A/N: I do not own Harry Potter. Only the ideas that my brain decides to feed me ;)

While this is my first time publishing under this account, it is most definitely not my first fanfiction (and the first chapter will certainly not be the longest). The story stays in third-person but drifts from perspective to perspective. And, shockingly enough, there will be many OCs merely because I refuse to mix both OCs and canon characters unless I have to. This story sticks more to the books, and less to the movies, but if you're expecting this to be completely canon you are reading the wrong 'fic.

Enjoy!

Key:

"Harry Potter is awesome" = verbal conversation

Harry Potter is awesome, = mental thought

Harry Potter is awesome = the italics in this instance are a mere exaggeration.

... (or some equivalent) = we are changing perspectives or introducing an A/N

...

"What a fabulous note to end on, hmm? No Quidditch tournament! Just the glorious Triwizard Tournament! How's that for our final year?"

"I'm not quite sure if you're being sarcastic or not."

"Neither am I. On one hand, no chances of winning the Quidditch Cup. On the other hand, possible fame and glory."

"… Aren't fame and glory pretty much the same thing?"

"Oh, hush you." The whisper, filled with facetious humor, reached only its intended recipient. Said recipient merely smiled back at this remark and soon the pair soon broke into giggles and quiet snickers of laughter because they couldn't take themselves at all seriously.

"Well, no Quidditch games mean no chance to cheer for-" A sharp elbow ended the unfinished tease.

"Oi! I just meant that this year we won't get another chance to destroy Slytherin."

"You stopped caring about the school rivalry years ago when you had become friends with-"

"Oi! We don't talk about idiots, remember?"

"Right. Sorry about that."

"Shhh!" An audacious third year hissed as Headmaster Dumbledore continued to lay out the set up for the Tournament. Two pairs of brown eyes slowly turned to the third year, one out of pure irritation and the other out of pure amusement. The third year avoided their stares and the more irritated one of the pair scoffed in disbelief. However, the duo did quiet down to listen to the rants and dreams of their other classmates, once Dumbledore finished speaking.

"You go, Fred!" Ethel Fairbanks whispered with great admiration from down the table as the Weasley twin laid out his plan. Elizabeth Abrams rolled her eyes at this and her friend, Olivia Ellery, merely chuckled at the response.

"Relax, Elizabeth. The fan club is just getting started." Jacob Poole said.

"He's right, Elizabeth. Maybe they'll even let you join this year?"

"Oh, shut up." She said, harrumphing at the tease she was being dealt. Elizabeth soon turned around to focus on something else in the Great Hall and quickly perked up again when she looked over at the Slytherin table.

"Three sickles says Ethan tries to claim his spot as 'the Rightful Champion' before the end of the night."

"I'll raise you to five Sickles because we both know he's going to be distracted by some guy."

"Ooh, now it's on!"

...

Yes, Draco, we know all about your father's fabulous influence. And we've learned a great deal about your own stupidity, tonight being a prime example.

Ethan Burns' had a smile brighter than a stage light and it only grew when he was in the vicinity of those that were self-absorbed or rather moronic, like Gilderoy Lockhart or Draco Malfoy.

Oh, and, yes, Ethan did know that that particular defense teacher was a fraud from Day One.

Fortunately, said defense teacher was also sexy as hell.

Ethan shook himself out of these thoughts with a little disappointment because the eye candy that was Gilderoy Lockhart had long since left the building. However, there is eye candy at his own House table and so he really didn't need to reminisce to enjoy himself.

And once Ethan shook himself out of his reminisces, he could only contemplate one thing:

How acceptable would it be it to strangle Draco Malfoy's neck?

Although, he thought with mental snicker, I think I might have to share the privilege. Yes, Ann Hayes also looked like she was getting rather close to the end of her rope. They shared a moment of fantastic connection as the two met glances across the table.

Now can I punch him? Was the only thought Ethan seemed to be receiving from the beautiful redhead.

Only if I get to mess up his hair. Because, really, if there's one way to get to Draco Malfoy it would probably be messing up with his platinum blond hair.

However, even though that would be quite fun it would also be socially unacceptable. What is more socially acceptable is to sit quietly through conversation and try to pretend to listen without dying of boredom first. And if there is one thing any good Slytherin should know it is that it is necessary to fake active listening. It is a skill many fail to possess and many others fail to realize is quite necessary to succeed.

Now, on to more important matters: where did that delectable scent come from? Certainly not Malfoy.

Ethan paused and closed his eyes to better detect where that wonderful cologne came from. He subtly sniffed the air and allowed the rugged mixture of burning wood and delicious manliness to pull his nose towards the wearer.

Oh, Moore, you sly dog! Who knew you had such excellent taste– or should I say scent?

...

"I believe you owe me. Clearly he's been distracted by some boy."

"What do you mean—why on earth is he talking to Moore?"

...

Pale hands gripped the Hufflepuff table as a head lightly connected to the soothing, cold wood.

"Are you alright, Ryo?" Cedric Diggory asked the tired girl across from him. At the sound of concern, even from a classmate she rarely talked to, Ryo lifted her head up and gave the sixth year a faint smile.

"We haven't even been here a week and I already know that Hogwarts is already back to its obnoxious self." She was happy to be back, yes. Yet the fact that the chatter surrounding Ryo was already giving the poor Hufflepuff a headache reminded her that she didn't always love Hogwarts.

However, just one year to go and then the endless chatter and the twittering gossip would finally be over.

… Hopefully.

...

A/N: More of a prologue and less of a chapter. Since this story has (mostly) been written out I can guarantee that the chapters will become a lot longer. Also, I'll set out a list of all the characters (once they've all been mostly introduced).

Also, you'll note that the story does jump from perspective to perspective. This is because I find it far easier to write from various moments in time instead of focusing on a single build-up.