The skies over Kings Cross station carried the last echoes of the Hogwarts Express whistle as the train vanished as Cassius passed his way through the barrier seperating out the wizarding world from the muggle world.
Students waved at on another as they seperated each going their own way.
Parents likewise said goodbye to the other parents making promises to meetup over the summer to let the kids see one another before school started up once more.
The energy was bright, hopeful, noisy.
Cassius Snape felt none of it.
He stood on the platform with his satchel bag, his trunk having already been stored inside after gathering it from the train.
He waved his hand goodbye to the last of the girls whose families had finally arrived to pick them up leaving Cassius alone on the platform.
His mind trailing back to the hogwarts grounds wondering how Serepha was liking her new digs, and just how much the spiders population was declining now that they had a proper natural predator to keep them in check.
"Cassius!"
A familiar, irritatingly cheerful voice called out behind him.
He turned.
Sirius Black jogged down the platform with all the grace of an enthusiastic puppy, long hair whipping behind him, wearing enchanted sunglasses even though the sky was half-clouded.
The man was late to pick him up, but seemed keen to gloss over this fact.
"Ready for Paris, kid?"
His question was a perfect deflection, as much as Cassius wanted to tease his 'guardian' for his lack of keeping time, he couldnt help but want to talk about the upcoming tournament, while holding back big news of his own waiting to spring that on Sirius to get the best possible reaction.
Cassius lifted his travel bag. "Got it all right here, Lupin was kind enough to do some shopping for me while i was away at school seeing as someone else was a little to--."
Sirius slung an arm around him cutting him off not wanting to hear him continue.
"Good. Because you're about to walk into the most ridiculous mess of political nonsense disguised as a sporting event."
Sirius the old dog, wasnt sure how Cassius was aware, but he had gotten back to work in favor of just sitting around the house, but rather than working for the ministry directly he had instead become something like a private Auror for the Arcanum taking bounties from the ministry and getting fairly close to Amelia Bones in the process as he was required to debrief with her after turning in each bounty.
"That's every magical competition," Cassius replied.
He wasnt wrong each national tournament was anotehr way for each nations magical community to flex it muscles afterall.
Sirius barked out a laugh. "Merlin, you're Snape's son alright, bloody infuriating is what you are."
Before Cassius could decide whether to take offense, a small figure approached—Professor Flitwick—dragging a trunk almost twice his size.
"Mr. Snape! Sirius! Are we all set?" Flitwick chirped, beaming. "I've studied the tournament format—oh, the preliminary brackets are beautifully designed! Balanced, elegant—"
"Rigged," Sirius corrected.
"—Yes, well," Flitwick admitted, "perhaps slightly influenced by certain European families with… strong opinions."
Cassius just deadpanned at the openess the two were showing towards blatant favoritism within what should be fair competition.
Flitwick paused, examining him. "You seem calm."
"I am."
"You should be nervous, Cassius," Sirius said, half-joking, half-serious. "Some of the duelists there are monsters. Don't use britain as the standard, thanks to the recent war our power has fallen behind the others—while some of them have been training relentlessly for this chance."
"Let them," Cassius nonplussed.
Sirius groaned. "You're going to give me grey hair."
"You already have grey hair."
"IT'S SILVER," Sirius snapped.
Flitwick coughed politely. "The portkey is prepared. Once we activate it, we'll be in Paris."
Cassius nodded.
But Flitwick hesitated.
"Before we leave, Cassius… I must ask. Are you certain you want to do this? The dueling world is harsh. Political. And you're the youngest competitor in the entire under-sixteen division... the only twelve year old i mean."
Cassius looked down the length of the emptying platform.
The challenge excited him.
The danger made his pulse quicken.
And the thought of facing other prodigies—Fleur Delacour included—ignited something cold and sharp inside his chest, and besides he was only twelve for another two months afterall so he was basically thirteen already.
"I'm certain," he said.
Flitwick smiled, relieved. "Then touch the portkey, all of you."
Sirius placed a hand on the battered kettle.
Flitwick grabbed the spout.
Cassius rested two fingers on the iron rim.
The world bent.
Spun.
Folded in on itself—
And the Kings Cross platform vanished.
~
Paris
The city of lights was a magical city that rival london, the portkey had taken them right within the tournament grounds, Cassius hadnt seen the outside but it was clear spellwork was at play within as the extension charm had clearly been used to make a sizeable contest hall.
Wards above allowed in arrivals coming by brooms or flying carriages, dispelling any enchantments of invisibility to prevent anyone from sneaking in.
Witches and wizards from a dozen nations filled the contest hall like a living tapestry of different colors or life.
Cassius took it all in without awe, sure the sight was impressive but he had see concerts and martial arts tournaments in his past life, compared to this, the Magical world's dueling tournament wasnt much worse.
Sirius whistled. "Well, that's a lot of arrogant wand-wavers."
Flitwick swatted him with a scroll. "Those are respected European officials!"
"And arrogant wand-wavers," Sirius added.
But Cassius's eyes weren't on the crowd.
They were on a balcony overlooking the contest grounds building outside.
A silhouette stood there—tall, unmistakable even at this distance.
Hair silver-white.
Back straight.
Aura unmistakable.
Gellert Grindelwald.
Watching him.
Not approaching.
But smiling nonetheless.
His first teacher present to cheer him on, even if he could not be here in person in his camp as a coach.
Instead he was here just enough to send ripples through the magical world without saying a single word by exposing his still being alive to Europe.
Sirius followed Cassius's gaze.
"Friend of yours?" he asked lightly.
"No," Cassius replied. "Teacher."
Sirius blinked. "…Oh."
Flitwick went pale. "Is— is that— no, that can't be—"
"It is," Cassius said.
Grindelwald lifted one hand in a barely perceptible gesture.
Cassius made no response.
But he understood.
Everything begins now.
Next to him Professor Flitwick was nattering on with machine gun questions about just how Cassius had come into contact with Grindelwald, enough even to call the man his mentor!
Sirius on the other hand, didnt care, Grindelwald was deranged no doubt but having heard about the man growing up from his parents and Lord Black, so having heard his godson had been taken in by a grand magus on par with Dumbledore himself.
~
The Tournament Grounds
Signing up for the tournament itself was pretty simple seeing how Flitwick had already sent in an owl to state the young mans intent to compete.
The contest hall was setup in such a way that the stand on either side had the ability to view the twenty-five 10ftx10ft square raised arenas.
The twenty-five rings would be used for the qualifiers before the arena's were increased in size but reduced in numbers to deal with the offical bracket.
With the nine rings carrying all the fights until only the top eight remained.
Hundreds of flags were being displayed on the walls regaling current and past nations that have participated in this magical competition over the ages.
"Cassius Snape," a uniformed attendant called out as they approached, checking her enchanted roster. "Youngest entrant. British delegation?"
Flitwick puffed up proudly. "Yes, yes, that's us!"
She gestured toward the training halls.
"Welcome, Mr. Snape. Your accommodations are prepared, if you would like to retire and prepare the Qualifiers begin tomorrow at dawn."
Cassius inclined his head.
Sirius leaned in. "No worries lil pup, you'll knock em dead no doubt."
"Well i dont want to reveal all my tricks in the opener." Cassius replied.
Sirius simply cackles in response having spent a good enough time over the christmas break with Cassius to know the boy was practically a battle junkie desiring near endless combat to hone his combat instincts.