"Let's begin," Tate led Madame Svealand into the room and settled her near a table before pointing along the wall. "There we go... all of you line up right there, wands out. One by one, step forward and hand your wand to Madame Svealand. Tell her where you bought it and what it is made of, and she'll evaluate if the wand is in good condition and ready for battle."

When Tate had called for their attention, and indicated that the actual reason for their being here was about to start, Raiden took a deep breath and followed the man and the wand woman. The flashbulbs had thrown him off a bit, but... well. He was slowly slipping back into that calm, collected demeanour he much preferred to have.

Left hand automatically touching his right wrist, once more, he felt his wand beneath his sleeve. Good, good. Still there. The young man stood against the wall and removed it from the holster, holding it tentatively and hanging back a little, unsure of if he should be the first to approach the woman.

What if something was wrong with it? What if it wasn't in perfect working order? These thoughts circled in his head, and he ran his thumb down the length of the thing. He'd had it for seven years now... what if it was defective and he'd just never noticed?

At least his face wasn't betraying these thoughts. Well... not too much.

And they had to make a line? How medieval.

They could be asked to join when their time was up, no? Or the woman could come to them? Yes, the latter was better.

Well, her wand was in her hand, because this was all about the wand. Perhaps this woman would recognize a Konstantin Fedorov original without the need for Danika to say it out loud?

Fletcher slowly followed the others to the room for the actual weighing of the wands, feeling very full and rather nervous all of a sudden. He had his wand in his hand already because he didn't trust his holster just now and it was somehow a bit comforting to be able to see the wand.

He clutched the smooth, recently polished wood and waited to be called forward or given more directions. Whichever.

Finally. They were going to start the weighing of the wands.

Following in behind the other champions, the young woman flicked her wrist, allowing her wand to slide easily into her hand. She had made sure it was in it's best condition before arriving to the ceremony.

Eyes on Madame Svealand and the Hogwart's Headmaster, she waited for the woman to begin.

Standing in line behind the other Champions, Nikolai eyed the famous wandmaker.

Freja Svealand.

If this lady was as famous as they say she is, why did he have to tell what his wand was made of and where it was bought? The wandmaker should know this information just by glance and maybe touch.

Flicking his wrist, letting the freshly polished wand rest in his hand, Nik waited for the ceremony to begin.

Of course, the woman would find absolutely nothing wrong with the wand.

It was perfect.

Cameron was nervous and the energy was making her jittery. Perhaps a little too jittery. She bounced on the balls of her feet and bit her thumbnail in an attempt to settle her nerves.

She stood, next to some girl and extracted her wand from it's wrist holster and gulped. Why did that Durmatrang boy's wand look soo shiny. Cam's looked a little.. ahem.. scuffed?

*nervousgiggle*

She twirled it between her palms, desperate to alleviate the feeling of dread. What was in store for them?

Nobody was ACTUALLY saying anything, which was odd. Vlad moved up to one end of the line and immediately stepped up to the lady, holding out his wand (which he didn't polish every day... only when it was needed. Why polish when you could study?) to her.

Vlad clicked his heels once and made a little bow (it was a Russian action, but he liked it so much he never shook it off). "No-vun else vas speaking. I vill make the first move," he said, not unkindly at all. "Redvood, 13 inches long. The core is a hair from the mane of a thestral."

He kept the wand fine-tuned, too. It would totally pass this little weighing lark.

Led by Headmaster Tate, Freja elegantly walked to the area where they were going to perform the ceremony. She was glad that now they were a little bit away from the crowded table for she was a lonely woman. She lived alone, she worked alone, she did everything alone.

Once she was there with the Hogwatian man, the woman eyed the students with a fake, insincere smile appearing on her lips. Then she stared at the headmaster and nodded slightly to express that she was ready.

Ah! One of the students liked acting first and quick as it appeared to be. When the young man bowed to her, Freja smiled then her gaze quickly locked on the wand and she nodded as the boy introduced the wand to him.

Gently she picked the wand without saying a word and started to examine it carefully. Hmm. It looked to be in a good quality. ''Nice'' she said as she rubbed the wood. ''Good for protection spells. Looks like it likes to work with an owner who values discipline and hard work.'' then she waved the wand a little and silver sparks appeared from the tip of it vanishing in the air. ''This wand is in a good condition. I approve it'' she said presenting the wand back to its owner.

Looking around Miles saw everyone following Tate and with a shrug thought it best if he followed the crowd. Watching as everyone kind of stood there he swallowed nervously. He wanted him to give his wand to this lady? What if she did something to it? He bit his lip and watched nervously as one of the boys from the other school handed his wand to her.

Should he go next? Was there an order? Pulling his wand out of his pocket he looked at it and then up at the lady who was analyzing the other boys wand. He stepped cautiously forward and held out his wand. "Ummmm....mine is Holly 11 and 1/4 inches long with a Unicorn Tail Hair core." He cherished his wand and it made him sick to see someone else touching it.

''Next?'' Freja uttered looking at the students. Who was coming next? She hoped it would be someone who knew how to take care of his or her wand like the previous student. Actually she hoped all of them knew how to take care of a wand. For her wands were more than a power trapped inside a wood, she regarded that they were alive! So they needed utmost care.

Then her eyes stopped on another boy who held his wand out for weighing. So he was next. Giving the boy a little smile, she slowly took the wand and started to examine it bu rubbing the wood. ''Ah, i see a quite balanced power. Good for healing and defensive magic. Also prefers someone with goodwill'' then she elegantly waved the wand and golden sparks appeared raining on the boy. ''Nice.'' she said simply and gave the wand back.

Fine. She'd have to settle with being the second from Durmstrang. It was the same thing that happened while entering her name in the Goblet of Fire.

It was all good.

Danika had just polished the wand last night, it shouldn't be any problem with it. The girl stepped toward the woman after Miles got his wand back. He'd felt uneasy about lending his wand, she noticed.

"Cedar wood with ash handle" see the duality? "Griffin feather core, 13 inches" she smiled as she gave away her wand. A Konstantin Fedorov original, this woman better be careful with her wand.

Once she was done with the boy's wand, Freja moved to the next student who help her wand out ready to be weighed. And taking it she raised an eyebrow at the girl. Cedar wood with ash handle. This was a different one. Not that Freja had not made something like that before, she was slightly surprised because she was not expecting to see a mixed kind among the wands of those champions.

''Hmmm'' she began examining. ''Purification.'' she smiled at the girl ''This describes the power this wand has. You like to be the best at everything you do, don't you? So does your wand'' Then for the last check she waved the wand and white sparks bursted from its tip. ''Very good.'' she said and gave the wand back to the girl.

Hastily wiping off some smudgy fingerprints with his tie, Fletcher watched as one student after another handed over their wands. It was like taking turns; Durmstrang, Hogwarts, Durmstrang....

Hogwarts.

He cleared his throat and stepped forward next, carefully placing his wand in the expert's hand. "10.6-inch Zebrawood with a Phoenix Feather core."

It should meet her approval. Fletcher loved that wand AND it was barely two years old.

The woman looked up again to see which one was going to step forward to show his or her wand. And it appeared to be another Hogwartian boy. Smiling at the young man, Freja nodded as he described the features of his wand. Zebrawood.. this was one of her favourites when it came to wandmaking.

Taking the wand from the student, she looked at the boy's face one more time before getting back to examine the wand. It looked to be in a good condition. ''Feels good'' the wanmaker said as she slowly twirled the wand in her hands. ''Powerful charms would be the creation of this wand. Ah! It also values intelligence''. Then she waved the wand to see the golden sparks fly out its tip. ''Good'' and with that last word she gave the wand back to the Hogwartian boy.

Monique listened as the judge discribed everyone's wands. She looked down at her own wand and wondered what would be said about hers. It was in impeccable condition, much like it's owner.

She then looked around after the wand was handed back to the Hogwarts student. Who's turn was it next? Maybe she'd just go.

She took a step forward. She then presented her well-polished wand to the judge.

"11 inches of Yew. she said. "With sea serpent scale core."

She wondered how many other wands the judge had seen with the same core.

So, the next was a girl. A Beauxbatons student she supposed. As the girl took a step forward to present her wand, Freja took a step towards her as well her light blue eyes fixed on the next wand.

Sea Serpent Scale Core... Hmm. Raising a brow at this girl, since sea serpent scale was rarely used as a core for wands, she gently took the wand and observed it carefully. ''Very interesting'' the woman uttered mostly talking herself rather than the student. She rubbed the wood some then waved it and as she did so turquoise sparks bursted from its tip. ''Good for divination and protective spells.'' then she said before giving the wand back to the girl ''I see a fine balance of power''. Whoever made that wand had performed a successful job by combining yew qith a serpent scale core.

Noel was actually quite thankful that he didn't get the chance to eat anything. Standing in line and waiting for his turn to be next, he half listened to what everyone else's wands were while he tried not to fiddle with his own.

Of course, confident that he was about his wand being in the utmost perfect condition that it could be, he was still nervous about the idea of the wandmaker finding something wrong.

Sooner than it seemed, it looked like his turn was next. Taking a step forward, he smiled as he handed the shiny, newly polished wand to the judge before speaking what it was. "11.8 inches, made of Zebrawood, and a Unicorn Mane hair for ze core."

Practically beaming now.

Next was another Beauxbatons student who seemed to be a handsome young man. And Freja hoped his wand's condition was as good as his looks. So stepping towards him, she took the wand from the boy nodding at his words.

Another zebrawood wand. Nice. Very nice. And it was well cared for as it looked to be. ''Perfect for healing spells and protection. And mmm I feel an elegant power'' she rubbed this wand, too. Then slowly waved it and light blue sparks flew out its tip. ''Looks like it is in a nice condition'' and after this last words she gave the wand back to the handsome boy.

Vindictus's... er, excitement from across the room had startled Raiden; the young man had turned his head, staring with wide eyes at the Flying Professor as he whooped it up for Miles. The man's obvious enthusiasm actually made the prefect feel a little less tense, and he grinned at the thumbs up that had been flashed in his direction.

When Noel had finished, Raiden stepped forward, forgetting all of his stress and worry in an instant. If, after all, his wand was dysfunctional, what was the worst that would happen? They wouldn't let him compete with it, surely. And his wand had always worked just fine for him.

"Cherry, eleven inches. The core's a hair from a unicorn's tail." He held it out, eyes tracing it for a moment before he looked back at the woman's face. This wand had seen him through a lot. It had been there through everything, be it floods or kneazle ears or bloody injuries. Surely his worries were displaced and irrational.

''Hmmm'' Freja stared at the Hogwarts boy as she took his wand. It looked like those champions knew how to take care of their wands. That was nice to know. Or at least the ones she had checked so was were well taken care of so she supposed the others would be the same way.

With slow and elegant movements, the woman exanined the cherry wand carefully. Humming to herself some as she did. ''This wand has a mix of powers'' she said without looking at the boy or at anyone else. Her light blue eyes were still on the wand as she twirled it. ''Divination, charms...Different powers are balanced in it. Must be quite useful foır a student like you'' then she smiled at the boy and waved the wand, purple sparks flew around and vanished the next moment. ''It is in a good condition.Here you are'' since she was done with the wand the woman gave the wand back to the boy.

Pity none of the contestants, so far, had defected wands. Nikolai would have liked to hear what the wandmaker and Headmaster would say about it. Would they be thrown out of the Triwizard Tournament, or would they have a chance to get a new wand?

Well, he wasn't going to find out because of his wand, that's for sure. His was perfectly perfect, and unlike the other Champions, Nik was not nervous as he stepped in front of the woman.

With a smug look on his face, he held out his freshly polished, and rather shiny wand. "12.5" Makore vood, vith a serpent scale core."

"Those who are finished having their wands weighed are free to move on into the other room to take this opportunity to chat with our visiting press and to have your picture taken. They'll just keep annoying you, so you might as well submit to giving them exactly what they ask for. So..." Tate pointed to the opposite door. No reason to all stand around and wait for the rest of the ceremony.

Cameron frowned. She supposed it was her turn. Her wand looked 'used' compared to the shiny, cared for wands of the other champions. It wasn't fun walking slowly towards the woman when she was so darn nervous. The blonde wandmaker was impressively intimidating even in her beauty.

She reached the small table and took a deep breath. "Umm.. Hi. It's an eleven inch, ash and dragon heartstring." *gulp* Hopefully she wouldn't yell at her for all the fingermarks..