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Beyond Belief
Author: Melchior
Date: 08-22-10 20:40
I had to say that I honestly couldn't believe it.
When I had first entered Diagon Alley through the Leaky Cauldron, I thought that it all must have been one big joke. Johanna's letter had told me the details of how to enter the alley, so I thought that when the bricks started moving and the alleyway appeared, that she would suddenly jump out and say "Gotcha!" But she was nowhere to be found in the long beaten road. I wasn't sure what to do, but I knew that it would be better to play along then to just stand in the doorway of a pile of self-moving bricks. So I pulled out my school supply list and took a look around the place. The first thing I noticed was that everyone was dressed in robes. I glanced at the list and saw that I would have to buy some too. I hunted down the robe shop where I met a nice old woman who immediately began suiting me in robes with the same crest as the one stamped on the back of the Hogwarts letter. There were a few other people about my age who went in and out of the shop, none of them Johanna. It didn't take the woman long to finish; but when she asked for payment, she wouldn't take the money I had. She stripped me of my robes and pointed out the wizarding bank, where I could get my money exchanged for wizard money. I thought that Johanna might have been overdoing it, to have made up her own currency just for a joke, but I shrugged and went along with it.
Gringott's. For as long as I live, I would never forget the name of this bank. I would also never forget the creatures that ran the place. They referred to themselves as goblins, and that was an accurate description of the monsters too. Thinking about them now still sends shivers down my spine. They were rude too. They weren't too eager to help me with my troubles, and always had a snide remark to say. But I didn't think it wise to talk back with them, so I held my tongue.
I was so caught up in everything that was happening that I slipped into this strange state of taking everything in without thinking. And, actually, I began to have fun. It was amusing to see all of the interesting people walking down the streets, running the shops-the most interesting being Mr. Ollivander-,and even the people buying the items that were up for grabs. In a sense, everything around me made perfect sense, but in another sense, everything was completely foreign. I got lost in a world of joy and overwhelming. Soon, I was smiling merrily as I left the alley with my new school supplies dripping off of me. The people in the pub that I had entered through barely glanced at me as I made my way to the nearest pay phone to tell my mom to come pick me up.
I hadn't known what to make of that day, but the day at King's Cross blew that one out of the water. Everything had seemed normal. And that was the problem. The letter had told me to arrive at King's Cross and get on Platform 9 3/4. The only problem was that it didn't exist. I walked between Platforms 9 and 10 about thirty times before stopping three fourths of the way through Platform 9 and staring intently at the spot. I didn't know what I was looking for. Some kind of magic vortex to appear and take me to this 'fascinating' school? Absentmindedly, I began looking at the people walking around the station. None of them were dressed like the people I had seen in Diagon Alley, not a single one. But there was someone. A boy about my age carrying about as much as I was. I watched him curiously as he pulled his large bundle along. My eyes widened as he seemed to run straight into the Platform 9 wall. I raced over to see if he was all right and found him gone. My brow furrowed, thinking. Maybe I was going crazy, or maybe the kid was onto something. I ran back to grab my baggage, and then placed myself a few meters away from the wall. I stared at the bricks. They looked pretty painful. I gulped, closed my eyes, and walked straight forward. I anticipated the feeling of cold, hard brick to hit my in the face at any second. All I got was a sudden change in atmosphere. I felt a breeze blowing against my face as the sounds around me changed completely. I opened my eyes to find a train that I had never seen before. Up above, it read Platform 9 3/4. I smiled.
The conductor of the train made us all aware that it would be leaving soon and that we had better get on now. I hurried to get onto the train, eager to see what could possibly be in it. I felt the same sense of unbelief that I had felt in Diagon Alley overcome me again as I entered the train and found a few kids already wearing the robes with the Hogwarts crest. I walked down the aisle and poked in at every train compartment. I noticed that everyone in robes where wearing different colors. I couldn't help wondering if that meant something. What if it meant that there was some kind of ranking system at this school, no color being the lowest? And what if I ended up never getting a color? I began looking frantically down the aisle, wanting desperately to grab someone and make them tell me what all this meant. Then, there was Johanna.
"Hey Melchior!" she said, smiling. "Glad you could make it." I tilted my head as I looked at her. It felt like there was a sudden shift, not just because the train had started moving, but also because I had been wanting to see Johanna and pump her for all of the answers that I had been seeking, but I suddenly found myself speechless. I did manage to open my mouth, however, only to end up closing it again. After a few moments of awkward silence, Johanna grabbed my hand and cleared her throat, leading me down the aisle. "Your cousins, Luke, Evelyn, and Edger are down this way. I'm sure that they'll be happy to meet you." She smiled back at me as she lead me further down the train until we hit a compartment with three people occupying it. This must have been the cousins. Johanna introduced us and then called me a 'muggle born.' Wow, was I given a nerdy nickname that fast? I think that's a new record. The cousins seemed all right though. We were able to carry on conversation for quite a while, most of my comments being, "What's that?" and "Huh?" I felt like such an idiot. It was like they were trying to talk to me about an epic fiction novel that I had never read before. I felt completely out of the loop. Eventually I found myself looking out the window blankly, Still trying to wrap my head around anything. It seemed like there was one important fact about all of this that would make everything make sense, have it all snap into place. But I just couldn't grasp the concept.
The train shook to a halt and all of the students started to get off. I followed, my luggage in tow, and took a look around the cobblestone platform. It was so dark that I could barely see anything. But I did see a gigantic man with a long beard and odd accent herding all of the first years around him. Understandably, I was kind of terrified of the guy, so I dawdled and looked around for Johanna. She saw me, smiled, and waved me over towards the giant. I took a deep breath and took a place at the very edge of the group of first years that had gathered around the man already. After a few minutes, he told us to follow him. We did so, and he lead us to a few boats all neatly laid out for us. We got in the boats, as he instructed us to, and began heading towards a site that I would never forget.
It was a castle. A castle on a hill. A castle on a hill surrounded by a lake and woods. It was a thing of absolute beauty. There was something mystic about the site. Magical. Then, it hit me. Magic. That was the cause and effect of everything that had happened. This could all be happening because of magic. It didn't need a reason, because it didn't have one. It was magic! I beamed up at the castle, looking forward to the next oddity that was going to be thrown my way. Anxiety overflowed me as the boats sailed into a cave. All of us got out and made our way to a door being blocked by a thin woman with spectacles. She introduced herself as Professor McGonagall, then she explained that the school had four houses, and then about some kind of points system that sounded like an interesting system of award/disciplinary measures. Whatever happened to gold stars?
She walked into the school, all of us in tow. I couldn't stop staring at all of the walls, not because of the bricks, but because of the pictures. How could you not stare at them. They moved! No, seriously, they moved. Who wouldn't stare at that all day?
Professor McGonagall lead us into a grand room, rightfully named the Great Hall. The room had four long tables, stretching across it before ending with another long table that stretched the length of the room sideways. The older students sat at the four tables, all tables wearing a different color, and what must have been the teachers sat at the odd table out. I looked up and saw the starlit night above my head, but no breeze to go with it. I realized that it must have been some spell to show the sky above us. We walked down the long hall to a beaten up old hat sitting on a stool. Was this the Sorting Hat that Professor McGonagall mentioned earlier? I realized that it must have been as the hat suddenly came to life and began to sing. After it's tune, Professor McGonagall called all of us up, one-by-one, and put the sorting hat on our heads. It would be silent a moment, then shout out a nonsensical name of what must have been the houses of the school. My heart skipped a beat as she called out my name. I tried my best to breath evenly as I approached the hat and sat on the stool. Professor McGonagall placed the hat on my head. Suddenly, there was another voice in my head.
Hmm...where to put you. You seem to be a very clever boy. Better be..."RAVENCLAW!"
The last word was screamed at the top of the hat's lungs, or brim, or whatever. Professor McGonagall took the hat off as a group of students wearing blue began cheering and waving me over. I walked over slowly, unsure of how they could be so easily welcoming. I took a seat at the first available place, and continued to watch the sorting of the rest of the students. There were quite a few after me, but not as much as I would have wished. I wanted to make this moment last forever. I felt like I was part of a group, cheering when we got a new student, and booing whenever they were sorted into one of the other houses.
Soon, though, all of the students were sorted and an old man with a long white beard at the head of the teachers table stood to speak. He welcomed us all and then talked about this interesting game called 'Quidditch.' I think one of Johanna's cousins had mentioned that name on the train ride here. I think. Then he made us stand and sing the school song. I wasn't very sure of the words, but apparently they had prepared for that. A ribbon with the words written on them appeared. I read them to the tune of 'Jingle Bells,' seeing as there wasn't a tune, but it was a song. Then there was the feast. All kinds of food that I had never laid eyes on before appeared at the plates on the tables in front of us. All of the other students dug in. I smiled and took in the atmosphere. I finally belonged somewhere. Somewhere that was amazing, unbelievable, and beautiful at the same time. Unaware, I had been looking at a girl at the table where all the students wore green. Slytherin, I think. The girl returned my gaze, which only caused me to break my concentration. I drew my attention back to my table, still smiling. If I couldn't belong somewhere normal, I was happy to belong somewhere beyond belief.
(Edgar) Adaptation
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 08-23-10 09:46
Edgar had been distracted by Dumbledore’s speech and the news of the upcoming Quidditch tournament. He even thought he might show up at the try outs, you’ll never know if you could get lucky. But once again he felt Evelyn’s eyes on him and he understood the mess he was in. This wasn’t supposed to happen! He always thought from all the houses, Gryffindor wasn’t the right one for him.
However Edgar was feeling very well among his new colleagues and roommates. He found out Hunter Green also had a twin sister, and that Madoc was a McGonagall. Not to mention having Luke beside him gave Ed this feeling of security, that was helping him to feel even better.
“Aren’t you enjoying the food?” A girl next to him asked, with a shy voice.
“No. It’s really good. I’m just a bit tense that’s all.”
“Oh don’t worry about losing points. I’m pretty sure I’ll lose them too. Not on purpose, but I’m a bit clumsy and I tend to arrive late all the time…” The girl now seemed a bit down too.
Edgar smiled to her.
“I’ll help you not to get late, or forget your things.”
She smiled, happy.
“Thank you! I’m Alcmene Acker by the way. What’s your name?”
“Edgar Steele.”
“Nice to meet you Edgar.”
The two of them started to chat for a while. Alcmene was from a big family of wizards and witches and she was the first of her siblings to come to Hogwarts. Suddenly Alcmene asked Edgar:
“Er…why is that girl looking at you like she wants to kill you?”
Ed sighed. It was Evelyn again. Why wouldn’t she stop? There was nothing he could do about what happened so she didn’t had to look at him like this had been his entire fault. And it wasn’t like he was being tortured at the Gryffindor’s table. In fact more and more Edgar felt one of them. It just made sense. Plus his sister had been the one who always wanted to be in Slytherin, not him. She had nothing to complain about.
“It’s my twin sister, Evelyn. But don’t worry about her.” He assured to Alcmene.
“Hey Ed, do you still have all those Slytherin’s scarves your mom sent you?”
Ed blushed a little because some pair of eyes looked at him curious.
“Yes, they are in my trunk. But I don’t know what I’m going to do to them anymore since obviously I haven’t been sorted into Slytherin.” He answered to Luke.
“I know exactly what we can do to him. I heard we are going to learn how to burn things. Incendio, that’s the charm’s name. My mom is always saying she will use it to burn my feet if I don’t hurry when we need to go to somewhere and we’re getting late.” He laughed.
“So we are burning the scarves? I might just give him to Ev, that would be easier I guess…”
“Nah, let’s use them to practice when the time comes.” Luke stated, keeping chatting with Hunter who was sat in front of him.
Edgar continued his conversation with Alcmene and Madoc joined them. They were trying to guess against what schools Hogwarts would compete, and what were the countries they might travel if they got lucky with the house points. By the time desert arrived he had vanished Evelyn and the Slytherin house from his mind.
Wedding Plans
Author: Furnella Hodfuffer
Date: 08-23-10 20:27
"I know there's still plenty of time before the wedding, but I feel like it's all happening so fast."
"Furnie?"
Vivien taps on the table in front of me. I blink and automatically says, "Sorry." I blink several more times, trying to bring myself back to the moment. "I'm sorry," I say again. "I'm having trouble concentrating tonight."
"You were asked to the Ministry again today, weren't you?"
"Yes, still trying to figure out if I saw Forest or not. We've analyzed everything, right down to attempting to determine what brand his shoes were. They're now in the process of viewing my memory to help identify other people who appear as though they got a good look at him. They're going to be asked to cooperate and maybe with those memories studied in the pensieve, we'll get a clear face view of this man."
"I can't imagine seeing someone I'd finally accepted as dead, especially not someone I cared for like you obviously cared for Forest."
I cast my eyes about to see who's within earshot of the table where Vivian and I are working. Seeing no one I still lower my voice slightly. "Can you keep a secret?"
She grins conspiratorially. "Of course."
"At first, Forest and I only pretended to be dating."
"You what?"
"We were pretending."
"Why in Merlin's name would you do that?"
"We were both extremely tired of everyone around us trying to set us up with other people. When we stumbled onto the fact that we both felt the same way and that our protests were falling on deaf ears to those around us, we decided to team up. If his sister and others thought Forest was seeing someone regularly and if my family thought I was as well, they'd leave us be and let us pick our own dates if we wanted to find anyone to go out with."
"But then you fell for each other."
"We did. The more we saw of each other and got to know each other, the more we both realized we didn't have to have a pretend relationship." I look down at my hands, which I only just now I've clasped tightly together. In a much smaller voice than I intend I sigh, "There's a good chance we would have been married by now if not for ." I don't finish the thought aloud, but then I don't really need to.
Vivian places a comforting hand on top of mine, not saying anything as, really, there's not much to be said. I blink away tears that threaten to drop then after another second or two, I collect myself and look up with a smile. "There's a wedding at hand to be discussed. What were you saying when I zoned out?"
Vivien gives my hands one more gentle, comforting squeeze before pulling back. "Just that there's still plenty of time before the wedding but everything still feels rushed."
"Maybe that's because Jewel and Bailey's wedding is no longer just at some vague future date."
"I think that's part of it. If I'm like this with Jewel, I can well imagine how awful it's going to be when I'm twenty years older and Cassandra's wanting to get married. At least I just adore Bailey. How bad this would be if I didn't like him? Or if Virgil didn't for that matter."
"Bailey is an exceptional young man. I think we can all be greatful he doesn't take after his parents but then, if he did, I doubt Jewel would have wanted to date him to begin with."
"I think you're right there. You know, I really thought they'd be back by now."
"If they want to take part in sampling possible menu items for their reception, they'd better be here soon," I reply, though it's more in jest since Jewel knows they can do that pretty much anytime as long as I have enough notice for the kitchen to prepare.
"We're here. We're here," Jewel says, rushing into the room where Vivien and I have been working, which is the room where the wedding and reception will be held. "Sorry we're running a tiny bit behind. Cassandra was so excited watching the Hogwarts Express arrive and all the students piling off, then the boats and carriages going up to the school that we stayed to watch, then Bailey and Phin wanted to stop in to see a new broom on display at Viktor's and ended up having Cassandra on one of those cute little brooms for children her age."
Vivien looks past Jewel to the door. "Where are they now?"
"Cassandra was having such fun on the little broom that we were having trouble getting back out the door. Viktor ended up loaning the broom to us so Bailey and Phin walked on either side of her, guiding the broom from the shoppe to here. They should be here any time now."
I get up saying as I rise, "Then I'll go get the first platter of samples."
I pass the boys and the future Quidditch player in training, the not quite 3 year old Cassandra, who's laughing uproariously to the point that all the diners they pass can't help but joining in. By the time I walk into the kitchen, I'm chuckling as well, the heavy mood since going to the Ministry today finally lightening.
Conversations over Food
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 08-24-10 08:10
Isma, Blake, Eric, and a few other Gryffindors were talking about the up and coming Qudditch trials, which of course Isma and Blake were both going to try out for. Most likely Isma for Seeker again, and Blake for either Beater or Keeper - though he was leaning toward Beater again as he really liked the position last year. Eric was debating on trying out as well, but again had ultimately decided against it, but promised that he would come as a spectator when they went on away games (which meant that all three of them would have to be on their BEST behavior).
After the sorting ceremony a total of five new students, including someone with the same last name as Professor McGonagall - all of them suspected some sort of distant relation, but that didn't matter at the moment. For now, there was mounds and mounds of food to sample, and soon it would be replaced with mounds and mounds of sweets that would partially vanish into the hungry (and slowly filling) stomachs of students and staff alike.
Isma shifted, and turned her attention to the group of first years that had been talking about a few things - only catching half the conversation, as she'd been paying attention to (partially anyway) Calliope Quinn recount some event that had transpired over the summer involving a boy she's so majorly crushing on. "Am not sure, there are so many schools that are possibilities, like Beaubaxtons and Durmstrang, and a few others and that's just in Europe, not counting any schools that are in Aisa or in the Americas you know?" Isma said, and the conversation once more shifted to Quidditch, and the good professional teams to follow, and the up and coming tryouts for the School team. It will definitely be an interesting experience not having the house teams this year.
Son of a... Gotta Love a Great Guy
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 08-24-10 08:21
Orei slammed down the lid of the hope chest at the foot of her bed and massaged her temples. "Where in the bloody hell is it?" She asked aloud to the empty room which looked like a hurricane had made its way through. She'd no doubt get an earful from the house elf, but right now she did not care. So lost in her thoughts was she, that she didn't realize Jim had come in from his shift at the ice cream parlor in Diagon Alley.
"What's wrong?" He asked, sliding his arms around her and pulling her to him.
"I can't find the translation I brought home last night, and have to have to Christian in the legal department in like an hour." She said, frustration lacing every word that slid past her lips.
He pressed a kiss to her neck. "I'm assuming you didn't get the note I left you this morning, on the pillow that said I owled it to him this morning, after I watched you finish it last night." He said, and she turned to stare at him and had been about to yell at him, when he kissed her to stave off argument that would have started.
"Now. Shall we go to dinner? I have reservations for us at the most adorable little muggle place in London, now that the village has quieted out and all the students are at Hogwarts for the gloriously, gluttonous Start of Term Feast..." He said and laughed when she swatted his chest.
"Let me shower and change, and we can be off." She kissed him and slipped into the shower, and soon came out dressed in a floral skirt and spaghetti strap shirt in a jade green, with a button down shirt left open and tied lightly at her hips.
"Let's go." She said and they apparated to Diagon Alley and soon were out on the streets of London after leaving The Leaky Cauldron.
(Kate) Dessert
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 08-24-10 17:56
By now, Kate was stuffed to the brim but she hadn't yet had her fill of dessert. The problem at every Hogwarts feast was that there were too many delicious choices, and her stomach simply wasn't big enough to handle it all. Maybe she could sneak a slice of cake back to her dorm room.
Overall, she had had a very good summer. Kate hadn't gone on any trips or done anything particularly exciting; it had just been nice, long and relaxing. Her father even took off work for an entire week to just laze around with her, which was loads of fun. Kate was really close to her dad and was glad to spend any time with him, especially when she hardly saw him during the school year.
Not once did she see or even think of Mark Farnon, which suited her just well enough. Out of sight, out of mind, as the saying went. Of course, that all changed when she boarded the Hogwarts Express and got invited by Felicia Flaversham to sit in a compartment comprising not only of Felicia but Johanna, Gus and none other than Mark as well. At least she didn't have to sit next to him or talk to him either. He avoided her like the plague, which again suited her just fine.
Kate wasn't sure if she'd made any vast changes in appearance over the summer, but Gus certainly had. She still only thought of him as a friend, but he'd gotten very good looking since the beginning of July when she'd seen him last. Even Mark had changed, but not as drastically as Gus.
Looking around the Great Hall, she noticed that others had grown up over the summer too. And just about all of the returning students looked bigger than the first years, who seemed so very small in comparison.
Kate felt a little isolated being at the Hufflepuff table, when Gus and the girls were at the Slytherin table. She considered them all her friends, though she wasn't sure what she could consider Mark, who sat with them at the table. He was concentrating hard on his dessert and looked up only to meet eyes with Gus, Felicia or Johanna as they talked about something or other. She wondered if they were talking about the new Quidditch tourney, and whether Mark would still want to play beater like he had for the house team.
She realized she was thinking too much about him and turned to the person next to her, her roommate Wilhelmina.
"I imagine the feast will be ending soon," Kate said, somewhat saddened by the prospect since they were always good fun and she still hadn't managed to eat everything she wanted yet.
"Probably," Wilhelmina agreed. She looked around to pick out the prefects wearing the shiny silver badges but so far all the Hufflepuff ones were still seated partaking in dessert and friendly discussions.
Kate kept up a conversation with Wilhelmina, in part because her roommate was a nice girl, but also because she really wanted to keep her mind off of a certain someone sitting at the Slytherin table.
Wenlock Roundup
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 08-24-10 19:56
With all the excitement of the Start of Term Feast, Niccola is still wide awake when everyone is trying to find room for just one more bite of dessert. She's really had a blast sitting with other children and from the way she kept throwing kisses at Georgie Weasley all evening, in a few short years I might have to politely tell George and Majandra that our kids can't hang out together anymore. I mention this aloud and everyone finds it amusing and while it is, at the same time I'm really not looking forward to when Niccola is going to want to date. That will be true of any daughters Saffron and I have and it will be true of any sons we might have. Hell, I'm finding it difficult to accept that the little boy I first met that day I stumbled into Diagon Alley is now 16 with a girlfriend of several months now and that his brother is going to be married before the year is over. It's even sort of hard accepting the fact that Sage has been a Hogwarts graduate for a year already. Where has the time gone?
Over at the Hufflepuff table, cousins Marlow MacDougal and Eden Jenkins are chatting away with those around them, both happy with their house placements and happy to have ended up together and wish that Heather Rabnott were with them. Eden's brother Jasper can't decide if he's happy or not to have his baby sister in the same house with him. Jasper likes his sister well enough he supposes but she is, afterall, his baby sister and who wants one of those hanging around in the same common room? Glancing over at the Ravenclaw table, it strikes Jasper for the first time how with the awful away Alastor acted all last term that it's a good thing he was sorted into Hufflepuff. He's not sure he could have handled being around Alastor more than he was.
At the Gryffindor table, Jill Prewitt is thinking it's too bad neither Marlow, Eden, nor Heather were sorted into Gryffindor. It might have been nice to have one of her younger - female - cousins in the same house to be able to better help out. Sitting directly across from her is Hunter Rabnott. Hunter isn't in the least bit concerned about where the two newest Hogwarts students of the large Wenlock family ended up because he's been far too busy talking about the Quidditch tournament, speculating on who will make the team and what other schools are involved, and with eating. He's eaten and eaten and eaten and has no idea where he'll put more but there are some desserts he's not sampled yet and he's determined to do so even if it means being so full now he won't want breakfast or lunch tomorrow.
His brother Hadrian, at the Ravenclaw table, is deep in conversation with Daniel Gelson, Alastor Jenkins, Deak Bennett, Jack Emerson, and a few others about the Quidditch tournament. Just down from them Hunter's and Hadrian's younger sister Heather is sitting next to Jade Green. Heather's been around Jade several times and while Jade's always been friendly she never came across as wanting to become fast friends. She still isn't but Heather can tell that Jade's already lonely for her twin, Hunter, who was sorted into Gryffindor. Liannah MacDougal, meanwhile, is secretly glad that Marlow got sorted into a different house but feels guilty for being glad about it.
At the Slytherin table, Alexa Wenlock and Olive Green are talking both about the Quidditch tournament and how Jade and Hunter Green ended up in separate houses. That is until Thalia Brown says to Alexa, "I've always wondered, what is the relation between you and the ones you refer to as the Wenlock cousins?"
Alexa explains, "We each have a grandparent is who related. Those grandparents are brothers and sisters. So all of us have the same great grandparents of Jasper and Amorica Wenlock. Or had as that particular great grandfather died years ago. All of us but Deak and Drake Bennett that is. Or Sage Porter."
"Sage is Professor Sacheverelle's brother. So he's not a cousin at all, right?"
"Right."
"But why not Deak and his brother?"
"Aaron Miller, who's related through his father, who is a sibling to the grandparents I mentioned, isn't related by blood to Deak or Drake. But we consider them family and call them cousins."
"I forgot about Deak not actually being related to Professor Miller. I think I have it all straight now and that you are cousins but not first cousins."
"Yes, that's it."
Thalia looks over to the Gryffindor table where Wiggy Hodfuffer, her current crush, is sitting. "Now, if I can just get who's who among the Hodfuffer's sorted out."
Alexa and Olive grin in agreement, then the three girls discuss school locations they'd like to see and hope are in the Quidditch tournament.