An Ateez x Harry Potter Fanfiction
This fanfiction also appears on my wattpad (usually upload there first).
House Guide:
Gryffindor: Jongho, Wooyoung
Hufflepuff: Yunho, Seonghwa
Slytherin: Mingi, San
Ravenclaw: Yeosang, Hongjoong
Check here for other chapters:
10/29/24 - it's been a long time since I last updated. Ateez are already having another comeback, too! November 15th, just in time for the full moon. Curiously, they're also starting to release the promotional materials on the New Moon (in Scorpio). New moons are a time where everything is hidden, and full moons illuminate everything. I wonder what's in store for us?
Chapter 15 - The New Triwizard Tournament
Nothing happened the next day. Nor the next, or the one after that. It seemed like the ministry presence was helping, and that the trace removal on Mingi had worked. The damage in various places of the castle had been fixed, and everyone acted like nothing had happened.
There were only two strange exceptions, and the gossip had spread like wildfire through the castle: Draco and Hermione were dating, and so were Wooyoung and Darcy.
Those two pairings had given everyone whiplash, and even Ginny had tried - unsuccessfully - to figure out what was going on. Hermione acted like she didn't know her old friends, and was putting on a good act, too. Only Jongho and his friends - minus Wooyoung - knew that anything was suspicious.
And for Wooyoung's relationship, as far as they could tell, that also seemed real. He hadn't spoken to any of them, and San was even more silent than he usually was. Every time their friend walked into the great hall for a meal, San's expression grew dark and he stormed out of the room. Mingi sometimes went after him, but often returned alone. Jongho was worried about what this was doing to all of them.
"He doesn't want to talk about it," Mingi said to Jongho and sighed for the fifth time in a row, sitting back down at the table. Jongho noticed the sadness on his friends' face, and wondered what he could do about it. San had just left. Across the hall, Wooyoung was still showing off some new spell he'd learned. A bunch of cheers rang out here and there.
Yeosang had barely been around in the last few days, and no one had been able to catch him to ask what he was up to. Hongjoong had said he saw him arrive late for bedtime, and leave early in the morning.
And anyways, Hongjoong was too busy getting ready for the second round of auditions with Yunho. The first round had gone well, but there were too many people. So they planned to hold a second one, and see how people worked together. The two of them were serious about finding the right people. It was their goal to be the band selected for the Yule Ball this year, too. Time was running out.
And then Seonghwa was as MIA as Yeosang. No one saw him except for classes. He slipped in at the last second, and was gone before anyone could gather their books. How he managed to be so fast, Jongho had no idea.
But part of him wished they had more time together before everything got started. He still hadn't heard about everything that happened over the summer, and he had a nagging feeling that those details were important for everything going on. And while his healing had gone well - there wasn't a scratch on him - it had been a rough night; too rough to start asking questions.
All he knew for sure was that something big had happened, and his friends weren't the only ones who knew about it. Draco and Professor Blackburn also appeared to be in the know for at least some of it. And only Draco seemed trustworthy to ask about it.
Maybe it would be worth asking him what he knew? Even if all Jongho could find out was more about the book, and why it had affected him so badly, that much should help. He shuddered as he remembered those moments. The page had said something about an heir, and a prophecy in a tomb? He had no idea what it could have meant, nor why the book seemed to suck the life force from him.
A thought hit him, then. The physical side effects had gotten better when Draco made contact with him. Was there something about Draco specifically that made it go away? Or did he know a way to shield against it? If he could do that again, then maybe the book would be readable and he could figure out the problem on his own.
Jongho looked up, and found Draco's eyes across the hall, as if he already knew that Jongho would search him out at some point. All of his friends had agreed to meet at the special room of requirement in times of need, and the hideout in worst case scenario's. But it was supposed to be extreme need only - not for gathering information.
As if Hermione knew what the two of them were thinking, she grabbed Draco's face and pulled him closer. She had been awkward with the displays of affection at first, but now after a few days, it looked pretty natural.
And it pissed off Ron to no end. He scoffed, and soon enough was snogging his own new-found partner at the end of the table.
Jongho rolled his eyes. If only Ron knew what trouble Hermione had landed into; that she was forced to put on an act to make sure they weren't in danger. For once, Ron and Harry seemed to be having a blissful time at school. Quidditch trials were coming up, classes were fun and exciting, and the wizarding world had seemed to sigh in relief. But Hermione didn't have that same normalcy, and they had no idea.
But it felt mean to ruin their peace until they knew what was going on. Or maybe his friends already knew and it was just Jongho who didn't. In either case, Hermione didn't want any of them to say something.
He sighed, and Mingi patted him on the back. They shared a shaky smile, and went back to eating.
Just then, a voice projected through the castle. "All students will report to the great hall for the opening ceremony," it said.
Opening ceremony? Wait - could they mean the Triwizard tournament? Jongho had seen the ministry personnel around the castle, but he thought that it would still be at least a full week before they had anything ready to announce. This was super fast.
As if a floodgate was opened, people came running into the hall and others scampered to their respective house tables. Hermione came over to sit beside Jongho without a word, but beneath the table she took his hand and squeezed it tight. This arrangement was taking its toll on her, too. They'd have to figure out what was going on soon. She gave him a strained smile that said she also thought the same.
When the hall had filled, and the professors were all gathered at the front of the room alongside the Ministry personnel, professor McGonagall stepped to the podium and called for silence.
"Thank you for gathering so quickly," she said. "Now as you may have noticed, the hall has been enlarged on the inside to create extra room." Everyone looked around as she said this because none of them had actually noticed. Jongho had thought something seemed different, but he hadn't been able to place it exactly. But now as he looked, there was indeed a lot more space on the ground floor of the room. The second floor access was still roped off.
"This is to make room for our guests, who will spend the entire year with us as exchange students. Instead of staying in their own special accommodations, the castle has created dormitories in the new houses where all of them will be staying. And as such, our great hall also needs room to accommodate them."
As she finished saying this, she waved her wand and two new tables materialized in the hall. Jongho and Hermione shared a look. Only two? There were three new affiliation houses.
"But to make sure that they feel welcome, we've decided to change the house tables for the year." She waved her wand again, and the affiliation house colors populated across the different tables. The two new ones she added were just for extra room across the already existing ones.
"So if you'll please move to your affiliated house tables, we will invite our guests in for their sorting and open the Triwizard Tournament!"
A wave of grumbles went out across the hall, but everyone got up to follow her instructions. Hawthorne, thankfully, was at the table Jongho was already at, so he didn't have to move. His friends and Draco came to join them. Ron shot Hermione a dirty look as he headed off, while Harry and Ginny seemed worried instead. Wooyoung was separated from Darcy - it looked like she was a member of Birch, instead - but he sat with some new friends at the end of the Hawthorne table.
He didn't even so much as blink in the direction of his old friends. Mingi balled his fists, and Jongho felt the shock. San refused to look at anything except the table in front of him.
Sure enough once the noise died down again, the great hall doors opened and new people came filing in wearing great thick cloaks - Durmstrang! It had to be. Their headmistress walked tall and proud, leading a group of at least 50 students. Did all of them plan to put their name in the competition this year, or were some of them here for moral support? Jongho wasn't sure, but he was curious about the details.
One by one, they were sorted into the three affiliated houses and joined the different tables. When the last of them sat down, more people filed into the hall. Blue silk - that had to be Beauxbatons, then? There had to be at least 50 of them, too.
As everyone was finally sorted and seated, McGonagall took the podium once more. "Now. Prefects in the various affiliations, I am counting on you to lead our guests to their new accommodations this evening after the opening ceremony feast. Once they arrive there, they will find their own maps and schedules, but they are depending on you to show them the way and help them integrate into the castle tonight!"
Some of the prefects made cheers, and a few people joined them from the Hawthorne table, but it was clear that no one else was too keen on the affiliations just yet.
McGonagall continued. "As for the Triwizard tournament, I am proud to announce that every student in this hall is eligible to compete. And moreover, we've changed some of the guidelines." The hall went entirely silent as everyone focused on her words. "Two students from each school will be selected, as this proved to be an excellent idea in the past, albeit an accidental one," she said and looked pointedly at Harry.
He ducked his head as if he didn't really want to remember the experience.
"You must submit your name for consideration into the blue flame by no later than one week from today. If you are selected and there is an error, you will have 30 minutes to decide if you will accept the selection or would like to remove your candidacy. Once this time has passed, you will be locked into the tournament unless your life is at risk during a task."
Whispers broke out along Hawthorne table. "Not likely that anyone would back out," people snickered. Hermione scowled at them. Jongho squeezed her hand in silent support.
"And while the tasks themselves have been carefully arranged, we also recognize the potential for extreme danger. All candidates will be taught a specific spell that will remove them from the competition and immediately cast a protective shield around themselves should they find themselves in mortal danger. This magic will function anywhere in the world," she said and again looked pointedly at Harry, "no matter where someone should end up, during the competition."
Whispers broke out around the hall, but McGonagall continued as if she didn't hear them. "And moreover, ministry personnel will carefully oversee all tasks and be present to provide extra security at all times during the school year. With all of that said..." she said and waved her wand again. The Triwizard flame cup appeared next to her podium on it's own supportive column. "I am delighted to announce that the Triwizard Tournament - a tournament to mark the renewal of the wizarding world, and a commitment to safety and collaboration between future generations - is now open and accepting names for consideration!"
The blue flame sprang to life, and not a pin could be heard in the hall.