Chapter 1: The Quadwizard Tournament

It was the dead of summer when Mari abruptly awoke early in the night. There was a burning pain in her forehead, and a dream she couldn't recall. She didn't understand why, but she felt it was all important. Her pain, the dream…. But the only detail she could recollect was a dimly lit room. She knew there were figures in it, though she couldn't see who. She heard muffled voices, but couldn't decipher what they were saying. And a very large snake slithering up a staircase….

It was all so bizarre. Especially the sudden, random headache. Mari cringed as she placed a hand against her forehead, pressing down against the sharp pain. It had been a while since she'd received a piercing headache like this. Her aunt and uncle brushed it off the few other times it happened, but she couldn't remember it ever scorching like this.

She got out of bed and walked over to the mirror in her room. She squinted in the moonlight streaming through the window, trying to see if it looked as red as it felt, but as far as she could tell it was as pale as it had always been. She shut her eyes, trying to focus on the particulars of what she had just dreamt, but it was like trying to see through an unfocused lens. She sighed and glanced around her bedroom.

On Mari's desk lay an array of parchment and paper, pens and quills. Books from both the magical and non-magical world littered her bookshelf, and her shaggy, black dog was still curled up in his bed on the other side of the room. She walked over to the book she had been reading the night before. She stared at the pages of Modern Magical History, skimming again through Harry Potter's defeat of the dark wizard Voldemort.

It was always on her mind. Harry Potter and his parents. Voldemort. People she'd never met, yet such vital individuals to her life.

Mari sat back down on her bed, bringing her hand to her forehead again. It wasn't the actual pain bothering her so much as the why. Mari had gotten into plenty of trouble before. She had a pretty high threshold for pain at this point. Once she'd even managed to get kicked by a hippogriff. She was shielding the idiot who pissed it off, though she wished she hadn't. The thing managed to break both her arms. But this pain, it had only occurred a few times before, and her aunt and uncle had brushed it off so easily, almost like they knew why it was hurting and didn't want to tell her.

Mari jumped as she heard Ghost snore from his doggy bed. She was being silly. Why was she being so suspicious that they weren't worried about silly little migraines? It was probably just stress. Mari shook her head and curled back up in her bed. It's nothing, she told herself as she lay awake, staring out her window. She eventually drifted off, dreaming again of a snake and a boy with untidy black hair and glasses, dreaming again things she'd forget as soon as she awoke the next morning.

~b~r~e~a~k~

It was a week later that Mari found herself standing under the glass cupola at Ilvermorny. She looked at the four carvings around the room, reminiscing about her Sorting Ceremony when she was 11. It was the beating wings of the Thunderbird that attracted her the most, and thus was the house she chose. Some say Thunderbird House represented adventure, but Mari looked at the powerful creature and was reminded of strength and bravery.

Mari sighed contentedly before making her way to her dorm room. She smiled as she went to her usual bed and began unpacking when she heard a shout from behind her.

"Mari! Oh my gosh I missed you!" A bundle of light brown hair was all she could see as she felt arms wrap her in a hug.

"Hi, Jane," she laughed as she returned her hug.

"I told my parents I'm never going on vacation again. I missed you!"

"Oh you loved it. Don't even try to lie. How was France?"

"So great! You know my cousins go to the wizarding school there, right? Beauxbatons! You won't believe what they told me about this year. It's huge news! But first, I'm starving. Let's go join the Welcoming Feast!"

Jane always spoke too fast, and she didn't pause as she grabbed Mari's arm and dragged her back to the entrance hall where they could watch the Sorting Ceremony. The new students timidly entered the wide room, their mouths agape as they admired the four large carvings that represented the houses.

The Sorting Ceremony was one of Mari's favorite things about Ilvermorny. She loved watching the carvings come to life as they wanted students. The Serpent's glowing crystal, the roaring Wampus, the Pukwudgie's arrow, and of course the Thunderbird's wings. It was a sight to behold. She watched them take turns lighting up with each new student. For a few students, two houses lit up at the same time. Each student it happened to shared the same bewildered look on his or her face when realizing they had to choose. Mari smirked each time. She knew the choice was difficult.

The first-year students ended up being distributed pretty evenly throughout the four houses, and they were now being led in four semblances of lines into the next room where they would get their wands. This part wasn't as fascinating as it was tedious. So many wands, so few students in comparison. They sat through the Wand Choosing Ceremony without complaint though, imagining the feast that they were about to devour. Finally, they were in the Banquet Hall seated at the Thunderbird table, ready to dig in.

The Welcoming Feast was incredible as usual. It consisted of American and Canadian favorites alike. The table was littered with burgers, various types of chicken, steaks, and Canadian food that Mari didn't recognize. She licked her lips and reached for a juicy burger. It was by far the best burger she'd ever eaten. She and Jane ate to their heart's content, and then some, finishing off with cupcakes before relaxing and finally studying their new recruits.

They discussed the new students for a few minutes before Headmaster Fontaine stood up. The room immediately went silent, ready to hear his welcome speech.

"Good evening! I'd like to welcome both new and returning students to Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! And it's an exciting year indeed, for this year, we will be participating in an event which we've never before had the pleasure of partaking in!"

"Hey, this is what I was gonna tell you about!" Jane whisper-shouted to Mari, disappointed that Headmaster Fontaine would be the one to break the news instead of her.

"Shh," was all she replied.

"I've been in England for much of the summer, as many of you know. While there, I had many meetings with the British Ministry of Magic and with the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Albus Dumbledore. For the first time in many centuries, they will have the honor of hosting an event previously named the Triwizard Tournament.

"For those of you who have never heard of the Triwizard Tournament, it is a competition that was established centuries ago as a tournament between the three largest schools in Europe. A champion was chosen from each school and set to compete in three magical tasks. It is a competition established to create ties between wizards and witches of different nationalities, but unfortunately was discontinued due to the death toll."

The room broke out into whispers at this. Headmaster Fontaine paused long enough for everyone to gasp and make a comment before continuing.

"This year, however, the tournament is being reinstated. The British Departments of International Games and Magical Cooperation and Magical Games and Sports, as well as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, have reached out to us and are modifying it to be the Quadwizard Tournament. Sure, the name doesn't flow as well, but, select students from Ilvermorny will travel with me in a few months to Hogwarts where this historical event will take place. We will be joined by Durmstrang Institute and Beauxbatons Academy of Magic to compete for the prize, the Quadwizard Cup, as well as a thousand galleons personal prize money!

"Now, this event is only open to overage wizards! If you are still below the age of 17 when we leave in October, you will not be able to put your name forward for consideration."

At this, there was an outcry from the older students. Many of them would be turning 17 in November and later and thought that they, too, deserved the chance to participate.

"This was a decision made by the British Ministry of Magic as well as the Heads of the other schools. This rule was put in place for your safety. More information will be delivered to the older students in your classes.

"Now, time for bed so you are ready to face a new year of classes. New students, you will follow…" Headmaster Fontaine continued with the normal, beginning-of-the-year-announcements, but the girls were no longer listening.

"I turn 17 on October 1. Lucky, huh?" the girl next to Mari whispered to her. Mari turned to find Melissa winking at her.

"Mel!" she lunged at the seventh-year student, suffocating her in a hug. Mel, Jane's older sister, had been like a big sister to Mari ever since she arrived at Ilvermorny.

"Not fair," Jane grumbled as she crossed her arms across her chest. "I want to go to Hogwarts!"

"Sorry, Jane, it's only for adults," Mel said in a stuffy voice before sticking her tongue out at her little sister. Mari laughed at the exchange.

"Aww, don't be so hard on her, Mel! Besides, if this is about magical ties, then maybe they'll let underage wizards tag along to watch!"

It suddenly got quiet around Mari and she looked around to see why everyone stopped talking. Standing behind her was Headmaster Fontaine.

"Hello, Miss Smith. I'm sorry to bother you so late, but may I see you in my office?"

Mari swallowed. Why would the Headmaster want to speak with her on the first day of school? She couldn't have gotten into trouble already. She went through the events of the day in her head, trying to figure out if she'd done anything Headmaster's-Office-worthy yet.

"Yes, Headmaster." She stood up and followed him, many heads turning their way as she hung her head in shame and followed him there.

They reached a set of large, stone doors. Headmaster Fontaine mumbled something before the doors began shaking and opening on their own. Mari had seen this so many times it no longer fazed her. She was no stranger to the Headmaster's Office. She followed him into the room as he began speaking.

"Now, Miss Smith, you're probably wondering why I wanted to speak with you."

Mari looked around as they entered the large circular room. All four walls were lined with thick, dusty volumes from floor to ceiling, as she imagined any headmaster's office would be. Many different gadgets of many different shapes and colors decorated the room, and the golds, silvers and bronzes gave the room a colder feel. On a perch by the Headmaster's desk was a barn owl.

"Headmaster, I swear I didn't do it!" Mari began her run-of-the-mill, it-wasn't-me speech that she so often recited to teachers. This time though, it really wasn't her.

"Mari, relax!" Fontaine laughed as Mari looked bewildered. Laughter? "I know you didn't do anything. Yet." he added as an afterthought. "I called you in here for something else entirely. Have a seat."

Mari swallowed as she took a seat in one of the two large, plump, scarlet chairs in front of his desk. She wasn't sure if they were designed to comfort their occupants, or to make them feel small, for Mari certainly felt small.

"I wanted to speak with you about the Quadwizard Tournament. Mari, I want you to come to Hogwarts with us."

"What? Me? Professor, I only just turned 14!"

"No, no. Not to participate. You would be more of a supporting role. Helping the other students with what they need. You'll be taking classes with the Hogwarts students as well. Mostly, I just wanted you to be able to see the place you come from. The place your parents come from." His voice softened considerably as he said that last sentence.

Mari couldn't believe it. She had always wanted to visit Hogwarts. She had never visited the UK, although she was born there. Her parents were killed by the dark wizard Voldemort when she was an infant, and she was separated from her brother and brought to live in the Americas with her aunt and uncle ever since. No one ever told her why it had to be this way. She was lucky to know of her brother's existence at all. It was her dream to see the large castle and grounds that she knew held many memories of her family.

"You mean, I'm being brought along just to see the school?" Mari kept telling herself to shut up, but she couldn't help herself. "Am I the only underage witch going?"

"Probably not." Fontaine sighed. "Mari, after a deep discussion with Headmaster Dumbledore, followed by a long discussion with your aunt and uncle, we think it best for you to spend the year at Hogwarts. Your brother still can't know about you, but at least this way you can see him, even meet him. We'll be sending others your age to visit as well. Perhaps Jane would like to join?"

"Why can't my brother know about me?" Mari interjected. "I was told never to contact him, but no one ever told me why. He's my only family. Other than Aunt and Uncle Smith," she added.

Her brother. It felt weird speaking it. She had stopped demanding answers long ago, but seeing as she might finally meet him, she couldn't stop herself now. As far as she was aware, he lived in England with their aunt and uncle from her mom's side. He didn't know she existed. Mari did a lot of research on her family, searching through history books and such. Her aunt and uncle wouldn't share much with her. It was hard for Aunt Alice to talk about her dead brother and his wife.

"That is a question for another day. I just wanted you to know in advance that you'd be leaving your classmates for the year, and you'll be joining the fourth-year students in Hogwarts. Sort of as a study-abroad program. Most people aren't allowed to study abroad between the schools because everyone would want to and it would be chaos, but we make exceptions for students such as yourself who have family in another school. When others ask why you're going, you'll tell them the truth. Your aunt and uncle asked for you to go study abroad in your home country so you could get to know your extended family."

"Wait, won't everyone be taking classes too? And what am I supposed to tell them when they ask me who I know at Hogwarts?"

"No. The others will be under my instruction for the year. You're the only one who will be joining the Hogwarts student family, if you choose to do so. You're going under the pretense that you're a distant cousin of the Weasley family. Arthur and Molly have already been made aware, and they are to keep this whole thing a secret. They have told their children that you're a distant cousin of theirs. Headmaster Dumbledore tells me they are a family of redheads, much like you, that are incredibly trustworthy. You should fit right in."

He gave her a look, indicating that he had nothing more to say on the subject.

"Now, Mari, if you could please just stay out of trouble, at least until we leave in October."

"I make no promises, Headmaster Fontaine." Mari saluted him mockingly and quickly evacuated his office before he had the chance to even process her departure. Mari could swear she saw his face turn red as she flew out the door though.

~e~n~d~~c~h~a~p~t~e~r

A/N: This is a story that's been brewing in my mind for years, and I'm finally jotting it down! Please give it a chance, I have to lay down the groundwork before taking it to Hogwarts. I'm publishing as I write, so I apologize for errors/time delays. I was going to wait until I finish the whole thing, but that'll take a while and I'm impatient!

Please leave me honest feedback :)