Meeting with the Champions

(As the headmaster was not creating this thread, I have decided to do so. Roleplay your character as if they are already in the room.]

Antanas Zukauskas glared at the champions briefly, before turning his gaze expectantly towards the ministry officials, who would, no doubt explain the tasks to them. He himself did not quite know what the tasks would be about, but he wanted to figure that out soon. Of course, the headmasters of the schools would not be able to help their champion directly, but Zukauskas didn't have any intention to follow those rules. He wanted Durmstrang to win more than anything. After all, if the Durmstrang Champion would win it would not only bring glory to the school but to Antanas as well.

He was rather glad that the Goblet of Fire had chosen Danica as the champion. She or Zhanna had been the two students he had hoped would represent Durmstrang. Antanas, of course, always kept a close eye on his students and from that he knew that Prazak was a confident and talented student. With some guidance he didn't see any reason that she would not win the tournament. Certainly she had far more potential then the other two champions, both of whom had failed to impress him at all.

Surprise didn't even begin to cover it. Of course, Danica had hoped to become champion for Durmstrang; she wouldn't be here if she thought it was impossible, it was just that she'd always thought her peers were just as likely to be picked. Most of them, anyway.

Danica didn't flinch under the High Master's glare. He often glared, and it wasn't like he was the most cheerful person when he didn't. Instead, she turned her attention to her two competitors. The flame haired Hogwarts Champion she remembered cavorting on the lakeshore when they'd arrived. She was the one responsible for the fireworks, wasn't she? The Beauxbatons Champion, on the other hand, was someone Danica couldn't remember ever seeing before, though she must have been here just as long as Danica had.

Jack was leaning against the wall in the small room she, the other champions, the headmasters, and the ministry workers were in, her heart finally slowing down. She did not know why she had been so anxious for the announcement. Somehow, she had known that she would win. The only other person she thought might beat her had been Amelia, and even then, she was not sure intelligence would cover it too. You had to have the willingness to stick your neck out there. Jack had known she would get it.

Still, she could not help but feel awesome as she examined the others. Two other girls. The Beauxbatons one seemed sort of girly, which may give Jack the advantage- she realized it was Selene, one of those she had greeted. She nodded to herself, reminding herself of the conversation. The Durmstrang student, however, was rather unfamiliar but Jack was impressed with her stoic stance. Perhaps Jack would have competition after all...

She reminded herself that overconfidence would not get her the places it got her at Hogwarts. Just because it happened to work here, did not ensure that it would be enough to help her win the tournament. She would actually have to try. She crossed her arm, looking nonchalant though she did smirk, and her eyes looked for whoever would be leading this little meeting.

Selene walked into the room and felt herself trying to swallow past a lump in her throat. Jack Dyllans, and Danica Prazak. Danica... well Selene found herself over looking the Durmstrang Girl. An all girl's tournament though... but Selene let her eyes rest on the figure of Jack Dyllans. This girl was her match, this was the girl she would have to beat. Well of course unless that Danica person showed she was a worthy match. Selene felt an uncomfortable twisting in her stomach and she flicked her hair out of her face. "'ello." She said breaking the silence for the first time. "We are all 'ere now I zink." She said and flicked her hair again. Nervous habit, but now that she was actually seeing the other champions, and knowing that SHE was a Champion... well, it was unnerving her.

She would win of course. She had to, she hadn't really known WHO would have won from her school. Claire had looked so promising, but obviously Selene had been chosen by the Goblet. Selene wasn't really going to lie to herself though, she knew she was going to win. She had known it in her very soul. The other champions.. well they were wanting it, but just, not as much as she had been. She had thrown herself into her studies at Beauxbatons for her final year. Made sure she knew everything she could. From healing spells, to how to knock someone down, and not just using the simple easy spells. Gusts of wind, odd vines creeping up under their feet. Selene was the master at dueling someone, and using spells that they wouldn't see coming.

Selene felt herself twitch a bit for a second and then she let her hands rest at her side. She was here, she was a champion, she was actually here. Up against the other champions, and she knew that the moment the names had been drawn, the test had begun. The tasks didn't take place only during the tasks, the second the champions were called, they were already fighting against each other. Learning about each other, observing their moods, their tones, how they acted. Selene had done some inside looking at Jack Dyllan, but Danica had been overlooked slightly. Not because she wasn't interesting or anything, but because Selene had a thing against Durmstrangs... they always seemed so cold to her, and Jack was very nice. But that no longer mattered. Sure they were supposed to be 'friends' but how do you make friends when you pit one student from each school against each other? It didn't seem right... but anyway. Jack Dyllan... Selene found herself staring and tore her eyes away from her, only to look at the other girl. Danica seemed to be unflinching and strong. Maybe she SHOULD have watched the Durmstrang students a bit better... Selene flicked her hair again and stood up straight, like her Headmistress would have wanted her to. She held her head high and stared around the room, as though daring anyone to think she was weak.

The French headmistress looked at the champions. A tournament of ladies this year. That would be quite interesting indeed. She had never seen such a thing in her knowledge of its history. She saw them all as being very worthy, at least upon first appearances. She could just see now what the wizarding newspapers would say of the first group of all female challengers. She looked forward to reading the reviews. And she hoped that miserable Skeeter woman from the last tournament had at the very least retired. They didn't need any more hassles from someone of her ilk snooping about.

Of course, she fully believed Selene had as good a chance, if not better than any of them. The Goblet's choice pleased her, and Anaise believed she had the makings of a champion or she would not have brought her in the first place.

"Congratulations, Ladies," Headmistress Benoit said. "And best of luck to you all. It looks like this will be very exciting indeed." She liked the confidence they all exuded. By what Madame Benoit knew of the tournament, it would take all their confidence and then some. Confidence alone would not get them through, but it certainly was a good start.

She did not know what special abilities the other champions had that had caused the Goblet to choose them, but she knew the Goblet never disappointed. Her greatest fear, that she refused to speak, was that the tournament itself had a very bloody history right from its outset. Students had repeatedly died during this event. She, for one, was not in the mood to lose any of these beautiful young women this year, but she knew it was always a very real possibility.

Doyle limped downward from his office into the Great Hall, late, as usual. He looked at them all and grinned. ''Ah, I see we have the Soviet and the French here, isn't this a lovely post-Communism meeting right here in my school? Jolly good!'', he said walking towards them.

He looked at his two colleagues, their champions and tapped Jack on the head. ''Aye there, captain Sparrow! Look, all of you, and look carefully because you are dealing with the fiercest and most dangerous pirate around... or, wait. no... you're not actually a pirate, right?'', he said, looking at Jack.

Wearing his usual suit, without any formal clothing, he jumped on top of his desk and looked at them all. ''Now, I understand that I am the only male here? I mean, you are too, but you're Lithuanian, does that really count? I mean, Lithuania is like Wisconsin, no one thinks they're important.... they consider them a major conspiracy theory. Now, being the only male here, although that fact has nothing to with what I am planning on saying, I understand that we are having a meeting of some sort here? Can anyone... explain? Briefly of course, I hate to ruin something important, it this meeting is something like that!'', he said.