chapter1
 (all hail who?)

It was their seventh and final year at Hogwarts and after the sorting of the new students Dumbledore had raised his joyous voice and announced that the Tri-Wizard Tournament would be held this year. Everyone had jumped to their feet, cheering in excitement when he had explained further that it would be at Hogwarts that this Tournament would be playing out.

That had been a month ago, Harry thought to himself. Everything had been just as it always had been in the past. He had spent an dreadfully awful summer with the Dursley's, though he was thankful it was his last as he would no longer have to stay there once he turned seventeen.

Harry had been anxiously waiting to see his friends again on the Hogwarts Express, it had been so long since he had seen them. He had so quickly become accustomed to leaving half way through the summer to spend time with the Weasley's, that he had forgotten how long those months could drag on. He had been so thrilled to see them that he hadn't even been fazed when Malfoy had called him Scar-head or insulted him about his Muggle clothing. But now here he was sitting in between his two best friends for their last year at Hogwarts, surrounded by Durmstrang and Beauxbatons witches and wizards.

The entire hall was sitting in pure silence. Harry felt a sense of anxiety in the air, anxiety that felt unwanted and to Harry unneeded. Dumbledore had just told them that the Coorè would be arriving shortly, as the youngest daughter who attends Alvia's school of Charmed Witches was of age to compete. The moment the words had passed through Dumbledore's lips everyone started looking around expectantly, the whispering and muttering that usually overcame the Great Hall seem to be forgotten. It was as if Dumbledore had told them not to move, speak, or breathe and Harry just hadn't heard. He turned to Ron and Hermione but they were acting just as peculiar, they knew what was going on.

Dumbledore seemed to have announced yet another thing that left witches and wizards who grew up with muggles exempt from knowing what the hell was being said.

Harry couldn't help but feel foolish and annoyed that no-one realised that he didn't understand what was happening. Looking at Hermione he guessed she had read about these Coorè things in one of her numerous books, still she of all people should have understood what Harry was feeling.

He tried to catch her eye, but she just kept jumping her head back and forth from the Great Hall's wooden doors to the staff table. She reminded Harry of one those people who watched tennis, the way their head goes back and forth with the ball. Maybe another time he might have laughed at her strange behavior.

Even more annoyed being ignored; Harry turned his attention on Ron, who looked confused, yet still anxious.

"Can someone expla…" Harry stopped when both of them snapped their heads in his direction. They looked as though he had just slapped them, Ron gapping, while Hermione opened her mouth to say something.

Just over her head Harry noticed that there was light coming from in front of the staff table. He thought he must have imagined it as seconds later ten ladies even more beautiful than the Beauxbaton girls - who quickly noticed with snorts of disgust - were suddenly standing there.

They seemed to be surrounding two girls in the centre of their group though Harry couldn't quite see. Straining his neck for a better angle, he was tempted to stand up but thought better of it. Just as he relaxed back down in his seat, Dumbledore unexpectedly jumped to his feet and gave a gracious bow to the newest guests. Harry had never in his time of knowing Dumbledore seen him bow to anyone.

If they had Dumbledore's respect, they certainly had Harry's.

If things couldn't get any stranger, Snape stood up and artlessly bowed even lower than Dumbledore. Whoever these people were they had caught Harry's curiosity.

The next thing Harry knew, he was walking back to his dormitory with Ron and Hermione. The new ladies had merely acknowledged Dumbledore with a polite nod and walked down towards the wooden doors. Harry had noticed that one of the girls inside the circle was being reluctantly pushed by the older girl within the circle. He got the impression that he was the only one who noticed, as no one said anything.

On their way down the corridors Harry saw the circle heading to Dumbledore's office and wondered what was going on even more. Reaching the last staircase to their dormitory, he felt it was alright to now find out who these people were. Hermione must have had the same thought as she stopped dead half way up the stairs.

"What's going on?" Harry asked seeing his chance.

Ron blinked at him, then moved aside and sat down on the step.

Harry turned, he had made up his mind that he was going to find out what going on and he was going to find out now!

"Well, don't you know?" he snapped.

Hermione repeatedly opened her mouth. Finally she looked at Ron and slumped down next to him.

At last someone spoke.

"Wh...Wha... wh...What are they doing here?" Ron spluttered.

"They aren't allowed anywhere really anymore and now they're competing in the Triwizard Tournament, it doesn't make sense," Hermione said looking at her feet. "I mean have they even competed before?" she added more to herself than to anyone else.

Unexpectedly Hermione was on her feet, "Library." was all Harry heard.

Furiously he shouted after her, "WHO ARE THEY?" She didn't look back. He was getting no-where. Ron got up to follow but saw Harry's face and sat back down.

"Royalty mate, royalty," Ron said avoiding Harry's gaze.

Realising that he was glowing at Ron in frustration he soften his expression. He just hated feeling foolish for growing up with the Dursley's.

"Royalty? What do you mean royalty?"

"Royalty, you know queens and kings."

"Yeah, I know what royalty is. But I didn't know there was wizard royalty," Harry said sitting down next to Ron, who was now looking Harry in the face.

"Well people don't really like talking about them. You rarely even hear purebloods like the Malfoy's talkin' about 'em, that's why it's such a big shock to everyone."

Questions were now racing around Harry's head. "What makes them so special? I mean muggles have royalty but they don't act the way everyone did in the Great Hall."

"Well you see they're ancients, that's what my folks call 'em anyway. The ancient blood, the first of our kind. They have ancient magic most wizards would kill for."

'"What kind of magic, like spells?"

"Ah sort of, don't know much about it really only what's told in children's stories. But what I heard is they don't need wands it runs right though em, wouldn't it be nice for those of us who break their wands ey?" Ron said smiling.

"Yeah it would be, so were all of them Coorè?" Harry asked smiling back, he was gradually getting his answers.

"No, it was only the two in the middle, they're real rare. Coorè are only women, fancy that. They find suitable mates...pureblood, handsome, good at magic. Get the point?"

"So how come I haven't seen one before."

"See that's the thing they have their own world kind of."

"Why?"

"Certain people feel it's unfair that they don't share their knowledge of magic, loads of 'em got killed during a sort of war between us regular of wizard and the Coorè."

"People like the Malfoy's?" Harry asked.

"Nah mate, they're more likely to get picked as mates so they stand up for 'em. It's more muggle-borns and half-bloods," Ron paused seeing Harry's face "I don't get it, we get on fine without their magic, don't need it really I think."

Just then Hermione came running back. "I was right! They have never entered before, I thought it was strange. Wonder why they are this time?" Hermione said gripping her sides she continued. "It appears that at the age of seventeen a Coorè has to find a mate and if she doesn't she becomes a teacher of the ways to the others, so I'm guessing that the youngest is not really here to compete but to find a mate. I heard that they are going to be staying in the Slytherin dormitories." Hermione was now leaning against the wall, breathing heavily.

"You found all that out in five minutes. Wow, you really do spend too much time in the library Hermione," Ron said looking amazed.

"No I didn't find all that out in five minutes Ronald, I bumped into Professor McGonagall on the way to the library, so I asked her," Hermione said giving Ron a snaky look, then continued. "Also apparently the youngest is a bit of a trouble maker, doesn't like following the rules. She was told to keep to herself whilst here and the first thing she did was go and talk to Dumbledore about joining classes."

"Do you think she'll be allowed?"

"Well he certainly can't say no to a Coorè," Hermione said as they started back up the stairs to the dormitories. They would have to find out tomorrow when they went to class.

"Mother, please does she really have to come?"

"Yes! You know the laws, Brae is going with you"

"But mu…"

"ENOUGH! Natalia you have to listen to me, end of discussion." With that her mother left the room.

Natalia felt like she was about to cry, she held them back till it stung but she did not want her mother or sister to see that what they were asking of her was getting to her emotionally. For weeks she had known about this day and for weeks she regretted it, forgot about it, it didn't exist. But here it was Friday 30th of October. She had to come to terms that in half an hour she would be at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but she hadn't realised her sister Brae would be coming too.

What was she going to do for her last free thirty minutes? She looked around her bedroom. It was pearly white, the bed in which she was sprawled across had white elegant hangings all round, her dresser contained her few prized possessions that were warded by spells. Her diary, her wand - not that she ever used it but when she swooshed it about it made her feel normal like she was just a regular witch - and her grandmothers engagement ring that she would have to wear one day.

Standing in the middle of the circle Natalia felt over-whelmed and squished. She prayed it would not be like this the entire time. Without warning a girl with lively blonde curls pushed her way into the circle, though it looked like she was walking on springs as she bounced with every step, she walked with grace. She was the same height as Natalia but a year younger, her high cheek bones gave her a look of desire as it made her lips pout. Natalia had the feeling that at Hogwarts she was going to get a lot of attention, which she didn't usually get, having to shadow her ever movement.

"Did Mummy dearest say you could come?" Natalia ask hopefully.

"Yes!" the girl said jumping up and down, her hair moving rhythmically with her bounces.

"Don't think this is a holiday Taya," Brae said walking into the circle herself, the surrounding ladies parting for her.

Taya disappeared into the circle of ladies, though out of the corner of Natalia's eye she could see the blonde hair trying to fade into the scenery.

"Do you have to be so harsh on her" Natalia muttered.

"She is the help if she must be called anything, she is bellow us," Brae snorted down her nose.

"Only because we make them so," Natalia retorted turning her back on her sister walking to the centre of the circle.

Another woman walked into the circle, the ladies parting even wider than before. The two sisters bowed, the oldest considerably lower.

"Girls I want you to stay in the Slytherin House, okay."She gave Natalia a stern look and then turned her attention onto the older sister. "Brae thank you for doing this I hope Dormitie can do without you for a few months." Their mother said and walked away without an answer.

The last thing Natalia saw of her home was her mother's back and then there was a bright light and a floating sensation. Suddenly her feet hit solid ground, blinking she looked around. She couldn't see much as the circle had become a lot tighter.

Natalia thought that had been extremely awkward, they had arrived with everyone staring at them. She wanted to thank them for their hospitality but Brae had hastily pushed her out of the hall. Natalia told her sister she needed to go to the bathroom so they headed in different directions. Brae didn't want to be there just much as Natalia did, but their reasons were completely different for grudgingly agreeing to their mother's demands.

Brae had said she would meet - rather wait impatiently - for Natalia to be at the front of the Slytherin Dormitory in ten minutes. After going to the bathroom she realised she had five minutes to get to the dormitories, so what if she was a little late she wanted to go find Professor Dumbledore.

She thought it would not take her long but after she rounded one corner, two flights of stairs and another three corners, she had gotten feed up and told her circle to wait were they were, next to a portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress. She decided to go up another flight stairs and found him talking to a portrait of a night on a horse.

"Ah excuse me Professor Dumbledore, I wanted to ask you a question." She tried not to sound nervous, but her voice came out a bit too squeaky making Dumbledore jump in surprise. "Oh sorry, I just...," she began.

"Oh that's quite alright child, so what can I do for you?" Dumbledore said his eyes twinkling

"Oh it's Natalia, beg my manners."

"Yes I know who you are child."

"Oh well yes." She was a little taken aback. "I was wondering if I could join some of your classes at this school, if that would be alright?"

"Did you have anything in mind?"

"Er... yes, I want to do everything witches my age are doing or are able to do. If it's possible at all." She hadn't been ready for him to be so willing to assist her.

"Why yes, tomorrow there is a Potions class with Slytherin and Gryffindor that has room for one more, is that ok? You will find the Professor most welcoming."' Dumbledore said smiling at her in a crocked sort of way. He seemed to be amused by what she did not know but it intrigued Natalia.

"Yes, thank you very much Headmaster."

"It is no trouble child. Will you want to continue a complete timetable while you stay with us?"

"Very much so, sir." Natalia said trying to sound casual.

Dumbledore simply nodded ending their conversation, Natalia turned and walked back to her circle. What a very remarkable man, at least he didn't call her princess or your majesty. As she went to make her way back down, she found two boys sitting side by side half way up the stairs they were talking in hush voices and then all of a sudden a girl with brushy brown hair came running up, and started telling them something.

Natalia had never talked to boys of her own age alone, it was forbidden unless you were suited together. And here this girl was talking to these boys if they were her bestfriends.

One of the boys caught Natalia's eye, he had flaming red hair which she had never seen before on a boy, how unusual she thought. She would have to tell Taya all about what Dumbledore said and the red-headed boy.