ELIXIR: A Harry Potter Universe Fanfiction

One. The Start of Term Feast

Caiti O'Connell had been on the last cart from Hogsmeade station. She followed her cart-mates, a group of third year Hufflepuff girls, into the Great Hall, already crowded with most of the students, and walked down the aisle between the Ravenclaw and Slytherin tables, scanning for Evelyn's red-haired head. She was easiest to spot.

Caiti saw her and the others seated midway down the long table, clustered together on the bench, and she headed for them. Evelyn turned her head when she spotted her coming.

"There you are," she said, a smile brightening her face and widening her blue eyes. She brushed her long, thick red hair out of her face, trying and failing to tuck it behind her ear. When she spoke, the two boys she was with turned around too. Marlowe Finnegan, his dark curls unkempt, and his brown eyes alive, as always, above a straight nose and a mischievous, crooked smile that dimpled only on one side, patted the open seat next to him. Caiti stepped her legs over to sit using his shoulder as a balance point.

"That's gonna cost you a kiss," Marlowe joked.

Caiti just rolled her eyes and said, "Nice try." Marlowe had made it his personal mission to get Caiti to kiss him the moment he had found out, at the start of his second year, that his best friend Sean's little sister was starting at Hogwarts. It had begun as a joke meant to annoy his friend, but somewhere along the line - though he would never admit it - everyone, even Caiti, had realized he'd grown the tiniest bit serious.

The other boy, seated across the table next to Evelyn, was Sean. He had the same pink toned skin, dirty blonde hair, and warm brown eyes as his little sister. Only one year older, he and Caiti had always been close. So close in fact, that Caiti had failed to make any real friends in her own year when she came to Hogwarts, and had been hanging around with Sean and his friends for the past five years. But that didn't stop Sean from parenting her occasionally . Just now he looked relieved. What happened to you?" he asked. "I thought you were right behind us.

Caiti had been sitting with them on the train, after all. "Tripped," she said. "Spilt a lot of stuff into the corridor and had to pick it up, but everyone was trying to walk through so it wasn't easy."

She'd always been shockingly clumsy, nothing like Sean who was, in her opinion, good at everything: top or almost in all his classes, outstanding on the Quidditch field where he played keeper, kind, and handsome to boot. He may have been her brother, but she wasn't so blinded by sibling rivalry as to miss that he was the school's golden boy, especially now that he was in his seventh year. The only thing Sean didn't have was a girlfriend, but that was only because he and Evelyn were either too stupid to see that they were in love with each other, or otherwise too stubborn to admit it. They were the only ones who hadn't realized it yet.

"Well you should have told us to wait," Sean said.

She shrugged. "Didn't realize I'd fall so far behind. You were already gone. Got some sweet bruises though, when I fell," she grinned, pulling up the sleeves of her robes to show them the two matching bruises already blossoming a dark rose color on her elbows.

Marlowe leaned forward to look around her forearms and see. "Nice!" he held up a hand for a high five. She smacked his hand hard, grinning with the tip of her tongue pinched between her front teeth. Evelyn just shook her head.

The doors to the Great Hall opened again and Professor Munslow, the Herbology teacher, entered carrying the old, ratty Sorting Hat. He led the new crop of first years down the aisle. A couple of them, judging by the way the fronts of their robes were dripping wet and the fact that they were all giggling, seemed to have either been splashing each other on their traditional boat ride, or else had decided it might be fun to dive into the lake.

Caiti leaned back to see past the heads of the people in front of her. "What d'you reckon that boy on the end's a Ravenclaw?" she whispered. It had been a little game of theirs for the past few years, to guess at which students would end up in which house.

"Nah, he's a Hufflepuff," Marlowe decided, eyeing the boy.

They hushed up when the hat, now sat on the stool, began to sing, but Caiti kept scanning the first years, trying to guess who her fellow Ravenclaws were going to be.

Welcome my dear children

To these hallowed learning halls

Where we'll teach you what we're able

Witness triumphs and some falls.

Here you'll find a family,

At a table in this room.

Here you'll find your future,

Not just what but with whom.

Welcome newfound Gryffindors,

The bravest of the lot.

Let your heart and courage guide you,

But your eager brashness not.

Welcome our new Ravenclaws,

The bright and witty ones,

Keep your head and mind connected,

But don't forget your fun.

Welcome fresh new Hufflepuffs,

A steady, loyal bunch,

Your patient way will serve you,

If you stand up to the punch.

And welcome brand new Slytherins,

Those sly and driven folk,

Your cunning is your blessing,

Just don't use it to provoke.

Yes welcome our new students,

We're happy that you're here,

Now let's put me on your head,

You have nothing to fear.

All I do is look inside you,

Examine you a bit,

Then I shout out to all gathered,

And tell you where you'll fit.

Everyone in the hall broke into a huge, thunderous applause, but Caiti could have sworn she heard the hat give a great laugh, one single "HA!" It's song this year, had been vaguely more critical than usual, although not quite unkind. And the end, a bit sarcastic, perhaps meant to poke fun at the first years who were terrified at the idea of being put in the wrong house - as though that were possible. She wondered if, perhaps, after all these hundreds of years, the hat had finally gotten bored and thought maybe this song could spice things up a bit.

The applause died down and everyone fell quiet as Professor Munslow unrolled the scroll he was holding and called out the first name: "Allan, Justin."

"Gryffindor, no question," said Sean confidently. The boy, a stocky little thing with sandy brown hair sat on the stool, legs straddling it with his feet hooked around the back of the legs.

Sure enough, the hat shouted out "GRYFFINDOR!" and the corresponding table erupted in cheers as they welcomed their first new student.

Between the four of them, someone always seemed to guess right, and they were often in agreeance. They'd become pretty adept at guessing over the last few years. It was all in the facial expression, the body language, how they held their hands, how they interacted with people. Each house had it's major traits, big things, shared by many people, the kinds of traits that people wore on their sleeve. Caiti thought that, if the hat ever decided it was tired of it's job, she and her friends could take over without much of a ripple in the process.

No one was named a Ravenclaw until "Duris, Euan," was called up to the stool - the boy who'd been standing on the end that Caiti had guessed right away. "Told ya," she shouted at Marlowe over the applause of her own table.

He stuck his tongue out at her, reaching out to Euan for a high five as he passed them, going to take a seat a ways down.

Awhile later, "Swenson, Piper," was greeted with a huge applause all around when she was made a Gryffindor, because anyone who had ever been to the hospital wing already knew her. Piper was the nurse's daughter. Her mother, Raigan, had started at the school nurse fresh out of Hogwarts and, because she was working with people who had been her peers, had began on a first name basis with the students and never transitioned out of it. She was probably the most well-liked member of the faculty and staff. Piper was like one of their own, especially to the older students who had watched her grow up.

In the end, Ravenclaw house had welcomed around a dozen new students, including Marlowe's younger brother, Elliot, much to Marlowe's chagrin. "It's not that I don't want him there," he explained, "It's just that he's going to want to follow me around."

"Well at least I can hang out with him next year when you all leave me," Caiti said, raising her eyebrows.

Once the sorting hat had been cleared away, the headmaster, Professor Osset, stood up to make the usual start of term announcements.

"Our Sorting Hat has so kindly already welcomed all our new students. However, I hope you won't mind if I'm a bit redundant and say... welcome, everyone - old and new. We are all gathered here, fresh from a break, ready for another year. I hope you have had as nice a time as I have but that you, like me, were ready to be back in this place, all of us together." He smiled around at everyone.

Professor Osset was young for a headmaster, although not necessarily young in age. He was maybe in his late fifties, his salt and pepper hair sitting atop kindly, wizened skin - age lines not from frowning, but from smiling. He had very light, grey eyes, piercing when he was angry or wanted to make something very clear, but otherwise warm and patient. Caiti had never spoken with him personally, but she had an idea that she liked him.

"I have a few short announcements which I would like to make now, before we all become too absorbed in our food and thoughts of our nice comfortable beds. First, I remind you that the forest is forbidden to all students. Second, each of your prefects has been supplied with a list of banned objects of which there are too many to read just now, but feel free to consult as necessary."

He paused here, but Caiti could tell he wasn't finished. When he began again, his tone was different. "As you may or may not know, every five years, the Triwizard Tournament is held at one of the three major, magical schools in Europe: Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, Durmstrang Institute, and of course, our own Hogwarts."

At this, Marlowe turned to Sean excitedly. Last time around, they had been second years, and the tournament had been hosted at Durmstrang so they had had to settle for news clippings and radio coverage to keep updated. It hadn't taken long for either of them to realize that the next time the tournament came around, they would be seventeen and old enough to enter.

"This year," Professor Osset was saying, "I am delighted to announce that Hogwarts will be hosting the tournament." Here he began a short diatribe on the history of the tournament, for those who were unfamiliar, but Caiti heard next to none of it, because the boys had erupted with talk. They weren't the only ones. All over, excited whispering had broken out on top of the headmaster's speech.

"Our guests will be arriving early in October and then, our champions will be chosen. One among you will have the opportunity to bring a great honor to this school." He looked at each table in turn, and Caiti could feel Marlowe swelling with preemptive pride behind her.

"It is also my great pleasure to announce that, after much deliberation, we have decided that the inter-house Quidditch Cup will occur as usual" - he paused to wait out the great applause that had broken out across the room. "While we normally would not hold both competitions within the same academic year, we decided that, for the sake of several seventh years who we know are interested in being scouted for professional teams, we had better give them that final chance to be seen. I'll say no more, just now, but look out for more information regarding quidditch and the tournament in the coming weeks, especially those students who are of age and considering putting forth their names as champion. But now, let us eat, and may I say one more time, welcome to all."

He sat down, and instantly the golden plates filled with all kinds of food: boiled potatoes, a large and juicy roast, peas, beef wellington, shepherd's pie, and, looking out of place though not unwelcome, a gigantic bowl of applesauce. Neither Marlowe or Sean reached for food immediately, much to Caiti's surprise. Slowly, she reached for the serving fork and passed herself a large slice of the roast sitting in front of her, followed by a healthy spoonful of peas. She looked between the two of them suspiciously. It was like they were communicating without words, their eyes glued to each other across the table, alight.

Evelyn poked Sean in the side. "Eat, idiot," she said. "Stop ogling him like you've just taken a love potion."

Caiti snorted into her pumpkin juice and Evelyn shot her a grin.

Slowly, the boys began to move again. Marlowe started shaking his head. Caiti frowned at him and spooned some peas onto his plate too. "You aren't really thinking of entering are you?" she asked.

"What do you mean we aren't really thinking of entering. Have you listened to a thing I've said for the last five years, Caiti?"

She and Evelyn eyed each other across the table. Evelyn swallowed her food and said, "Well, it's rather dangerous isn't it? Hadn't you better think about it first?"

"Oh we've thought about it," said Sean, almost dreamily. "A thousand galleons. Eternal glory and honor for your school and your house. Yeah, we've thought about it."

"And did you think about the tasks at all," Evelyn continued. "Or did you conveniently block that part out?"

"Nice try, Ev," said Marlowe. "My name's going in that cup the second the fire's lit, dangerous or not." He turned to Sean, slicing up the meat he'd just fed onto his plate. "One of us has to get chosen," he said.

"Has to," agreed Sean.

"What d'you think the tasks'll be?" Marlowe asked. While Sean was thinking, Marlowe, finally, began shoveling food into his mouth at a high rate of speed. Caiti watched him, half amused, half appalled, taking one small, dainty bite of her own applesauce.

"There's always something with some kind of a creature, like dragons or manticores or something," Sean said through a mouthful of food.

Marlowe had only just begun to respond when a lanky brunette in bright red lipstick came sliding onto the bench next to him, knocking into his shoulder. "Hi Marlowe!" she said as he was sent toppling over, practically into Caiti's lap. Caiti squeaked and spilled peas off her spoon all over Marlowe and her robes. Once he'd straightened up, he made eye contact with Caiti and they both burst out laughing.

The girl's name was Amelia, a Ravenclaw in Caiti's year who had had a thing for Marlowe for the last year, so far unreturned. By the look on Amelia's face, it was clear that knocking Marlowe into the girl she knew he liked and giving them a reason to laugh together had not been the effect she was going for. "How was your summer?" she asked, ignoring the fact that he had ignored her.

"Oh," said Marlowe, still grinning. "Hey Amelia. It was alright. How was yours?" He glanced back at Caiti with his eyes widening just for a second as if to say HELP.

"Oh it was good. I didn't do all that much. I mean I guess we did go on Holiday to France for a few weeks and my sister got married and I was the maid of honor. But hey, I thought I sent you an invite, asking you to be my plus one. Didn't you ever get it?"

Caiti took a very long and deep pretend sip from her nearly empty cup, only aiming to hide her face inside it until she could control it again. She had heard, in depth, about Marlowe's dilemma with the wedding. Amelia had not sent just one letter asking him to come, but twenty six, all of which he had ignored. Caiti had tried to get him to just go, but he had been terrified that he would come home roped into a long-term, exclusive relationship with a sixty year plan.

"A wedding invite?" said Marlowe evasively. "Hm, I don't think I ever saw one."

"Funny," said Amelia. "I remember sending it. Oh well. Hey, did you hear there's a ball as part of this tournament? I heard someone talking about it down at the other end of the table. Who d'you think you'll ask?"

"I dunno yet," he said, taking a particularly large bite of food so that he would not have to elaborate.

"You're going to enter aren't you?" she continued, unswayed.

He nodded, mouth still full of beef wellington.

"Thought so. You'll probably get it, don't you think? I think you should get it."

He forced a smile, swallowed hard and said, "Thanks," without looking at her.

Amelia continued to rattle on, needing next to nothing in return to keep the conversation going. It wasn't until the golden plates cleared themselves and appeared refilled with dessert that she decided she had better get back to where she'd been sitting.

Caiti looked as relieved as Marlowe, if not more. "Ev, why can't I live with the seventh years? She is honestly a nightmare. They all are." Caiti's class was gossipy. The other girls had cliqued quickly in their first year, always trying to act older than they were. Caiti wanted no part of it.

"You know I really thought ignoring those letters would sour her on me," mused Marlowe, helping himself to a bit of treacle tart.

"If Amelia wants something, she doesn't give up till she's got it," said Caiti. "You're gonna have to do a lot worse than that to get rid of her. The little smirk on Evelyn's face showed she agreed.

"What if I kissed you in front of her?" he said, giving Caiti a cheeky grin.

Sean pretended he hadn't heard that and started saying something loudly to Evelyn about how great the food was. He'd always been uncomfortable about anyone's being interested in Caiti romantically. She was under the impression that he and Marlowe had never spoken about the fact of Marlowe's changed intentions. Marlowe had probably heard enough from Sean about Theo, Caiti's now ex-boyfriend, not to bring it up. Caiti and Theo had been together almost two years. Sean had never trusted him.

Just now, Caiti gave Marlowe an exasperated look from under her eyelashes, letting out a short sigh through her nose. "Stop," she said.

"Only kidding, only kidding," he assured her, smiling brightly. "But really, if you've got any ideas, send them my way."

When the golden plates had cleared again, the students happily stuffed and ready for nice warm beds, Professor Osset stood one last time. "If our Prefects would please help our first years find their dormitories, I think it's time for us all to tuck ourselves into our beds as I know you'll want to be well-rested for your first classes tomorrow. Goodnight to all, and may I say just once more: welcome and welcome back."

At this, Sean, who was Head Boy, and Evelyn, who was a Prefect, hurried off to lead the first years up to Ravenclaw tower, leaving Caiti and Marlowe to make their way up alone.

"You think they kept the Quidditch cup for you?" Caiti asked him once they had begun their walk up the marble staircase outside the entrance hall.

"I don't know if it was only for me," he said. "I am glad they kept it though. Would've been difficult to play for anyone without playing this year." Marlowe was captain of the Ravenclaw team and had been playing beater since he was a second year. He'd been talking about playing quidditch professionally for years and Caiti knew he hadn't been able to see far enough past it to come up with any other ideas. He'd have been perfectly capable of almost anything. Marlowe was much more intelligent than he let on. But quidditch, Caiti knew, was what he wanted.

"Well I'd be shocked if you weren't a pretty strong support for keeping it going," she said. "You still think you'd enter the tournament though? Wouldn't that be a lot with Quidditch and everything else?"

She glanced up at him. Marlowe was nearly a foot taller than tiny, little Caiti, who had apparently not inherited height from either of her parents, both of whom, like her brother, were tall.

"Don't see why not," he said. "I won't get it anyway."

"You don't know that though," she argued.

Marlowe looped one arm easily over Caiti's shoulders without looking at her. "Nah, I do. Your brother'll get it. Just watch."

Caiti didn't say anything, but she thought he was probably right.