It was not the time to channel Machiavelli, she soon learned.
To say Ava was having mixed feelings would be an understatement. As she stood on the slippery, wet dock overlooking the glossy black surface of the Great Lake, she knew with a complete sense of finality that everything was about to change. She could see the mighty towers of the Hogwarts castle towering in the distance, calling for her to return to the warm embrace of its sheepskin couches and her ancient, four-poster bed with green silk hangings. It took all of her willpower to lift her chin up and shove her feelings aside. Now is not the time to be a baby, she thought to herself. I was chosen, I am capable, and most importantly I’m a serpent - I go for experiences that others are too afraid to go, she reminded herself.
She sized up the other Hogwarts champions, all three stationed by her side. She did not know any of them, they were barely acquainted; so she thought, Can I trust them with this and possibly, my life?
As Headmistress Mercier began to speak, she felt her heartbeat thundered in her chest. “Hello Champions, are you ready? We’ll begin in 2 minutes. You can take this time to give a pep talk or discuss strategy.”
A champion named Eric Nohr; a burly, brunette boy with glowing amber eyes exclaimed, “I am ready as ever! I truly think we’ve got this down pat.”
Ava could barely restrain herself from snorting - she couldn’t believe that this boy was taking this so lightly. Squinting, she could almost see a small, a golden lion etched on red pin embedded on his swimming tank. She couldn’t believe her luck, Gryffindors are certainly not very dependable when it comes to magic, and they tend to favor daring boldness than focal intelligence. A Gryffindor, she thought, so can I panic now?
Headmistress Mercier continued, “Make Hogwarts proud! Here’s a hint for you: expect the unexpected and be prepared in any situation!”
“Okay, this is only slightly terrifying.” A Ravenclaw girl named Emerett, possibly the same age as her, quipped. She gave a genuine reassuring smile to the group. This made Ava felt better, she definitely needed someone with a ready, sharp mind.
She gripped at the string bag that was looped around her toned arms. This was it, she thought. Everything that I - we - need to survive is right here.
“Once the sparks fire, dive into the water. Take any steps necessary to keep yourself breathing and able to talk to one another first.” Headmistress Mercier urged. Red sparks were then shot from the tip of her wand, and Ava dived head first into the lake, her nerves hardening like steel.
The coldness of the water chilled her to the bone. It felt like her skin was pierced by hundreds of silver daggers simultaneously. She quickly performed the bubble head charm, and it seemed to calm her down as she tried to cunningly assess the current situation.
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