October thirtieth arrived almost in the blink of an eye.
At breakfast in the Great Hall that morning, they found that it had been decorated overnight. Huge silk banners hung on the walls, the creatures representing the four houses vividly depicted upon them: a badger stood guard, a lion roared, an eagle spread its wings, and a snake lay coiled, flicking its tongue.
Behind the staff table hung the largest banner, bearing the Hogwarts crest: a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake joined together around a capital letter-"H."
When Su Er sat down at the table with Hermione, Fred and George were right beside him. The twins were discussing how the champions would be selected.
"Professor McGonagall just won't tell me," George sighed. "I even got a telling-off for it. She told me to shut my mouth and concentrate on figuring out how to transfigure a raccoon."
"Professor McGonagall has always been dependable," Su Er said with a smile. "Unless she's so pleased with your performance that she treats you like a son."
"Then she might let a little something slip."
"Oh, forget it. Being Professor McGonagall's son?" Fred said with an exaggerated expression. "She'd be on your case every day, making you transfigure all sorts of things."
"Living like that... just thinking about it is terrifying."
"Pfft..." Harry couldn't help laughing at Fred's remarks beside him. He had been looking much happier lately.
"I wonder what tasks the tournament will have," Ron said eagerly too. "I bet we could do it! Think about it-we've done loads of dangerous things... Harry, what do you think?"
"Ha... save it, Little Ronnie. You couldn't beat a single finger of Su Er's," Fred mocked mercilessly. "Speaking of which, Su Er, are you putting your name in?"
"The stands are clearly a