InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Not everything."

Beyond the Pages ·|· NPC Journal (pages_of_npcs) wrote in beyondthepages,
@ 2010-05-14 18:13:00

Entry tags:

2023 10, filius flitwick, lily luna potter, regulus black, scorpius malfoy, sebastien laurent

RP: The Drawing of the Names
Characters: Filius, open to reactions
Time/Date: After dinner, October 14, 2023
Location: Great Hall
Warnings/Rating: None
Summary: The Goblet hucks up some names
Status: Open, ongoing
C'mon, people. it's weekend. give me some reactions. Psst, I totally moded Kristof. Fyi and all that. XD

There had been a grand feast, but it didn't seem to him the students were focused on the food. And why would they be? Tonight, of all nights, was not one for food.

After dessert was served and the plates cleared away, Filius and the other two headmasters made their way to the Goblet to await the choosing of the champions. Filius could feel the weight of their gazes, and was as amused as he was excited.

He did recall the last TriWizard tournament. How Albus had stood here. How everything had gone horribly wrong from the moment Harry's name had come out of the cup. He hoped (as he was sure the others must be hoping) that things went more smoothly this time.

There was no Dark Lord, no plots in the works (at least, he hoped there weren't). Aside from instances of people returning from the dead, things should be quiet here for the tournament. If they were fortunate, there would be no further returning deceased at the school.

When the Goblet began to spark, Filius tilted up his chin to watch. As the first piece of paper was ejected, he caught it as it fluttered down. Unfolding it, he smiled as he read off the name. "From Beauxbatons, the champion will be Isabeau Laroche."

He glanced toward the Hufflepuff table where the outburst had started, and watched as a diminutive but determined witch strode toward them. He nodded and gestured for her to wait with them. They'd retreat to a separate room later to go over the parameters of the events.

When the second paper fluttered out, the Beauxbatons Headmaster caught it. "From Durmstrang, Anya Kotova." The reaction from the Slytherin table was more subdued, but still enough to draw their attention that way. A tall, leggy blond witch strode over to join them, dipping her chin in a nod, her pale eyes already flashing a competitive light.

Kristof caught the last paper. "From Hogwarts, Jacob Warrington."

Filius cringed a second before he heard the outburst. First from the Ravenclaw table, and then from the other tables as Jacob's friends and well-wishers joined in the cheering. Jacob moved over to join them.

The Headmasters and the champions then retreated for discussion, leaving the rest of the students to their own devices.

(Post a new comment)

LilyLu, open

the_lily_luna
2010-05-15 01:29 am UTC (link)

Lily was shocked. Utterly and completely shocked. Not only was the champion not from Gryffindor ... the French champion was in Hufflepuff.

They were the only table without any real tie to the tournament. Ravenclaw was Hogwarts champion. Slytherin and Hufflepuff housed the foreign champions, and Gryffindor was left out in the cold.

Absolutely outrageous.

"I cannot believe this," she declared to anyone in earshot.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

LilyLu, Seb

endlessrain
2010-05-16 09:24 am UTC (link)

Sebastien hadn't really been paying attention to the proceedings. While he had put his name into the Goblet, he had never really expected to be accepted. He had thought, quite honestly and without any bitterness - that he had been chosen as one of the students to attend Hogwarts because he increased the school's image. He wasn't untalented or unintelligent, he simply was not Champion material.

In fact, in spite of what some of his other students might say or believe, he'd thought the Goblet's choice had been quite obvious, and was not surprised by the outcome.

Which was why when the girl seated across the table from him gave an outcry of disbelief, it pulled him out of the notes he'd been transcribing into English (his skill in this language was horrid and unforgivable - he very much needed the practice) and he gave her a look that indicated he felt the statement was foolish. Not really the type of individual to think that sort of statement through - why did people never just say what they actually meant? Why did everything have to be layered in such stupid reasoning? - he took her at her word.

"It is not very difficult to understand," he said in very careful, very chosen, very accented English. "The best competitors were selected. I am sorry you were not one of them. I do not feel surprise or disbelief at the results."

Though the thought did - belatedly - occur to him that perhaps she was offended that she had not been chosen (though he wondered if she looked a little young to be involved in the competition) he had not meant his words as an insult. Just an honest fact. He was not surprised Laroche had been chosen, and wondered why she seemed to be surprised that her school's champion had been selected.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

LilyLu, Seb

the_lily_luna
2010-05-16 09:37 am UTC (link)

Lily blinked and glanced over to the boy who'd spoken. One of the ones she didn't know by name, though she'd seen him around the commons and at meals. "Not the ... point," she said. "I didn't even get to enter. I'm not of age and my dad wouldn't try to make an exception for me. You know, parental permission and all that. Apparently that doesn't work here."

She paused. "My dad was in the last tournament. One of the Hogwarts champions." Yes, all right, so it had been part of a plot against his life, but still. He'd been a part of it. She wasn't sure Al had even entered, despite Jamie's threats.

Lily regarded the French wizard, eyes narrowing. "How can you not be surprised, unless you know everyone who entered their name from all the schools and analyzed them all to decide who the Goblet would pick."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

LilyLu, Seb

endlessrain
2010-05-16 10:33 am UTC (link)

He frowned, genuinely confused. "What is the point?" he asked. Had she indicated previously what the point was, and he had missed it due to a lack of comprehension of the English language? He flushed a little, averting his eyes before he managed to steel himself. No. She had said she could not believe it.

"He would be... Harry Potter then, non?" Seb said when she mentioned her father had been one of the last champions. It seemed the most logical, given that he was aware that the other champion had died, and unless he'd fathered a daughter at a young age (which would make Lily too old to be in school, he thought) that would leave her with the other champion as a father, even if he factored the recent influx of returnees back from the dead. "His stories... what is word... travel far. We hear them in France, as well. A great man to be sure. Were you of age, I imagine you would make him proud and be chosen." He wasn't entirely certain why she had brought up that her father was the last champion, and the best that he could come up with was some sort of assurance, to him, that she was qualified to be the champion even though she wasn't of age. So he'd thought it best to reassure her that he did not necessarily disagree.

"I am not surprised by my champion," he clarified when she narrowed her eyes at him, feeling goosebumps beginning to crawl up his arms and the hair on the back of his neck stand up in discomfort. "She is an excellent witch. The others schools... I had no guesses, and have no surprised feelings." He hoped that cleared it up and she would stop with the scrutiny.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

LilyLu, Seb, open

the_lily_luna
2010-05-16 11:03 am UTC (link)

"The point is ... every table got recognized but ours," Lily said in a voice that clearly indicated that should be completely obvious. She waved one hand dismissively. Clearly ... this didn't matter.

"Harry Potter," she agreed with a nod. "I'd certainly think you'd hear about him," she said. Sure, they'd grown up in a sheltered environment; Harry had done everything he could to keep the media and the fame out of their life, to just raise his family as normally as he could. But once they were older and they were hearing stories at school anyway, he told them the stories of the war.

"I mean, he only saved the world and all," Lily said with a faint snort. "And if I'd gotten chosen, he probably would've written to the school and demanded I be pulled out."

Well, she doubted that, but he likely would've had extra Aurors on guard the entire time. Possibly even a personal body guard for her.

"Yes, I'm sure they're all excellent contenders. Or else they wouldn't have been chosen." Jacob wasn't really even on her radar. She recognized him when he walked up, but before then, she couldn't say she would've known his name.

"So what do you guys do now that the champion's been chosen?" she inquired. "Just ... hang around and finish out school and cheer her on? Help her cheat? Things like that?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

LilyLu, Seb, open

endlessrain
2010-05-16 11:15 am UTC (link)

"Ah," he said, his brow furrowing when she explained. "And this... recognition is... of importance?" he frowned. "The others, they are not really in those... you call them houses? They have no ties to those people. They are no more..." the girl was waving her hand. Apparently, this had become less relevant to her while he had been talking. He frowned, slightly, but was content enough to move on.

"He... did," Sebastien agreed, his brow still furrowing as she went on about her dad. He wondered what the expected reaction was to this. Was he supposed to fall to the ground and worship and praise all that was the memory of her father? Perhaps if he was meeting Harry Potter himself, he may consider that reaction more appropriate. He wasn't certain how he felt giving that sort of reaction to his daughter, but he felt like she wouldn't find it as out of place as he did. Perhaps he was misreading that, though.

"I... do not understand..." he started to say before he sighed. He didn't think she was going to give him a straight answer about what she did not believe. She did not believe that her house was the one that did not have a representative? It seemed strange to him, but that seemed to be the answer.

"We... remain here, for the duration of the tournament," he said carefully. "Yes, offer support to the champion, though cheating is... how you say... traditional... though against the rules?" he wasn't sure that was exactly what he meant. "I will stand by my champion," he said, gaining a bit more firmness in his voice. "Should she require something of me, I will provide. I will expect her to remain within the regulations with her request."

He didn't expect to be asked anything, though. Not really.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

LilyLu, Seb, open

the_lily_luna
2010-05-16 11:26 am UTC (link)

So not the point, but he seemed content enough to let go of it, so she was, too. Lily glanced around to see if anyone was reacting much to anything; catching Meghan's eye, she made a face at her cousin, who promptly made one back.

Swinging her attention back to Sebastien, she tilted her head. "What don't you understand? I probably suck at trying to clarify, but I can try," Lily offered. She figured it might be something about her that was impossible to understand, but that was kind of par for the course for everyone.

"It's pretty traditional, from what I hear, yeah. My dad had a couple of people offering to help him over the course of the tournament," Lily shared. "Even if it wasn't within the rules. Think it's one of those technicalities that people like to exploit."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

LilyLu, Seb, open

endlessrain
2010-05-18 05:42 am UTC (link)

He licked his lips briefly. "I suppose what I do not understand why is the habit of saying things one does not necessarily mean. Like how you say 'I cannot believe this' when you mean 'I thought someone from Gryffindor would be involved'. You can believe it, non? It is not the comprehension you are having difficult with?" he sighed. "But ah, I suppose that is not something that is easy to explain."

He nodded, not really surprised by her affirmation that previous champions had had assistance. "It is a code of honour. To be selected often means to do everything necessary to win. I do not imagine any school would like to lose face. I am interested to learn this was the case in your father's time. Dumbledore did not seen the... euh... how you say, 'type'? To... euh... encourage his champions in such a way."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

LilyLu, Seb, open

the_lily_luna
2010-05-18 05:46 am UTC (link)

"Exaggeration," she said, brow furrowing lightly. "Mm. Hyperbole, I think is the grammar term for it." She shrugged. Maybe it was, maybe she was thinking of something else. "They're just expressions. Like when you say you have a ton of homework, you don't really have a ton, it's just ... a lot. To make a point."

Lily shrugged again. "I like to exaggerate, I suppose."

A faint smile played at her lips. "I don't think Professor Dumbledore was the one doing the encouraging," she said. She was silent for a moment before she shook her head. It was complicated and a downer and not something she wanted to get into. "It was someone else. Someone who didn't mean for my father to survive."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

LilyLu, Seb, open

endlessrain
2010-05-18 06:07 am UTC (link)

He nodded. It was the explanation he already knew and didn't really understand. He had the pieces to the puzzle, he just didn't see how they were formed, or what use they served, and why people bothered using them at all when they were clearly so out of date. "Expressions," he repeated, almost dully. "acheter chat en poche, yes. It just all seems so foolish, really, when it is quite simpler to say what you mean. Speaking in riddles seems... how you say... extra information?" he knew that wasn't right, but it hopefully got the message across. And yes, the irony of having to not say what he meant in order to get his message across was not lost on him.

Were he more socially ept, he may have noticed the changes in her tone, expression and body language. As it was, he did not realize the negative effect the conversation was having on her. "Yes," he said with a nod. "I have learned from this in my readings, of this madman. I am... relieved? to learn that it was no your Dumbledore who assisted in this Triwizard Tradition. Perhaps your Professor Flitwick will be more inclined to... ah... how you say... 'bend the rules'?"

He certainly knew from experience that none of his schoolmates, nor his Headmaster, would be against cheating in order to bring home the trophy. And while he didn't really know either way about Durmstrang, something told him that they shared a similar feeling, especially with the recent inter-governemential troubles.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

LilyLu, Seb, open

the_lily_luna
2010-05-18 06:11 am UTC (link)

"They're not ... riddles," she protested. "Just turns of phrase. I'm sure you've got them, too. Just ... different ones or things that don't translate the same." Lily felt vaguely cross at having to ... what? Defend her language?

Rolling her eyes, she shrugged it off; the topic was dead as far as she was concerned. It was a stupid thing to quibble over anyway.

"I doubt it. Professor Flitwick's pretty solid," she said. She really couldn't see him cheating, or encouraging Jacob to cheat. But what did she know, really, when the competitive spirit got up in people what they'd do?

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

LilyLu, Seb, open

endlessrain
2010-05-18 06:55 am UTC (link)

"We do," he said. "And they are just as... extra and difficult to comprehend en francais," he paused. Was that why her tone was shifting to an angrier one? "I do not mean to suggest..." he frowned, trying to backtrack. "My miscomprehension should not be... euh... seen to be insults." He said. "I am not, how you say, the man to speak with. I was not chosen to attend this trip on my.. euh. 'Social skills'."

Which, he supposed, was obvious by this point.

"Would you, euh, rather I returned to my notes and did not bother you?" it was an honest question that didn't hold any bitterness. He was neutral to either. The conversation was not bothering him, but he seemed to have successfully alienated himself from her and thought it the right thing to do to offer her an out to the conversation. "I will not be offended. I am not, as I said, a person with whom you can have a long discussion."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

LilyLu, Seb

the_lily_luna
2010-05-18 02:03 pm UTC (link)

So clearly he was one of those super-literal people. Who lacked imagination, she decided. Maybe all French students were just ... super annoying. Or it was that whole 'cultural difference' thing she was supposed to be learning about and accepting.

Lily waved it off and shrugged. "Doesn't matter to me. Suppose I could go see what my cousins were up to," she decided. "It was nice talking to you though," she said politely, even if she didn't completely mean it.

That conversation had been way more work than it was worth. He should go talk to someone like Landon and they could be super literal together or something. Then she thought Tristan probably would've had fun with him ...

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

LilyLu, Seb

endlessrain
2010-05-19 03:36 am UTC (link)

He wondered if she meant that. That it was nice talking to him. It hadn't seemed to him that she had found the conversation at all pleasant, but he was a quick study and knew better at this point than to ask for clarification. He nodded his head. "Thank you for you... tolerance of my... misunderstandings," he said, his expression clear that he was choosing his words carefully and still not happy with their meanings. "Perhaps next time we speak, I will not be so... how you say... helpless."

It wasn't the exact sentiment that he wanted to her to leave with, but the conversation seemed to be wrapped up and he was content enough to return to his notes.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

Scorpius, Regulus, open

goesnowheregood
2010-05-16 09:43 am UTC (link)

Scor had been watching the proceedings, and raised an eyebrow when Jacob had been selected. He had put his name into the Goblet, but he hadn't really expected or wanted to be chosen. The only thing that really appealed to him about being a Champion was ~~getting out of exams~~ the glory that came with it. But he wasn't really willing to do all the work involved. He really didn't have a death wish.

But there was a small part of him that had wanted to see if he would be chosen. If he was worthy enough to compete, by the Goblet's standards. So he'd slipped his name in secretly when no one had been looking (at least he hoped) and told anyone who asked that he hadn't bothered.

'Course, now that the champion had been chosen, he couldn't help but feel a little bit sour.

"Ain't that just peachy, then," he muttered in annoyance. "So what's the protocol here? Do we go with House pride, or school pride? Anyone know Warrington well enough to vouch for his character?"

Regulus' eyes looked up from his plate, his expression clearly bored. "Seems a typical smiling sort of studious git that you usually find among the birds," he said before he returned to his meal.

"And now that we've heard from the long-dead," Scorpius said. He hadn't really expected Regulus to chirp up to be honest, not expecting the boy to have any opinion on the matter since he didn't know 90% of the students in school at the moment. Of course, he was one to talk - he didn't really know Warrington very well himself. His eyes slid over the other Durmstrang residents, wondering if they cared enough to encourage him to offer his support for their champion, or if they were just going to roll their eyes at his statements and continue eating their meal.

He expected the latter. But surely there was someone with an opinion. He'd even take comments from the peanut gallery at another table.

(Reply to this)