Chapter five: The Triwizard tournament.
As the four entered the Great Hall they saw Professor McGonagall shouting at Peeves because he was throwing waterballoons at the students. Not that they needed any help, it was pouring outside and they all got drenched on their way up to the Castle. Ron who was still in a bad mood about Malfoy got hit with a waterballoon by peeves which made him even more grumpy and Sierra suggested they get good seats for the sorting and so they did all soaking wet sat at the Gryffindor table. As they sat Harry, Sierra, and Hermione looked up at the staff table and Hermione asked "Where's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?"
The four of them had never had a Defense teacher for more than one year, and by far Harry and Sierra's favorite had been Professor Lupin, who had resigned last year.
"May be they couldn't get anyone?" Hermione asked anxiously.
" I don't think so, because usually if the headmaster couldn't find one the Ministry would find someone suitable to teach for the Headmaster and there would be one sitting up there. I think the teacher just must be late." Sierra said as a matter of factly. As she finished there was a crack of thunder and she shivered, " I sure hope those first years and Hagrid are okay. I'd hate to cross the lake in this weather." Sierra said.
"I'm sure they are if they weren't we would have known by now," Harry said. Then Ron said beside Harry, " Hurry up, I could eat a Hippogriff."
"I'm sure you could," but as if on cue the Great Hall doors open and in came Mcgonagall with the first years. Sierra relaxed a bit now that the first years are here and safe. As the first years lined up around the staff table, in front of the hat, the hat burst out into song. The sorting Hat finished and the sorting had begun.
"Ackerley, Stewart"
"RAVENCLAW!" Shouted the hat.
"Baddock, Malcolm!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
Sierra rolled her eyes as Fred and George hissed at Malcom as the boy sat down.
"Branstone, Eleanor!"
"HUFFLELPUFF!"
"Cauldwell, Owen!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Creevey, Dennis!"
Sierra's head popped up as his name came up and looked over at Colin who was excited as he can be.
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted. Sierra cheered along with the other Gryffindors as Dennis joined their table.
Finally the last student was being sorted "Whitby, Kevin" Was sorted into Hufflepuff.
"About time," Ron said and he picked up his knife and fork. Once again Sierra rolled her eyes at him and faced Dumbledore who said Tuck in. Food had appeared on the table. The four of them loaded their plates with food.
"Ah, that's better," Ron said with his mouth full.
"Your lucky there was a feast tonight." Nick said joining them.
"Why's that?" Sierra asked after swalling her chicken.
"Peeves, he ran the Elves amok. Nearly everything burned." As Nick said this there was a clank and Sierra looked at Hermione making sure that she was alright.
"There are house elves here at Hogwarts? I've never seen them!" Hermione said.
"They usually keep to themselves and clean Hogwarts at night." Nick said.
"But they get sick leave and Pensions don't they?" Hermione asked.
"Hermione open your ears, they like being enslaved!" Ron nearly shouted.
Then Hermione wouldn't eat another bite even though they were trying to get her to eat but she down right refused and then the three of them gave up. When all their plates had cleared Dumbledore had stood up once again and the Hall fell silent.
"I have a few start of the term notices. First the inter-house Quidditch championship will not be hosted this year." He said and Sierra heard Harry saw what? "For Hogwarts has chosen to be the host for a new kind of game. A game where your knowledge and courage will be tested. The game is the Triwizard Tournament. Three Champions will be selected to compete in the tournament, one will represent each school. Hopefully that person will bring the cup to his or her school. However there will be an age restriction those who are seventeen and older will be able to compete. This - Dumbledore raised his a voice a little louder because there were shouts of outbursts. Just then the doors to the Great Hall had opened and it looked like the new Professor had finally arrived.
"May I welcome Professor Moody, he is the new Defense teacher." Applause followed Dumbledores words and Dumbledore continued with his speech. "As I was saying the age limit is this way because the tasks are difficult and dangerous. We have an impartial judge to decide who the three Champions are, I therefore beg you not to waste your time submitting yourself if you are under seventeen. Now our guests from Beauxbaton and Durmstrang will be arriving in October and remaining with us for the greater part of the year. I know that you'll extend every courtesy to our foreign guests while they are with us, and will give your whole-hearted support to our Hogwarts Champion. Bed time Chop! Chop!"
"They can't do that! We're seventeen in April! Why can't we have a shot?" George Weasley asked as they joined the crowd.
"Well, they're not stopping me from entering," said Fred. "The champions get to do all sorts of stuff you'd never be allowed to do normally. And a thousand galleon prize money!"
"Yeah," said Ron. "Yeah a thousand Galleons..."
"Come on," said Hermione, "we'll be the only ones left her if you don't move."
The six of them moved to the entrance hall, and headed to the tower.
"Who's the Impartial Judge?" Harry asked.
"No one knows, we're just going to have to wait and find out. Fred, George, I have a feeling that none of your plans are going to work no matter what you do. Dumbledore is a genius you know." Sierra told them as they headed up the marble staircases toward the Gryffindor common room.
"Yeah, but its not him who we have to fool is it?" Fred asked Sierra.
"I still think that it's ridiculous that your entering despite the rules. If you do get a way to enter and your not seventeen then those who do deserve it won't support you." Sierra said arguing with Fred. The two had argued all the way to the Fat Lady who just got annoyed with the two and let them in with out the password.
"Will you two stop arguing already. Your starting to sound like me and Ron." Hermione said and dragged Sierra up to the girls dormitory. Sierra was furious with Fred and didn't bother to say goodnight.
Chapter 6: The Retired Auror.
The next morning Sierra saw Fred but didn't greet him like she usually did in the morning, even Fred ignored her and went to breakfast. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Sierra went to breakfast in silence. Then when they sat down, McGonagall handed them their schedules for the day.
"Today's not bad....outside all morning," Ron had said finguring down his schedule. "Herbology with the Hufflepuff and Care of Magical Creatures...damn it, we're still with the Slytherins...."
"Double Divination this afternoon," Harry groaned looking down.
"You should have given it up like me, shouldn't you?" said Hermione. "Then you would be doing something resonable like Aritmancy."
"You're eating again, I've noticed." Ron said.
"I've decided therea re better ways of making a stand about elf rights." Said Hermione haughtily.
"Yeah and you were hungry." Ron said and the four of them got up and headed out to Herbology.
"Your awful quiet Sierra," Harry had said.
"Oh, I'm just thinking." she replied.
"About the arguement. Just let them do it and when it doesn't work you can laugh in their face." Harry said.
"That I could live with. I just might need a laugh by then, I'll make up with Fred later." Sierra said and the conversation ended when they entered the green houses.
In Herbology they were learning about Bobtuber Pus. It helped a lot with acne problems according to Professor Sprout. Then before they knew it, it was lunch time already and headed to the great Hall. After lunch the four of them had care of Magical Creatures.
As they sat down shortly after Fred, George, and Lee came and sat next to them.
"Moody! He's amazing he actually knows his stuff!" Fred said telling to them.
"Really?" Sierra had asked.
"Yeah, he acts like he knows what's out there and how to deal with them." Fred answered her apparently had forgotten about the arguement the night before. Then Sierra saw Ron dig out his schedule and looked disappointed and said, "We haven't gotten him until Thursday afternoon." Then put his schedule back in his bag.
"Well, we don't want to spoil if for you four so, you're going to have to wait." Said George. They all began to eat lunch, Ron now all excited about Thursday.
The four of them got up and headed down to Care of Magical Creatures when they got there Hagrid was telling them that they were going to take care Blast-ended Skrewts.
"Why would we take care of them?" said a cold drawling voice that the four of them knew to well. Hagrid had looked stumped at the question.
"What are they for and what's the use of them?" Malfoy said.
"That's next lesson Malfoy. Now each of you pick a skrewt. " Hagrid said. They all did and the next hour was trying to figure out what the skrewts would eat and finally the bell rang. Hermione and Sierra headed off to Arithmancy while, Harry and Ron headed off to Divination. When the four meet after class Hermione said, "Lot's of homework? Professor Vector didn't give us any at all!"
"Well, bully for Professor Vector." Ron said grumpily and the four headed to the Great Hall and sat and once again Hermione ate at top speed.
"Why are you in a hurry?" Ron had asked.
" The library." Hermione answered.
"But I thought Professor Vector didn't give you any." Ron said.
"It's not homework," Hermione said as she finished and dashed to the library.
Chapter 7: Unforgivable Curses.
Harry, Ron and Sierra had made their way to the common room. They sat by the fire, Sierra was reading because she didn't want to hear Harry and Ron make up story about themselves. Then a few minutes later Fred came in with George and Lee and wanted to speak to Sierra alone. So the two went for a walk.
"So, what did you want to talk about?" Sierra asked him.
"About last night," Fred answered.
"Look," Sierra started. " I don't care what you and your brother decide to do. If I'm right then, I can just laugh in your face. And say I told you so."
"Really? I was just going to say that we aren't going to try and enter, and um was wondering if you would like to go to the first visit to Hogsmeade with me?"
Sierra just stood there staring at him as they got to the bottom of the stairs of the Gryffindor common room. She had also turned a little red in the cheeks. Fred waved his hand in front of her eyes clearly wanting her to blink.
"Stop that," She said pushing his hand a way.
"Well you just stood there, I had to do something to get you awake." Fred said to her.
"I'm sorry it's just that I thought I heard you ask me," She looked around, " a werewolf out." She finished.
"No, I was asking the person behind you. I don't care what you are." Fred said. As they continued walking, down the hallway.
" Then yes, I will. Trouble maker," She mumbled and he smiled and they turned around and headed back to the Gryffindor Common room. As they went in Fred went back to George and Lee and Sierra went to Harry and Ron, Hermione had arrived and was starting to Explain S.P.E.W.
"Hermione, seriously, why are we doing this?" Sierra had asked her.
"To stop the cruelty of houselves," Hermione said heatedly as she made Sierra Vice President. "I'd thought a sickle to join that buys a badge, and I got a tin upstairs for you Ron." As she said this Harry, Ron, and Sierra tried not to exchange looks, but listen to her. Finally Hermione was finished and Sierra said goodnight to them and also Fred and headed off to bed. Then Hermione had followed her curious about what was going on between her and Fred.
The next morning, the four friends went to the Great Hall to eat and breakfast and head off to Defense. Hermione was finally slowing down and eating her food properly, which Sierra was glad so her and Hermione engaged into a conversation that could only be heard by them and then headed off to the Defense room. Finally after waiting a few minutes Harry and Ron caught up with them and they got decent seats.
"CONSTANT VIGILANCE," the Professor shouted making the whole class jump. "Now, Professor Lupin had left me a note saying, that you have covered, Boggarts, Grindylows, Red Caps, and werewolfs. But you are very behind on dealing with curses. Now! I'm not supposed to show you these curses until seventh year, the Ministry thinks your to young, but! I think they are wrong you have to know what you have to deal with. Who can name an Unforgivable curse?" Moody had asked.
Sierra looked around and saw several hands slowly go up, most of them except for hers and Harry's. Then he called on Ron.
"There is the Imperius Curse," Ron had said.
"Ah yes, now this curse can be fought, and I'll be teaching you how, but it takes real strength of character, and not everyone's got it. Better avoid being hit with it while you can." Moody said and he picked up the spider and used the imperius curse and moved it about the room. Then he asked, "Anyone else know one? Another illegal curse?" Once again Hermione's flew into the air and to Sierra and Harry's surprise Neville the only information he was willing to give was in Herbology which was his best subject by far.
"Longbottom, isn't it?" Moody asked.
"Y-yes sir, there's the Cruciatus curse." Neville said quietly and Sierra turned pale Harry noticed and tried to comfort her. Professor yelled, "Crucio!" Sierra could hear the spider squeal and she turned away and saw flashbacks to when it was used on her, by a man when she was younger and didn't stop until her mother had came in and sheilded her and when her mother did, her father came in and killed her. Before Sierra could stop she was in tears and ran out of the room. Hermione ran after her, after she told Moody to stop.
"Sierra!" Hermione shouted as Sierra ran into the girls bathroom. Hermione had followed her inside.
"Sierra," she said more quietly. "Are you okay?" Sierra had come out and hugged her best friend and the two stayed in there for quite awhile.
"Come on let's get something to eat," Hermione said as they were in the bathroom until lunch period. The two headed out silently and when they reached the Great Hall they sat across from Harry and Ron. Who looked at her with full of concern.
Ron decided to break the silence and said, "You two missed the funniest thing. When we came out of defense Malfoy had told me dad was in the paper to make a long story short. Harry had insulted Malfoy's mum, and when he made a move to attack Harry, Moody transfigured Malfoy into a white ferret."
"Dang, that would have made my whole day better," Sierra had said.
"Well, we're glad your better the teachers were worried about the two of you and we have notes for you and the assignments." Harry had said to them.
"Thanks," the girls said together.
"Well, we'd better get started on this during this break so we don't fall behind. We'll see you two in Transfiguration." Hermione said and Sierra had followed her out of the Great Hall to the Library.
Chapter 8: Competing schools.
The classes had ended for the day and the four of them went up to the common after dinner. Sierra and Hermione went to the couch by the fire to do homework and copy down Harry's notes. After a few minutes the common room door opened and more came in, including Fred and his friends.
"Hey Sierra what time is it?" Hermione asked.
"Almost a quarter to seven why?" Sierra asked.
"Almost forgot that we had to meet Professor Mcgonagall tonight at seven." Hermione said and gathered Harry and Ron and they headed down.
When they left Fred came over and sat by Sierra.
"We heard about what happened in Defense today." He said.
"News travels fast don't it?" Sierra asked.
"Well it was mostly Malfoy making fun of you until I hexed him. So what did happen?"
Sierra put her quill down and answered. "Well, basically my worst nightmare came back to me as Moody was showing us the Unfogiveables." Sierra answered Fred nodded and put a comforting arm around her and they sat in silence for a while. Then he left because he and George needed to do something and then Harry, Ron, and Hermione came bursting in and ran towards her.
"What?" she asked.
"McGonagall thinks we've almost got it." Ron said excitedly.
"She said maybe next month we can join you." Harry had told her.
"Really?" Sierra asked excitedly.
"Yeah, isn't it great?" Hermione said.
"Yeah, well I'm going to finish my homework and head off to bed." Sierra said and Hermione had joined her in doing their homework.
Of course Harry and Ron played wizard's chess.
The next morning they came down and a notice was above the fireplace. Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students will be arriving on the 30th of October. Students will return everything to the common room and come down to the entrance hall to greet our guests.
"Sweet, Potions is the last class on Friday Snape won't have time to posion us all," Harry said.
During the next lesson in Defense Sierra was a little more relaxed but still uncomfortable. They were all surprised that Moody said that he was going to put the imperius curse on them. Hermione's hands went up, "But Professor! I thought you couldn't use them on students and it's illegal."
"Dumbledore thinks it's a good idea that you learn what it feels like. But if you want to learn the hardway then your excused you may leave," Moody said. Sierra looked at her friend and grinned, while she muttered "shut-up" Then he started calling everyone one by one. When the class was done the four of them made their way to Transfiguration, Harry had said "you'd think in his class that we'd be murdered any second."
"Yeah, I know, no wonder they were glad to get rid of him at the ministry," Ron had said when they were well out of ear shot of Professor Moody.
"Yeah, well I think all the teachers have gone insane. All this homework their giving us its almost impossible to finish," Sierra mumbled as they took their seats in the Transfiguration room.
The three nodded in agreement, the class flew by and there was a loud groan from the class from the amount of homework she had given them.
"Now you are entering you most important magical studies. Your O.W.L's are drawing nearer." The Professor said.
"O.W.L's aren't until fifth year!" shouted Dean.
"In case you haven't notice, it's next year!" Sierra said in an unbleviable tone.
Finally the bell rang and the students got up and dropped their things in the common room and headed down to dinner.
"All this homework!" Sierra said. "Essay from Binns, Research antitdotes from Snape, Flitwicks making us read extra books on summoning charms, now Hagrid's making us check on those Skrewts. It's all driving me mad!" She finished, as they had entered the great hall and sat down.
"We know, you wouldn't believe this Harry and I got top marks in Divination." Ron said. "She wants us to write more."
They began to pile food on their plates, and ate more quickly since they got a load of homework to start on.
The next week went by fast for the four of them. In no time at all they were putting books back in the common room and went down to meet the competing schools. The whole school was out waiting for the arrival of the schools, many were looking about excitedly trying not to miss the entrance. After a few minutes of wondering how the schools were coming then Dumbledore said, "Aha! If I'm not mistaken, the delegates from Beauxbatons have arrived!" he said pointing up to the sky. Many were looking eagerly at it, the carriage landed just missed Hagrid as he dived out of the way. The headmistress and the delegates came out and greeted Dumbledore and waited inside. Then after a few minutes someone had shouted, "look at the lake!"
The heads turned to the lake, out came an enormous ship. Then the Headmaster and his students came out, greeted Dumbledore and then Sierra saw Ron's jaw drop and heard him whisper to Harry. "Krum! It's Victor Krum!" Sierra annoyed at the girls were squabling over lipstick to see if he'll sign it. "Now I don't think is the time!" She whispered to them and they glared at her and continued to stare at Krum as the new school entered the building, followed by Hogwarts students and each sat at their tables when they came back in.
