Chapter 3

Aphrodite

At the entrance behind the teachers' platform, the figure of a man appeared, leaning on a long stick, wrapped in a black traveling cloak that hid most of his features.

The strange loud sound caused by his unsteady footsteps made all heads, including mine, turn towards him.

Taking off his hood, he shook off his unruly mane of light blonde hair and sat down at the teachers' table next to Hagrit who squeezed a little more into the already small chair he was sitting in.

Another flash of lightning lit up the ceiling and I heard Hermione nod along with me at the sight of the man. In her light the stranger's face was clearly visible, showing his skin which was covered in scars and marks, his mouth looked like a diagonal tear and a large chunk was missing from his nose, but it was the eyes that made him so frightening.

One was small and black as a bead. The other was large and round like a coin, bright blue as if it were a yaline which moved incessantly in every direction-up, down, right and left-without blinking completely, regardless of the normal eye, and sometimes turned upside down so that only the white of the eye was visible .

After a few seconds the Director turned towards him and saluted him by making a distinct gesture of lifting the pointed hat he was wearing .

"Aphrodite , that man who came in has something very strange about him. " Irene said to me almost in a whisper and I looked at her in wonder.

" What do you mean?" I asked her as I turned to look at her just as worriedly.

She just shook her head nodding her head as if she was nodding to me " then" and gestured for other ears to hear us. I nodded and turned to look at the director once again , who was about to speak again.

"May I introduce the new professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts who will be joining us this year ." said Dumbledore smilingly breaking the awkward silence that had spread between us .

"Professor Alistair Moody." He continued.

Although new professors were usually greeted with a round of applause, now only Dumbledore , Hagrid and a couple of other professors responded. Their applause sounded melancholy in the large hall and so they stopped while everyone else just stared at Moody, dumbfounded by his strange appearance.

Still, it did not seem that he was hurt by the cold reception and, ignoring us, he took a small flask from his traveling coat and downed a sip of its contents. With this gesture the hem of his coat was lifted and I could make out under the table the wooden leg that was surely the reason for the previous commotion.

Once again Dumbledore roared and everyone's attention fell on him again.

"As I was telling you," he now said to the crowd of students

who were still looking on, staring at Moody.

"This year we will have the honour of hosting an exciting event at our school that has lasted for just over a century . I am pleased to announce that this year Hogwarts has been chosen to host the Magic Triathlon." He said with a hint of excitement in his voice.

"You've got to be kidding!" exclaimed Fred Weasley, breaking the silence and listening to the entire dining room crystal clear , after Moody's sudden arrival.

"No, Mr. Weasley, if I wanted to make fun, I'd tell you a joke I heard last summer about a taxidermist, a hag, an elf, and a dwarf who went to a bar--" Professor McGonagall snorted.

"Uh... this isn't a good time..." Dumbledore said.

"What was I saying? Oh, yes, about the Magic Triathlon... Some of you have certainly heard what it is, so I hope you'll forgive me for giving the rest of you a quick rundown on our new students. The Triathlon of Magic, then, was an institution established seven hundred years ago as an expression of the noble rivalry between the three

of the three major European schools of magic: "Hogwarts, Bobaton.

and Darmstrang. Each school was represented by a chosen one of the schools.

and they competed in three magical events

feats of the highest difficulty. The triathlon was held every five years, hosted on a rotating basis and by lottery by the three schools, and its aim was to strengthen the bonds between young wizards and witches of different nationalities, but unfortunately, the list of serious accidents was so long that it was eventually suspended.

"The list of serious accidents? " Hermione whispered in agitation.

But the majority of the students did not seem to share their anxiety. Most were whispering excitedly amongst themselves as the Headmaster spoke again.

"The Bobaton School of Girls, the Darmstrank North School , and many more surprises along with them will arrive early next month where there will be a more thorough briefing for yourselves. "At this announcement murmurs were heard among the students, but none dared to protest openly.

"The selection of the champions will be made on Halloween Day. An impartial judge will decide which students will have the honor of competing for the Magic Triathlon Cup, the glory of their schools and the cash prize of a thousand galleys."

"I'll be taking part!" Fred Weasley whispered, his face lighting up at the thought of glory and wealth.

Of course, I'll wager he wasn't the only one who imagined himself the champion of "Hogwarts."

At a quick glance I saw many children, at all the tables, either hanging on Dumbledore's lips or chatting animatedly with their neighbours. Dumbledore went on, not wishing to keep us in suspense, and the great hall was quiet again.

"The candidates from the 'Bobaton' and 'Darmotrang' schools will stay with us for most of the school year. I am sure that you will behave with the utmost courtesy and show all our guests our good manners and hospitality, as it is our duty to carry through this year's competition ." As familiar and gurgling as his voice sounded, it still held the sternness in it that warned everyone together and everyone individually to stay out of all kinds of trouble .

"Well, the hour is past and tomorrow you must begin your lessons. Rest and start with a clear mind. Time for bed! " said Dumbledore first sat down in his chair and struck up a conversation with Mounti directly.

The students got up noisily and headed for the exit.

"A thousand galleys. " Ron said with a dreamy look on his face.

" Come on, move it. If we don't move we'll be the only ones in the dining hall" Hermione said and started nudging us towards the exit.

Finally we all came out together, down the long hallway of the entrance. Fred and George were trying to

to guess what our guests would look like and new ideas for "Whisley's Magic Tricks".

"Who would be the impartial judge who would select the champions? " asked Harry.

"I wish it were," said Fred.

"One thing is certain, though, he's the one we have to fool. George. "He then went on to speak to his brother.

"I think that as soon as the judge gets hold of the names of the interested parties he will choose the best from each school." Shimus popped up two by two up the common stairs that, we were told, led to the dormitory.

"I'm sure whoever the judge is won't be so easily fooled or Dumbledore wouldn't have chosen him anyway, besides the list of serious accidents was too long, we'd better not get upset" Hermione reminded us as we got close to a door hidden in the wallpaper and climbed another narrow staircase.

"Yes, but centuries ago! Besides, how can you have fun if there isn't a little risk involved? "Fred countered.

"Alas, and you'd stay on the outside! " said Jeannie, imitating her brother's tone of voice, which made us laugh ourselves silly.

"What do you think? " Ron asked Harry in turn.

"I think, it's definitely going to be a very interesting year, both with the new wizards we're going to meet and for the amount of money which is quite good. " he replied to his gender all meaningful.

"I for one don't want the queens or the glory. " came his voice behind them.

Neville.

"Though my grandmother would have insisted I join in. I must, she says, keep my family's name and majesty intact. So I'll... oh..." Before Neville finished his prostration his foot had sunk into a step.

Irene along with Harry and Ron grabbed him by the armpits and pulled him out with difficulty while an armor at the top of the stairs giggled making metallic sounds.

"Shut up too!" said Ron, lowering her visor in a rush as we passed her and nearly knocking her down.