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wildest dreams
VOLUME I


CHAPTER SEVEN


The rest of the train ride went as usual – Chocolate Frogs, Quidditch, a few pranks, and a lot of talking, as we caught up with everyone's summer. Pamela and Melinda, the two other girls I shared my dorm with, came to say hi. I felt happier than ever, the worry of the last few days fading away as we got closer to the castle. Once we got there, it was raining so badly we were soaked as soon as we stepped on the station. I felt very relieved to use the carriages, and not the boats like the first years.

The castle hadn't changed, not one bit. But Hogwarts never changed – it was always this warm, welcoming, beautiful place – even with Peeves dropping water balloons on the heads of the students. We hurried inside the Great Hall, and sat at our usual places.

"I am so hungry" moaned Alicia. "I hope the Repartition won't take too long."

"And that bloody song too" I muttered.

"Hey, look" said George. "No one is sitting at the DADA teacher's seat."

"I reckon they didn't find anyone" said Angelina.

"Wouldn't be very surprising. The job is cursed, after all" replied Lee.

I took a look at the teacher's table but only saw familiar faces. George was right – one seat was empty. I already missed Lupin as I noticed that Snape was still there, as well as Mrs Sprout. I had never been very good at Herbology. However, Flitwick and Babbling were still there – Charms and Ancient Runes were my favorite classes. And of course, there was Dumbledore, radiant in his bright green robe, smiling quietly at the students.

When everyone was sat down, the doors opened again to the usual group of first years. I felt bad for them – they were all soaked from head to toe. They looked anxious, as I remembered I was five years ago. Only one of them was smiling brightly as he looked around him. The Sorting Hat sang his usual song, and the Sorting Ceremony started. There were a surprising number of Hufflepuffs, but I only really cared about the new Gryffindors, which I cheered for loudly with the others.

"I have only two words to say to you" said Dumbledore after everyone was sorted. "Tuck in."

I nearly screamed of excitement as the plates in front of us filled up with the delicious food only Hogwarts could offer. I started eating enthusiastically. We didn't talk much while we were eating, as we were all so hungry and tired – I only listened with one ear to Hermione talk about the right of the House Elves working in the kitchen.

"I honestly don't know how people can survive without this food" said Lee.

"Neither do I" I nodded.

"There's probably –" started Fred.

Angelina shushed him, putting a hand on his arm. Fred stopped mid-sentence, staring at his arm. I smirked to myself as Dumbledore stood up again. I put down my pumpkin juice, curious to see what he would say – would he announce what was happening in Hogwarts this year ?

"So !" Dumbledore started, smiling mysteriously. "Now that we are all fed and watered, I must once more ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices. Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to tel you that the list of objects forbidden inside the castle has this year been extended to include Screaming Yo-yos, Fanged Frisbees, and Ever-Bashing Boomerangs. The full list comprises some four hundred and thirty-seven items, I believe, can be viewed in Mr. Filch's office, if anybody would like to check it."

I exchanged an amused look with the twins. That list had always been more of a list of challenges than restrictions for them.

"As ever" Dumbledore continued, "I would like to remind you all that the forest on the grounds is out-of-bounds to students, as is the village of Hogsmeade to all below third year. It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year."

I gasped in horror, staring at Dumbledore. What ?! I looked at the others, trying to see if it was some sort of joke, but they all seemed as much in shock as I was.

"What ?" I heard Harry say.

"They can't do that !" quietly shrieked Alicia.

I was too astonished to say anything.

"This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the schoolyear, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy – but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts –"

I was so focused on Dumbledore that when a rumble of thunder disrupted his speech, I jumped and nearly screamed in surprise. The doors of the Great Hall opened, and a man staggered in the room, leaning against a cane that made a loud noise everytime it hit the floor. The man, almost hiding inside his travelling robe, looked like a ghost. A bolt of lightening suddenly lit up his face, and he pulled his hood down. I immediately saw the piercing blue, ever-moving glass eye, and instantly knew it the man we had been talking about at the Burrow – Mad-Eye Moody.

He clumsily made his way to the teacher's table, shook Dumbledore's hand, and without a word, sat down at the empty seat and started to eat. The entire Great Hall was silently staring at him. I couldn't look away.

"May I introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher ? Professor Moody."

Dumbledore and Hagrid were the only ones to clap. I exchanged a look with the twins – they seemed quite startled, but fascinated.

"As I was saying" said Dumbledore after clearing his throat. "We are to have the honor of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event that has not been held for over a century."

The room seemed to suddenly forget about Moody, and fell in complete silence.

"It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year."

"You're JOKING !" screamed Fred.

He looked as if his eyes would pop out of his head. The entire Great Hall broke into laughter, bringing the atmosphere back to normal. I shook my head slowly, smirking.

"I am not joking, Mr. Weasley, though now that you mention it, I did hear an excellent one over the summer about a troll, a hag and a leprechaun who all go into a bar…"

McGonagall cleared her throat loudly and I couldn't hold back my laughter, suddenly feeling very restless. The Triwizard Tournament ! I certainly wasn't expecting that ! My Uncle had told me about it once. I remembered that it was quite an event, and very dangerous too.

"Er – but maybe this is not the time… No… where was I ? Ah yes, the Triwizard Tournament… Well, some of you will not know what this tournament involves, so I hope those who do know will forgive me for giving a short explanation, and allow their attention to wander freely."

Fred and George started to whisper frenetically, grinning from ear to ear.

"Best news ever" chuckled Fred.

"Are you going to enter ?" I asked.

"Obviously" the twins said in unison.

"Not you ?" asked George, frowning.

"I dunno. I heard it's quite dangerous."

"Rubbish" said Fred.

"But people died !"

"People died ?" asked Angelina, joining the conversation.

"That's what my uncle told me."

"Well, people dying or not, the other schools are still coming" she said with a smirk.

I gasped excitedly.

"Do you think - Durmstrang ?" I exclaimed.

Angelina nodded enthuastically, but the twins rolled their eyes.

"Guys, listen !" said Alicia.

"…that this time, no champion will find himself or herself in mortal danger. The heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving with their short-listed contenders in October, and the selection of the three champions will take place at Halloween. An impartial judge will decide which students are most worthy to compete for the Triwizard Cup, the glory of their school, and a thousand Galleons personal prize money."

"A thousand ?!" I muttered.

"I'm going for it !" declared Fred.

Everyone started whispering excitedly.

"Imagine what you could do with a thousand Galleons !" I told the twins.

"Eager though I know all of you will be to bring the Triwizard Cup to Hogwarts, the heads of the participating schools, along with the Ministry of Magic, have agreed to impose an age restriction on contenders this year. Only students who are of age – that is to say, seventeen years or older – will be allowed to put forward their names for consideration."

I groaned, and glanced at the twins – they looked furious.

"This – is a mesure we feel is necessary, given that the tournament tasks will still be difficult and dangerous, whatever precautions we take, and it is highly unlikely that students below sixth and seventh year will be able to cope with them. I will personally be ensuring that no underage studenthood winks our impartial judge into making them Hogwarts champion. I therefore beg you not to waste your time submitting yourself if you are under seventeen."

I could swear he was looking directly at the twins. I pulled a face – how disappointing. The twins looked absolutely devastated, but I noticed that Angelina was listening attentively. Her birthday was in less than two weeks, after all, so she would be able to submit her name. I was happy for her – and also slightly relieved that my birthday was in November. I could never participate in such a Tournament, I knew that. Dumbledore soon finished his speech, and everyone stood up to leave, except a few of us.

"They can't do that !" exclaimed George. "We're seventeen in April, why can't we have a shot ?"

"They're not stopping me entering" declared Fred. "The champions'll get to do all sorts of stuff you'd never be allowed to do normally. And a thousand Galleons prize money !"

"Yeah. Yeah, a thousand Galleons…" said Ron.

"Come on, we'll be the only ones left here if you don't move" said Hermione.

We all started to make our way up to the Common Room – I walked beside George, who seemed thoughtful.

"'Personally ensuring' ? What do you reckon he meant by that ?" asked George.

"George, it's Dumbledore. I wouldn't even try" I sighed.

"Where's your sense of adventure ?" he said with a smile.

I glared at him, smirking.

"There's a difference between being adventurous and trying to outsmart bloody Dumbledore, George" I said.

"I don't see any" he shrugged.

"That's because you're mad as a hatter. But I'm not complaining, I'm just eager to see what terrible plan you're gonna come up with – and then watch you fail miserably."

"Yeah, you love that, don't you ?" he said.

I chuckled, not bothering to deny. He knew me better than that. George always got me – always knew how I felt about everything. It could be annoying sometimes, but I did enjoy having him around. A lot more than I would ever admit.

"Who's this impartial judge who's going to decide who the champions are ?" asked Harry.

"Dunno" said Fred. "But it's them we'll have to fool. I reckon a couple of drops of Aging Potion might do it, George."

"Dumbledore knows you're not of age, though" said Ron.

"Yeah, but he's not the one who decides who the champion is, is he ? Sounds to me like once this judge knows who wants to enter, he'll choose the best from each school and never mind how old they are. Dumbledore's trying to stop us giving our names."

"People have died, though !" cried Hermione.

"That's what I told them" I shrugged.

"Yeah, but that was years ago, wasn't it ? Anyway, where's the fun without a bit of risk ? Hey, Ron, what if we find out how to get 'round Dumbledore ? Fancy entering ?" said Fred.

"What d'you reckon ?" asked Ron to Harry. "Be cool to enter, wouldn't it ? But I s'pose they might want someone older… Dunno if we've learned enough…"

"I definitely haven't" said a voice behind me.

I took a look behind my shoulder to see Neville Longbottom, looking quite grim. I smiled in amusement as I followed Fred and George up the stairs. We all sat down in front of the fire in the Common Room, talking about the Tournament, trying to figure out a way around Dumbledore's protection. Everyone had gone to bed, except me and the twins.

"Well, at least one of us can enter if we can't" I sighed.

"What ? Who ?" asked Fred, frowning.

"Angelina, you prat. It's her birthday in two weeks."

"Oh" he muttered.

"Don't forget to get her something."

"Why would I get her something ?"

"Because you're her friend ! And because I know you fancy her."

"What !"

I chuckled at Fred's face. I had always known Fred had a thing for Angelina – but they were both so stubborn, neither would ever say anything. Fred pulled a face, and without another word, stood up and went up the stairs to his dormitory. I turned to George, who was sitting on the other side of the couch.

"It's so bloody obvious" I whispered to George. "Why doesn't he ask her out ?"

George shrugged.

"I reckon he's worried she'll say no."

"Rubbish. That's all she's waiting for."

"She told you that ?"

"She doesn't need to. Female sixth sense."

George chuckled. I stared at him.

"Seriously, George. If you fancied a girl, wouldn't you just tell her ?"

He stared back. There was a short silence before he answered.

"I dunno" he answered vaguely, shrugging.

"Since when are you so shy ?" I laughed. "I seem to recall a certain Valentine's Day, a few years ago. Who was that girl you invited ? The Ravenclaw ?"

"Rosie Buffers" he said, chuckling.

"Rosie, dear old Rosie" I nodded. "It was our third year, and Fred dared you to get a date because he thought you couldn't do it. And you – George Weasley, you picked the bloody first girl you saw and invited her to Hogsmeade."

"And she said yes."

"And she said yes !" I exclaimed.

I was laughing really hard by then, remembering that moment from what seemed like so long ago. George shrugged.

"What can I do, Addy – I am the best looking Gryffindor around."

"A true heart-breaker" I nodded, laughing.

"You're one to talk" he said.

"What is that supposed to mean ?"

"Addy, did you forget you were dating Oliver Wood last year ?"

I sighed.

"Oh, George, will you ever get over it ?"

"No ! He was two years older than you."

"That doesn't matter ! And I thought you liked Oliver."

"I do, that's not the issue !"

"Then what is the issue ? Because I never understood why you were always such a git about it."

"I just – oh, you know what ? It doesn't matter."

I stared at him as he turned away to look at the fire. I sighed loudly. What didn't he want to tell me ? What could be so embarrassing about it ? The only reasons that came to mind were absolutely ludicrous – George could never have been… Jealous ? No, that was impossible.

"Well, Ican't wait to meet the foreign students" I said, eager to change the subject.

"Bulgarians and French. What's so exciting ?" shrugged George.

"Bulgarians are fantastic at Quidditch. And maybe some of them know Krum."

"I thought you didn't like Krum."

"What – when did I say that, exactly ?"

"How would I know ? I only listen to half the things you say."

I glared at him, but he was smiling – he was smiling that adorable, mischievous little smile. I leaned forward and punched him in the stomach.

"You're an idiot."

"I know."

He caught my hand – and I stared at him while he stared at me, and I suddenly I could feel butterflies. It only lasted a moment, though, because I quickly felt myself blushing and stood up.

"Well, on that note – I'm going to bed."

"Goodnight" he said.

I smiled softly and ran up the stairs, hoping he didn't notice my red cheeks and didn't hear my heart pounding in my chest.