Chapter 1

The mood in the Great Hall was animated and full of anticipation for the coming year at Hogwarts. The sorting had just been completed, and the new members of each house were overwhelmed by the numerous introductions from their upperclassmen; of course, except for Slytherin, who welcomed their new additions with little more than a calculating gaze and an upturned nose.

Harry Potter was enjoying his first full meal since he left Hogwarts at the end of the last school year; his relatives had been particularly harsh for some reason that summer, which certainly didn't help him to cope with Cedric Diggory's death.

As he was directing a heaping spoonful of scalloped potatoes towards his mouth, he noticed that Ginny Weasley was giving him fleeting glances and sultry smirks yet again. To his trepidation, the Boy Who Lived also noticed that the fiery redhead's boyfriend, Dean Thomas, was completely ignorant of his girlfriend's lingering interest in Harry.

'I wonder why she still has a crush on me. Perhaps Dean is just someone to pass the time with,' Harry thought.

Across the table from him, his best friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley were engaged in a heated conversation about Quidditch, or rather, Ron was excitedly rambling about the Chudley Cannons' chances of winning the next World Cup while Hermione was patiently "listening" to him while both re-reading a copy of "Hogwarts: A History" and subtly moving her head to avoid the spittle flying from Ron's mouth.

As the feast came to an end and the dessert disappeared from the large oaken tables, Dumbledore stood up in his lurid neon green and purple robes and approached the podium to dismiss the students to their rooms.

"Before I let you go to your common rooms, I have one announcement to make. The 5th year students will be taking a two month trip to visit the Durmstrang Institute in Germany to study their methods of learning and to gain experience from the professors at that establishment."

A collective groan came from the 6th and 7th years at this piece of news. Dumbledore chuckled at their blatant disappointment.

"Do not worry; those of you in their NEWT years will have a chance to visit Beauxbatons during the winter break, if you so choose. The lower 4 years will be able to take a weeklong trip to visit the Salem School of Magic in the United States of America in the spring."

Dumbledore swept his bespectacled gaze across the robed students who were buzzing with anticipation. Many students were fervently whispering to their neighbors, while others were simply bouncing up and down with excitement, unable to contain their happiness. The wizened wizard raised his hands for silence, and after a moment, he continued.

"Tomorrow at breakfast, a slip of parchment will be given to every 5th year along with their schedules to notify them of their group assignments. Although the entire grade level will be traveling together, most activities and the lodging will be sorted using these groups. Furthermore, the groups will be comprised of three people from two different houses to promote interhouse relationships. Further details will be explained once we arrive in Germany. That is all for tonight. Prefects, please show your housemates to their rooms."

With that, all of the prefects scrambled to herd the students towards their common rooms. While traversing the shifting staircases, an amused Harry turned from his observation of the awestruck first years by a tap on his shoulder. He turned to find a flushed and animated Ron and an even more eager looking Hermione behind him.

"Bloody hell, Harry! I can't believe that we get to go visit Durmstrang, and even meet Viktor Krum again," Ron gushed, completely forgetting how jealous he was of Viktor for being Hermione's date to the Yule Ball the previous year.

"Language, Ronald!" Hermione reprimanded, but her heart wasn't really in it, as she, too, was shining with excitement at the prospect of getting to learn and experience unique magic and methods of teaching at the German school.

"Bah, come off it, Hermione. This is going to be amazing!" Ron returned. "As long as I don't get grouped together with someone like Malfoy, this ought to be the best trip ever!"

Harry wholeheartedly agreed with his best friends, and was about to reply when Ginny and Dean brushed past him, Ginny quite literally, as she flirtatiously but quickly stroked the inside of his thigh with the hand that wasn't holding her boyfriends' as she passed by. She surreptitiously sent him a saucy wink and sauntered away with a noticeable sway in her hips, causing many a first year boy to gawk at her shapely rear.

'No one else seemed to notice,' Harry mused as he glanced at his still giddy mates.

With resigned shake of his head, he continued into the common room behind his peers after greeting the Fat Lady.

Strafing through the throng of relaxed students lounging on and around the plush sofas and armchairs, Harry made his way upstairs to his bed. After taking care of his nightly routine, the emerald eyed mage began the process of tucking himself into his bed when he heard his roommates begin chattering about the upcoming international adventure.

"I've never been to Germany before, but I've heard that the girls are ridiculously sexy," Seamus Finnegan, the brash and boisterous Irishman stated.

Ron shot Seamus a knowing look and proclaimed with a smirk, "I bet I could probably snag a girl or two while we're over there. There can't be a bird who wouldn't be impressed with my extensive knowledge of Quidditch and its one true icon, the Chudley Ca-,"

"Ugh, enough about the Cannons, Ron! You and I both know that they're absolute rubbish! They haven't won a single game in 80 years," Dean said with disgust. "What's cooler is the chance to see how they incorporate futbol physical conditioning into Quidditch training."

"I think it would be interesting to see the different types of native plants they have," Neville said quietly, with a small smile on his pudgy face.

This began a heated argument between the boys (mainly Dean, Seamus, and Ron) about what to look forward to the most. Harry cast Neville a rueful glance and drew the curtains closed around his four poster bed, activating the built in silencing charms. The raven haired teen closed his eyes and drifted off with dreams of exploring a whole new realm of magic.