Chapter 569: “Beauxbaton’s Carriage and Durmstrang’s Ship”
Chapter 569: “Beauxbaton’s Carriage and Durmstrang’s Ship”
The final afternoon class concluded half an hour early.
Jerry, like most young Slytherin wizards, made his way to the dormitory, placed his books on a table, and donned a green cloak adorned with a serpent emblem.
They then assembled in the basement corridor.
Jerry, come here! Professor Snape called out with a sense of urgency.
Standing at the front of the group, Professor Snape, who was unusually dressed in more formal attire, gestured for Jerry to approach.
In response to Snapes call, Jerry had no choice but to step out of the ranks.
The Wizarding Shielding Charm, like its Muggle counterpart, automatically dissipates upon the call of ones name.
Wow, its Jerry! Its Jerry!
The Slytherin team, originally quiet, suddenly became animated. Due to the Wizarding Shielding Charm, most Slytherins from other years had seen very little of Jerry since the beginning of the school year.
Will be right there, Professor! Jerry obeyed and walked up to Snape.
Snapes stern gaze swept over the team, causing all voices to instantly hush; you could hear a pin drop.
Its worth noting that even though Snape was Slytherins head of the house, many young wizards of Slytherin feared him as much as other students in the school.
Jerry, Ill be accompanying the Headmaster shortly. You will lead the Slytherin team. After sternly addressing the seventh-year Slytherins, Snapes expression softened a bit as he gave Jerry his instructions.
Today marked Snapes inauguration as Headmaster, and consequently, he would be joining Dumbledore to greet the representatives of the two other magical schools.
This meant that Slytherin would be without their house head during the reception, which is why Snape had summoned Jerry to stand in for him.
With his strength and reputation among the Slytherins, Jerry was the most suitable candidate to lead the house, and Snape had high expectations of him.
Slytherin is the epitome of nobility and elegance. I hope you can exemplify these qualities as you lead the house in my absence. If anyone embarrasses us in front of the other schools, they will face the consequences. Snape warned Jerry even though his gaze was shifting from one of the little serpents toward the other.
No one dared to look at him back, especially after hearing his warning.
After delivering a stern warning, Snape departed.
Jerry, though hesitant, had no choice but to accept the responsibility.
As Snapes close disciple, it was his duty to assist on this important day.
Alright, dont be so nervous. Its going to be fine. Everyone, line up and follow me to the hall, where well welcome the representatives from the other schools!
Turning to the students behind him, many of whom had been intimidated by Snape, Jerry wore a friendly smile and gave a reassuring nod.
He waved and led the Slytherin students towards the Great Hall.
As they reached the Great Hall, they found the little Hufflepuffs, all wearing yellow cloaks, already lined up under the guidance of Professor Sprout.
Shortly after, the Ravenclaws donned in blue cloaks, and the young Gryffindors, in their vibrant red cloaks, descended the stairs in the company of Professors Flitwick and McGonagall.
Alright, lets prepare to greet Beauxbatons and Durmstrang! A voice called out to calm the excited crowds.
Dumbledore, wearing a purple robe, called out as he walked out of the castle with Professor Snape.
Jerry, Professor Sprout, Professor Flitwick, and Professor McGonagall followed, leading the students of all four houses out onto the large lawn.
Once they had formed orderly lines, it was just a five-minute wait until the arrival of the two other schools.
The exterior of the castle was already cast in shadow, and the moon, a translucent white disk, hung above the Forbidden Forest.
With the students standing in formation, they couldnt help but engage in hushed conversations among themselves.
Most of the chatter revolved around speculations about how the visiting schools would arrive whether by broomstick or portkey.
A select few perceptive students, however, were discussing the noticeable differences in Professor Snapes demeanor that day as he stood alone next to Headmaster Dumbledore.
Theyre coming!
Jerry, who was positioned at the front of the Slytherin line, gazed upwards towards the moonlit sky.
Thanks to his exceptional eyesight, he spotted the Beauxbatons carriage, a powder-blue chariot being pulled by twelve winged horses with silver manes and massive wing spans, coming into view.
As the carriage neared, Dumbledores call and the students hushed excitement heralded the realization of its arrival.
Yet, Jerrys attention was not solely focused on the Beauxbatons carriage.
Instead, he observed the Black Lake, which had become unsettled and emitted a strange rumbling sound.
Amidst the dark waters of the lake, a commotion ensued, with massive splashes erupting from the surface.
Waves lapped against the shore, and in the center of the lake, a colossal whirlpool materialized as though a gigantic plug had been pulled from the lake bed.
Slowly, a long, black, rod-like object ascended from the heart of the whirlpool. Subsequently, the distinctive Durmstrang ghost ship leaped forth from the depths of the Black Lake.
Jerry had previously come across descriptions of this ghost ship in magical texts.
It was a unique magical vessel utilized by Durmstrang, capable of traversing water and even teleporting between locations, provided there was a sufficient volume of water available.
Jerry had contemplated procuring one for himself prior to mastering portal magic but had eventually decided against it.
Its always like this when people gather, they cant resist showing off Jerry muttered while looking at the two schools that made their eccentric entrance.
As Jerry surveyed the Beauxbatons carriage in the sky and the Durmstrang ship in the lake, he couldnt help but recall Arthur Weasleys words about wizards tendency to flaunt their magical prowess.
Coming to Hogwarts, the most prestigious wizarding school in the world and standing before the formidable wizard Dumbledore and the remarkable Hogwarts Castle, the visiting schools naturally sought to make a grand entrance anything less would have seemed inadequate.
The tactic undeniably succeeded in leaving an impression, with the students of Hogwarts genuinely awed by the grandeur of the arrival.
Yet, once the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang disembarked from their respective modes of transportation and set foot on Hogwarts grounds, they too were spellbound by the towering Hogwarts Castle and the multitude of young witches and wizards.
They would find themselves belittled if Jerry ever unleashed one of his spells just to show off, but Jerry simply enjoyed the views for now while getting ready to welcome the other students from Beauxbaton and Durmstrang.