Wow! I can't believe that I am starting my fourth year here at Hogwarts! It is crazy to think about how much I have learnt, and how much has changed since I was 11, stepping off that train, and stepping into the magical world in which I now reside.
This summer was pretty exciting, as I got to attend the Quidditch World Cup. I know I'm not all that interested in Quidditch, but still, going to an event as famous as that one is pretty exciting. We all met at the Burrow and travelled to the field by Portkey. A Portkey is such a fascinating invention, I have to say.
Anyways, once we arrived, we set up a magical tent, which had things like a kitchen and a full bathroom and everything in it. Again, a pretty neat idea. Once the game actually started, it was very exciting. We had prime seats, as Mr. Weasley got tickets from his work, so we were up in one of the high boxes. I admit, that I didn't really understand everything, but I did certainly enjoy myself.
As we were heading back to pack up the tents, panic ensued. Someone shot the Dark Mark into the sky, and chaos broke out. There were people running everywhere, and it was kind of scary, I have to admit. A bunch of Ministry officials found us and thought that we were the ones who shot the Dark Mark into the sky. Actually, they sent stunning spells all around and heard something crash not far from where we all were, and one of the officials pulled out an unconscious elf holding a wand. They performed a spell reversal and determined that it was indeed the wand who produced the Mark. It also happened to be Harry's wand that he had apparently dropped earlier. Boys! The house elf was Mr. Crouch's elf, and I could see that she was terrified. We had seen here earlier up in the top box, and the poor thing is terrified of heights! How terrible can Mr. Crouch be to force her to do something she obviously hates? And now! He was so furious with her, even though she continually denied that she had anything to do with it. He then proceeded to fire her! The poor elf! She was inconsolable; I felt so bad for her. Poor Winkie. These house elves get no justice!
And then back to school we headed. We figured that Dumbledore must be making an announcement about the Dark Mark or something because he looked uncharacteristically solemn and serious at the head table. But it was quite unusual. Ludo Bagman, one of the Ministry men was there! But instead, Dumbledore stood up and announced that they were bringing back the Triwizard Tournament. You know, the one they decided to ban because too many students died while participating. Apparently, they made it "safer" because only people older than...seventeen I think could enter. Right. Apparently, if you die when you are older than 17, it doesn't matter. Anyways, it was happening, and we were having Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, the other two major wizarding schools in Europe, coming to visit. It was an exciting time, yet also somewhat scary!
I am just glad that none of the people I know will enter. Fred and George can't, they're too young, along with Harry and Ron of course, and there is no way Percy would. Everyone will be safe, whic is something I am immensely grateful for!
