Hufflepuff whose name escaped Oleandra. "'I wonder if Cedric knows? Think I'll go and tell him…"

Oleandra suddenly felt like she was being watched; maybe some people around were looking at her and wondering if she'd be entering the Tournament? Or maybe she was just being conceited; she wasn't the centre of the world.

"Cedric?" asked Hannah Abbott.

"Yeah, I'm certain he'll be entering!" said the Hufflepuff boy excitedly. "Come on!"

"Oh, that guy," said Tracey in annoyance.

"Who?" said Ron, who had a blank look on his face.

"Cedric Diggory," Tracey answered. "The annoying prefect."

"Oh, that idiot," said Ron. "He really believes he's going to be Hogwarts champion?"

"He's not an idiot, you just don't like him because he beat Gryffindor at Quidditch," sniffed Hermione. "I've heard he's a really good student, and the Hufflepuffs seem to think he's the top contender for the title."

"Hufflepuffs," Oleandra snorted in disdain. "Jacks of no trades, masters of none!"

"You only like him because he's handsome," Ron said scathingly.

"I certainly do not!" said Oleandra, refuting the accusation a little too vigorously.

"I wasn't talking to you," said Ron strangely.

"Oh," said Oleandra, blushing slightly. "Sorry…"

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For once, time seemed to have crawled to a stop. During the following week, there was only one thing people talked about: the Triwizard Tournament. Who would be Hogwarts champion, what would the other schools' champions be like, and what would the challenges be! And if all went well, maybe there would be one every five years again! Hopefully, nobody would die this time, but Oleandra didn't want to jinx herself by saying it out loud.

On the morning of the day the guests from afar would be arriving, Oleandra was pretty much frogmarched by the Weasley twins from the Slytherin's table to the Gryffindor's. What did they want with her now?

"This better not be for a stupid prank," Oleandra yawned. "It's too early to be up to no good, don't you think?"

"Oleandra Greengrass," said Fred and George together, "meet our good friend Lee Jordan. Lee Jordan, Oleandra Greengrass."

Lee Jordan was a boy of African descent, and the commentator for Quidditch matches at Hogwarts. And he was also the Weasley twins' best friend.

"I don't know, guys," Jordan said, "she's a Slytherin. And we have enough capital already."

"Tut-tut," said Fred. "And who do you think we have to thank for that? Oleandra was great publicity for us and our products!"

"I don't know, guys, he's a pretty biased commentator, are we sure we can trust him?" said Oleandra sarcastically, before adding, "Okay, now out with it. What do you want with me?"