Sorry if this chapter is a little bit dead, it's not too exciting but I assure you it will be very soon!

Chapter Four: Aboard the Hogwarts Express

Living with Eowyn's family was most definitely interesting. They had two rooms rented at the Leaky Cauldron so I got to stay in the room with Eowyn and her younger sister Maeve. Those two never stopped. I don't even think they slept. If I didn't sleep a few feet away from Eowyn at Hogwarts I would have been convinced. I went to bed every night first and woke up to see that they were ready for the day. I did love their parents though. Niamh and Liam were great, they didn't ask any questions as why I was staying with them.

It was unbelievable the difference between the girls and their parents. I couldn't get over it, but then again I was nothing like my parents. Jake had written me and it arrived at the window this morning. Surprisingly Mia had delivered the letter. I began getting worried about her because she had travelled over with Jake and during the fire catastrophe I had totally forgotten about her. I was so relieved when I heard the pecking against the glass and saw her on the window sill. The letter was just Jake wondering where I was and if anything bad had happened to me. He also said that they looked for me but I was nowhere to be seen. I quickly wrote back that I was totally fine and I was with Eowyn, and that I would meet up with him on the train.

Mia was back quickly and I rushed her to the cage. It was finally the day I boarded the Hogwarts train. Thank Merlin. Eowyn and Maeve were already downstairs waiting for me as I gathered my last few items. I wasn't even late this time, they were just early and eager to go. My trunk was all set to go and Mia was a bit of a struggle to settle down in her cage, but I gave her a treat and the feathers stopped flapping. Grabbing the latest copy of the daily prophet I looked it over once more. The Dark Mark was lit in the sky on the front cover.

I read over the article and it was a scare from You-Know-Who's followers who were called Death Eaters. I wanted to hear the real story from that night and everything that happened. Finally I shoved everything in my bag and rushed down stairs that both were eating ice cream already. "Come on Carlie, car's waiting," Eowyn said. "We need to get there early so we can get the best seats."

It's not a long drive from the Leaky Cauldron to Kings Cross Station, when we arrived it was crowded with wizards who actually did blend in very well with the muggles. I was glad to get out of the car because Maeve wouldn't stop talking about how nervous yet excited she was for Hogwarts. She kept saying she better be in Slytherin or she'd be furious. I remember how nervous Eowyn was on the day of sorting. Yet I don't know why, there is no way their parents would ever get angry if they weren't in Slytherin. It was something they put upon themselves.

Going through the barrier was always interesting. It was so weird how I ran at a brick wall and then I was in a completely different room. There I stood in front of the Hogwart's Express once again. After thanking Liam and Niamh, I followed Eowyn onto the train leaving Maeve to say her goodbyes to her parents. "Hurry before she can follow us!" Eowyn called to me and picked up the pace. I laughed.

"Come on, Eowyn," I said to her with a small laugh, "She doesn't know anyone else, remember you had Dasha?" Eowyn turned to me and gave me a look.

"Alright, fine, whatever. I guess we can wait. As long as she promises not to talk! I know that's difficult for her, she just never stops." I smiled to myself and then we waited as Maeve came over to us. Once she was behind we immediately went to the back large compartment with the rest of the Slytherins. It already seemed a bit crowded. I had already passed Mia off to one of the care keepers and all I had to worry about was my trunk.

I watched as the compartment crowded. I got my usual welcome back dark looks from Amelie, Celina, and Christina. They haven't changed I see. Then of course Parkinson has to walk in and comment on how un-pleased she was to see that I have returned. Finally Dasha walked in, a nice familiar face. She smiled at us and sat down next to Maeve. We broke into small talk but there really wasn't anything interesting to say considering we all saw each other just a few days ago.

The train signaled that it was going to be starting soon right as Draco Malfoy walked into the compartment along with Crabbe, Goyle, and Zabini. Parkinson was the first to leap up and advertise that there was an empty seat next to her. Yet to her disappointment Goyle took the seat while Zabini, Crabbe, and Draco all sat around her. He glanced over at me but I pretended to ignore him. "How's the burn Nyx?" he brought up.

"A little bit of healing potion fixes everything I guess," I responded and tried not to look his way. I didn't want to break into conversation.

"Potter and his little gang didn't look to thrilled seeing you and me the other night." Eowyn and Dasha both looked at me confused. They knew I was friendly with Harry, Ron, and Hermione but didn't know we were actually friends. Parkinson just looked like she wanted to stab me.

"Well then I guess I'll just have to tell them it was a big misunderstanding." He did that oh so ever common smirk before turning to his group of friends.

Finally my ride continued peacefully as I talked to Maeve a bit about what Hogwarts was like. She wanted to know everything so I tried to tell her as much as I could. I kept losing my train of thought when I heard Draco's obnoxiously loud voice booming throughout the cabin about who knows what. I decided to listen in. "So my father says that the Triwizard Tournament is a go." Everyone was silencing to eavesdrop, yet that's exactly what he wanted. "So Quidditch is cancelled." I made it obvious that I was listening by turning to completely face him. "Finally caught your attention Nyx?" He laughed. "Quidditch is indeed cancelled."

"Oh please, you don't know what you're talking about," I said to him. Knowing him he was probably making the entire thing up. Triwizard Tournament, I have never heard of that before.

"Why would Draco tell lies?" Pansy added snapping at me.

"Let her think what she wants," Draco said to Pansy who looked a little insulted. "But don't be shocked when there's no Quidditch team this year." I didn't respond and then he just continued talking about all he knew, saying something about a school up north and a school from France. Really Draco, he should become the next Lockhart and write stories for a living.

Halfway through the journey I decided to make my visits. I passed by Jake's cabin first. They really didn't have anything to new to say and I didn't want to tell them what I heard from Draco about Quidditch being cancelled. Gabe would probably die if he thought it was true. It was a short visit and then I wanted to talk to Harry, Hermione, and Ron about the other night. I needed to make sure they didn't still think I was in the woods with Draco intentionally.

I found their compartment near the front. Malfoy had left earlier in the ride over, I'm sure it was to go bother them. At least now I know he wouldn't be in a rush to get back to them. I slid the door open. "Hi," I said and stepped inside. "So about the other night, I really did just bump into Malfoy." I explained quickly. "I was running and then ran to the woods and sat down and he was there."

"Yeah we figured," Ron said. "Didn't think you'd go off becoming friends with those sorts of people now did we?" He laughed and I was thankful for that. They believed me and that's all that mattered.

I asked them what happened after I ran off. Apparently they got caught up with the Minister and about of Ministry men who were searching for the Death Eaters. Luckily Ron's Dad was there at the time. Harry claimed to have seen a man though send up the signal, but they didn't know who it was. The train began slowing down and I left to go back to my trunk. We had finally arrived at Hogwarts.

I took my seat next to Eowyn and Dasha near the front of the Slytherin table. I was praying the sorting went by fast, I was starving and could not wait for the food. Looking up at the teacher's tables, I noticed a seat was empty. I wondered who would be our Defense against the Dark Arts teacher this year, maybe he was running late. "Oh I pray she is in Slytherin!" Eowyn said to us as the Sorting Hat finished its song. McGonagall came through the doors leading the new first years. I watched to see curly fire haired Maeve right in the front practically running towards the hat.

It took forever, I swear the amount of children has multiplied this year. I watched as they called every person from A to N. Finally McGonagall called 'O'Connor, Maeve.' I watched as she anxiously walked up and took a seat on the stool. It took about a minute, but finally the sorting hat shrieked, "SLYTHERIN!" A bright eyed Maeve smiled enthusiastically and ran off the steps taking a proud seat at the Slytherin table with the rest of the first years. She looked over at us and Eowyn gave her a thumbs up.

"Oh thank Merlin," Eowyn said breathing a sigh of relief. "Mum and Dad would have had a fit!" I highly doubted that.

Sorting had come to an end and Dumbledore had filled the Great Hall with the amazing food Hogwarts provided. I filled my plate like I hadn't eaten in year's, well technically I hadn't eaten anything like this all summer.

I was almost finished with my plate when Dumbledore stood up to give his speech. "Now that we are all fed. I would like to ask for your attention," he said to the large crowd of students who quickly silenced. "A reminder that the Forbidden Forrest is forbidden and that Hogsmeade was forbidden to those who are under third year." Finally I was of age but even then I did not have the permission to go, thanks to my parents. I guess I would be using the old way once more. "It is also my duty to inform you that Inner-House Quidditch will not happen this year." I almost dropped my fork. Draco was right, there was no Quidditch.

"What?" I heard Gabe yell from the Gryffindor table, followed by a series of other complaints. I turned to look at Draco who looked back with a very proud look. I would not hear the end of this.

"Please, please settle down," Dumbledore then continued. "This is because Hogwarts will be hosting a legendary event beginning this October. I am sure that you will enjoy it-" Then he was cut off by the sound of the large doors in the Great Hall being opened. In stepped a frightening looking man with scars on his face and a large fact eye. I think he was even missing a leg. Everyone was even quieter than before as the strange man made his way up onto the teachers stand. Dumbledore reached out and shook his hand before addressing him to the only empty seat. So this was our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher? Well he surely looked as if he dealt with Dark Arts.

"May I introduce Professor Moody, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher?" Dumbledore said motioning towards the newcomer. It was a rather awkward clap, the loudest clappers were Dumbledore and Hagrid while people were either lightly clapping or staring at this man in terror. "Well, then back to what I was saying. I am proud to announce that Hogwarts will be hosting the Triwizard Tournament this year."

"You're joking!" Fred Weasley yelled in happiness from the Gryffindor table, nearly standing up from his seat. Again, Draco was right. I didn't even bother to turn to him. I could feel the look on the back of my head.

"I am not joking Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore said with a chuckle. "For those who don't know this tournament involves the three largest schools. Durmstrang, Beauxbatons, and Hogwarts. Each school will have one champion compete in three difficult tasks. The games were discontinued a few centuries ago when the death toll was too high." Death toll? Students have died in these games? "Until now, all summer the Department of Magical Cooperation's and Magical Games and Sports have decided to bring back the tournament in a way that no one will be put in mortal danger."

Everyone began buzzing with excitement yet Dumbledore silenced the room once more. "Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will arrive in October with twenty of their best contenders. Then on Halloween, we will select our three champions." I had never heard of anything like this before. The winner received about a thousand galleons. I could really use that money. "The Ministry has agreed to institute an age limit." Well, there goes my chance. "Only students who are seventeen or older will be allowed to put their names in the Goblet." This got a rise of outburst throughout the crowd.

I don't think Draco expected to hear that because I turned to him and he looked furiously up at Dumbledore and then started ranting to his friends. There were a lot of unhappy looking students around me. "This is only one of our many new rules for safety. I personally will be drawing an age line that will prevent anyone under that age from inserting their names into the Goblet." The groans and disappointed looks did not fade. Even I was a bit disappointed, it would have been fun to put my name in and to see what happened. "Now, off to bed!" 

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