As he changed into his robes and wandered around the room, the Marauder's map caught his eye. There were several people in the courtyard, which was unusual given Hogwarts only employed a few gardeners. It took Albus a moment to recall that today was the Champion of Potters contest, and the names he saw on the map must be the contestants standing proudly by their creations, awaiting his verdict. Each year he would peruse the champions" earthenware and select his favourite. The prize was a tour around Hogwarts Castle and an audience with Albus himself. He decided to let them stew a while longer and made himself a tea using a black stone kettle. He used the end of his wand to heat the water. The end of the wand flamed an incandescent blue, and the water boiled within seconds, he waited a couple of minutes for the leaves to brew and poured the drink into a stone mug. He could see the courtyard below from his armchair, but he was too high up to see the people below. Looming ominously behind them, he saw the forbidden forest, and to the right of that, he could make up the small stone houses in the village of Hogsmeade. No doubt some of the contestants had travelled from there, though he had seen pot-makers travel from much farther in past competitions. Albus decided he had waited long enough. Finishing his tea, he apparated down to the courtyard. He was met by stunned silence and awe as he appeared in a flash of lightning at the centre of the courtyard. The flash had been a little embellishment of his own to add a bit of drama to proceedings. He put his wand to his throat to project his voice further.