Chapter 4: Racing and the need to kill...
"Now 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. Hogwarts will also be a home to an exchange student too. She comes from Australia, which is far over the seas. She spent the summer here, catching up on what she would need to join the 4th years." The old professor eyed many students, sending shivers down their spines.
"Riley's temper is on edge right now, the only people who can counter it and calm her is myself, Professor McGonagall or her friends," Whispers broke out amongst the student body.
"If you aggravate her for the wrong reasons, you get what she gives you. Consider it your punishment. I am not joking, hex her and she'll hex you back. I give her that permission. I do not wish to explain into further detail." He eyed Malfoy carefully before continuing his speech.
"She is a quiet girl and generally very shy, she won't harass you if you don't harass her. If she wants people to know about her, she will tell them so don't go prying into things you shouldn't."
"I must also warn you, with a flick of her wrist she could send you directly to the hospital wing. Her old school specialized in wandless magic; they don't even have to move their lips to cast a spell. She is high amongst her classmates back home, and I have to apologise ahead of time; just in case."
A man ran up the aisle limping in a very amusing way, he whispered something to Dumbledore and left the room in the same fashion. Everyone looked at each other oddly.
Dumbledore continued.
"So, continuing on, Hogwarts has been chosen to host a legendary event. The Pegasus Races. Now for those of you who do not know, the Pegasus races bring together three schools for a series of magical races. From each school a single contestant is selected to compete. Now let me be clear, if chosen you stand alone and only with your steed. And trust me when I say, these contests are not for the faint hearted, but more of that later. For now please join me in welcoming the lovely ladies of the Beauxbatons Academy of magic and their headmistress Madam Maxime."
A group of girls dressed in blue danced up the aisle and released butterflies into the air at the end. They bowed in front of everyone and everyone applauded.
"Blimey, that's one big woman." A student said to Harry; he nodded in response.
"And now our friends from the North; please greet the proud sons of Durmstrang and their high master Igor Karkaroff."
A series of older boys walked up the aisle brandishing Bo staffs, twirling them around and periodically stabbing them into the ground, sparks flew from the tips.
"Blimey it's him, Viktor Krum!" Ron cried softly, eyeing the bulky teenager. Viktor glanced in Hermione's direction and gave her a slight nod. Hermione looked down at the table.
"Albus!" Cried Igor, welcoming his old friend with a hug.
"Igor." he replied, smiling and returning the hug.
Once his friends were seated, Dumbledore took his place at the podium again.
"Once again, students, welcome to Hogwarts. Professor McGonagall, could you please go get Riley from her room please?" The old female professor stood and hurried out of the room. Murmurs broke out amongst the houses; they were wondering which house she was going to be sorted into.
A few minutes later, Professor McGonagall appeared in the Oak Doors with a teenager behind her. They walked towards the front of the hall; all eyes were on Riley Oloughlin. She had dark brown shoulder length hair with red streaks in different layers. She carried herself confidently; but it was evident that she was angry. Her robes were black, everything was to school standards except her skirt, it was just a black mini skirt; some of the boys whispered amongst themselves for obvious reasons.
Fred couldn't take his eyes off her, he had never seen her that angry. He wanted to hold her and take it away. George nudged him, pointing towards Malfoy. He was looking her up and down, Fred growled. Since when did she get red streaks in her hair? Oh well, looks hot! He thought, watching her carefully.
Harry watched her as she walked past, for some reason she gave him a look that said save me!
Dumbledore watched in sympathy as Riley fought to keep herself calm, she had seen Barty Crouch sitting off to the side.
"Riley. Could you please sit up here?" Asked Professor McGonagall, pointing to a seat; an old leather hat in her hand. Riley nodded and walked up the steps and sat on the stool. Normally, she would've chucked a tantrum at being in front of a crowd this big but she was too angry and riled up to fight back. Her eyes scanned the crowd, catching sight of blonde hair on the Slytherin table, her mouth clenched tightly; breathing heavily through her nose. The old female professor placed the hat on her head, the old wizened voice of the sorting hat filtered through the hall.
"Hmm...Interesting. A different mind from the rest of them. Not Hufflepuff. Not Ravenclaw, although you are very intelligent and a quick thinker." Riley instantly blocked the magic that the hat was using to pry through her thoughts.
"And skilled in mind blocking, Harry Potter could use some of this training I think." Small chuckles escaped from a collection of people, including Hermione, but she was silenced instantly by Harry glaring at her; she shrugged innocently at him and turned her attention back to the sorting.
"I guess that leaves Slytherin and Gryffindor."
Gasps rang out amongst the student body.
"It will be over in a minute," Said McGonagall, patting her shoulder softly, as if encouraging. Riley grumbled something under her breath.
Riley lifted the hat from her eyes and looked at the Professor, shrugging she let the hat flap back over her eyes. She really didn't give a damn right now.
Just say Slytherin and Gryffindore already! It's not that hard, some of us want to get out of here so they don't rip off Barty Crouch's head. Riley thought to the sorting hat, making an obvious suggestion, hoping it might hurry up. She had heard a lot about Slytherin and Gryffindor. They were the houses that competed against each other constantly and brought trouble to teachers...and the poor students like Ron the year before. Green hair doesn't go.
"Well that was very heroic deed, but wait, that was a manipulative and sly situation. I wonder if I could place you in two houses at once."
Gasps came from a lot of the students.
Finally! Riley thought, happy that they were moving on.
Dumbledore looked smug, Snape rolled his eyes.
YES! Thought Riley.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Riley's voice echoed in the sorting hat's head.
It thought back to her. I expect good and bad things to come out of this. Are you willing to take on the role of joining the houses? It will be a very hard task, sorting out old grudges and challenges. Riley thought for a minute at what the sorting hat had said.
Yes, I can do that. I'm willing to bring unity to this school; it is for my Grandfather after all. She thought back to it.
Hermione turned to Harry and Ron, their faces were shocked to.
"I don't think that is even possible. It has never happened in Hogwart's History...and I have read the book over ten times!"
"Oi! Book-worm. What do you know? There is always a possibility of something new to happen. I guess it's what the school needs. A change." Malfoy's voice came from behind the trio. She turned and glared at him icily and turned her attention back to what was happening up the front.
"For the first time in Hogwart's History." The sorting hat's voice boomed to the crowd.
"We will have a student that will be sorted into two houses. Slytherin..." The house cheered loudly.
"And Gryffindor." The Gryffindors stood and tried to out cheer the Slytherin's. Riley watched on, amusement written in her eyes.
"Riley Oloughlin will change houses every two weeks depending on what is happening. Her first house will be Gryffindore then Slytherin. I will look at her mind mid semester to see if anything changes and to see if I can sort her into one house."
The hall rose into an up roar of cheers and clapping. Riley smiled softly and made her way towards the 4th year Gryffindors, she sat down beside Fred and made her side fringe cover her eyes. Fred took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze, she smiled gently at him but it didn't reach her eyes due to the fact she was one flick of the wrist away from de-limbing Barty Crouch.
Dumbledore chuckled and stood; he raised his arms.
"Enjoy the meal everyone." The food appeared on the table and everyone dug in.
Riley's eyes came to rest on the Bulgarian Seeker.
"Psst, Viktor." Riley whispered, leaning over the aisle to talk to him.
The large teenager turned around to face the voice.
"Hey, I'm Riley. Can I have your autograph?" She chuckled slightly; the Bulgarian looked her up and down and nodded. Riley transfigured her napkin into a picture of him and a pen. Malfoy was glaring at her, she smiled at him; staring daggers at the same time.
She handed Viktor the picture and pen, he handed it back to her.
"Do you think you could show me around?" The older boy asked, Riley raised an eyebrow in surprise but nodded quickly. She'd make sure she brought Hermione with her, after all, she knew more about the school than she did.
"Sure, I can do that. How about early tomorrow morning we meet up at the hall's entrance?" Riley asked, smiling gently.
"It sounds ok; I shall meet you at 7am?" Viktor asked in his accent heavy.
"Sounds good, I shall see you at 7 tomorrow morning." Riley smiled again, Viktor smiled back and she turned back to her table. Everyone was staring at her.
"What?" She asked innocently, filling her plate with food and talked Quidditch with the Twins.
After dinner ended, Professor Dumbledore rose from his seat again.
"Your attention please! I would like to say a few words. Eternal glory, which is what, awaits the student who wins the Pegasus Races. But to do this that student must survive three tasks while on their mount. Three extremely dangerous tasks."
It was that silent you would've been able to hear a pin drop; Riley was fuming beside Harry and Fred.
"For this reason the ministry has seen fit to impose a new rule. To explain all this we have the head of the department of international magic cooperation Mister Bartimus Crouch."
The old man stood and faced the mass of students in the Great Hall. Riley chewed her lip, she was furious. She wanted that man dead for stopping her from racing.
"After much deliberation the ministry has concluded that for their own safety no student under the age of seventeen shall be allowed to put forth their name for the Pegasus Races. No matter how experienced you are in this race if you are under age; you cannot compete. This decision is final."
Riley's top blew; she was the best racer in the school. She wasn't going to put up with his sh- sherbet lemon!
"What about those who come from another country and have the qualifications of a champion? That's pure rubbish and you know it. Everyone can enter a mere race!" Riley stood up quickly, standing in the aisle; facing the man that stopped her dream.
"What about those who have been training? For those who can flick her wrist and send someone to the hospital straight away? What about those who have dreamed nothing but racing and the opportunity to finally enter was taken away from them because of a silly rule!?" Riley screamed as she started walking towards the man. He looked slightly scared. Fred and George jumped up, grabbing a hold of Riley and restraining her.
"What about me, the person who has a Black Pegasus?" She reasoned, calming down quite quickly.
"Silence!" Came Dumbledore's voice, she fumed on the inside but sat down; the twins held her just in case. The streaks in her hair had suddendly gotten thicker and were more noticeable.
Barty eyed Riley as she went to sit back down, he'd have to be careful of that girl in the future. That's the worst outbreak he had ever gotten from a student.
Cedric was watching Riley with sympathy in his eyes; he felt how passionate she was about entering.
Dumbledore casted magic over a box which melded into a goblet containing a blue flame.
"The Goblet of Fire. Anyone wishing to submit themselves for the races has to merely write their name upon a piece of parchment and throw it in the flame before this hour on Thursday night. Do not do so lightly, if chosen there's no turning back. As from this moment the Pegasus Races have begun."
Riley stood and stormed out of the room, her friends and boyfriend following her quickly. Professor Dumbledore looked at them as they went out of the room, he felt Riley's disappointment in his heart, after all, isn't that what grandfather's are suppose to feel when they see their grandchildren so upset?
Riley went to her room and had a fit, she repaired the room and walked out; going down to the kitchens to find Dobby and an unusual large cookie supply. Fred was worried about her, she knew that but she knew he understood. She cared about him greatly and was thankful she found someone so caring, would her parents and brother approved?
"Going somewhere?" A voice sneered from the shadows, Riley quickly pulled her wand out of her pocket only to see it was Malfoy.
"Yeah and you aren't invited." Riley replied, she kept walking in the direction she was going.
"Oh, I think you'll find I can do what I want." He said as he fell into step beside her.
"Get out of here, Malfoy." She growled, stopping and putting her wand to his throat.
"Don't touch my Drakey! Expelliarmas!" A girl screamed from the shadows, Riley's wand flew from her hand and far away from her.
"Who dared to do that?" Riley's eyes were dancing, she saw the girl with dark black hair.
"Ah, you." Riley smirked as she summoned her wand, it flew straight into her hand.
"Leibra aven harvo!" Riley screamed, the girl was instantly covered in pimples and boils.
Riley smirked and walked away, leaving Malfoy to deal with pimple girl.
What and interesting year this is going to be. Riley thought as she slipped into the kitchen, the warm smell meeting her nostrils. She smiled and sat at her table, munching on cookies and drinking chocolate milk.