A/N Hello! This is my second attempt at publishing this story. I posted it about a year ago and got pretty far with it, but wanted to switch it over to the third person because I had some really exciting ideas about where I wanted to take the story. So, if you read my first attempt, welcome back, and if not, welcome! Here's a quick chapter to start off.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Harry Potter

September 1994

Cordelia Podmore hugged her grandparents goodbye before boarding the Hogwarts Express, waiting in all its crimson glory to take her to the castle for her final year of schooling. She pushed through the bustling crowd, cat carrier in hand, gently shoving aside the first years that had no idea where they were going. Finally, after getting knocked in the head with an owl cage and stepped on too many times to count, she found the compartment that housed her friends. After stepping over the threshold, a tall, thin girl with stick-straight black hair and brown almond shaped eyes bombarded her.

"Delia! I haven't seen you in so long!" The girl exclaimed, pulling her into a rib-crushing hug.

"Val! I missed you so much," Cordelia said in a strained voice. Valerie, Cordelia's best friend, released her from her death grip and returned to her seat. Cordelia and Valerie had met back in their first year, sitting together on the train silently, only making eye contact once or twice and forcing uncomfortable smiles. Then, upon their arrival, the two were both sorted into Ravenclaw, where they found they actually had a lot in common. At least, personality-wise. They were about as opposite as you could get when it came to looks. While Val was tall, dark, and thin, Cordelia was smaller, with dirty blonde waves that fell to her shoulders, deep blue eyes and freckles dotting her complexion.

Cordelia took her seat next to Val, opening her cat carrier to let her furry friend free and then storing the carrier under the bench. Shoes, her big, dopey cat, hopped up onto her lap. He was mostly orange with white feet, hence the name "Shoes." He followed Cordelia everywhere, winding around her feet as she walked and curling up at the end of her bed every night to sleep. John, Valerie's boyfriend, sat across from the two girls next to his friend Charlie. It was their usual crew, until a fifth face popped through the door.

"Mind if I sit here?" the girl asked. She was a Ravenclaw as well, a seventh year just like the rest of them. Cordelia remembered her name was Caroline. They never spoke much before, but Caroline was always nice, just a little shy.

"No, come on in," Val told her. Caroline entered the compartment, taking a seat with the girls silently.

"So… How were everyone's summers?" Cordelia asked after a moment of uncomfortable silence.

"Pretty boring, up until last week," John told them. "I managed to get tickets to the Quidditch World Cup!"

"That's amazing!" Cordelia gushed. "It was a great game, despite what happened afterwards…"

"It really was," John said. "I went with Charlie. We sat right under the commentator's box! We got lucky, though. Got out of there before the riots started."

"I was there, too," Catherine chimed in. "I was there with my family- my dad is a broomstick designer. He supplies the Bulgarians' with their brooms… We weren't so lucky, though. We had to flee after our tent caught fire. It was horrible. As soon as we got outside, there where people in masks parading around, levitating people above their heads and shooting curses every which way. I've never seen anything like it."

"That's awful," Val said quietly. "I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"It's ok," Catherine replied. "On a lighter note, what do you suppose this big, exciting event is going to be?" Over the summer, Hogwarts students received word that the school would be hosting some sort of event that year. They weren't told what it was, but on their supply lists, dress robes were required.

"Maybe Dumbledore is retiring, so he's throwing a grand ball in celebration," Val suggested.

"Is it some sort of anniversary?" Cordelia thought out loud. "How old is Hogwarts, anyway?"

"I dunno," John said. "I hope its some sort of Quidditch competition between the other wizarding schools. How cool would that be?" The rest of the train ride was spent bouncing ideas around, trying to think of something plausible. Then again, was anything that happened at Hogwarts ever plausible?

The whistle sounded and the train jerked to a stop. Rain was pounding down, making the students pull their robes over their heads and run as fast as they could to the carts that would shuttle them to the Castle. Cordelia and her friends hurried inside, slipping and sliding over the stone floor as they magically sucked the rain out of their drenched robes. Finally dry, they took their seats at the Ravenclaw table, anxiously awaiting dinner and the announcement of whatever event was taking place. Once everyone was settled, Professor McGonagall ushered in the sopping wet first years. After each house gained a few students, Dumbledore stood to give his long awaited speech.

"Well now that we're all settled in and sorted, I'd like to make an announcement. This castle will not only be your home this year but home to some very special guests as well. You see, Hogwarts has been chosen to host a legendary event: The Triwizard Tournament. The Tournament brings together three schools for a series of magical contests. From each school a single student is selected to compete. Now let me be clear. If chosen, you stand alone. And trust me when I say, these contest are not for the faint-hearted. But more of that later."

Cordelia and Val glanced at each other, completely taken back by this news. John was grinning excitedly while Charlie, on the other hand, had paled slightly and looked horrified.

"It must be dangerous if we have to be of-age to enter," Catherine mused. "I remember reading about past tournaments- the challenges were barbaric. I hope it's at least a bit more humane this time around."

"I'm excited," Delia admitted. "I won't enter, but I think it'll be fun having the other schools come."

"You're excited for the other boys to come," Val teased. "But, I agree. I think it'll be a nice change of pace."