**This one's really long! Hope you enjoy it! I've been without wifi for a while so that's why I'm updating so fast right now! Review! Follow! Any suggestions or whatever is appreciated!**

Chapter 7

The train hissed to a stop and all the kids got off. Fred, George, Lee, Lex and I had long since changed into our robes. We were boarding a carriage now when a HUGE hand was placed on my shoulder. I grabbed the hand and twisted around, fists ready. The actions surprised me as much as they did the bulky figure in front of me.

"'A'e you Serena Coldblood?" He asked in a deep gravely voice. My head nodded ascent even though Coldblood wasn't the name I'd made for myself. Could that be my real last name?

"Hagrid! Stop scaring Sere!" Fred admonished, causing me to jump. I hadn't realized he'd come out of the carriage and was now standing next to me. Lex was gawking up at Hagrid on my other side.

"She has to b' sort'd, Fred. There a'e four new fourth years this year, bu' all three a'e sixteen. Strange, isn't it?" Hagrid said. "Speakin' o' which. You wouldn't mind tellin' me where ter fin' an Alexias Allgood?"

"I'm Alexias Allgood." Lex spoke up from my left. She had managed to close her mouth and straighten to her full height (which was still short compared to Hagrid).

"You her fo'ow me." Hagrid said, and turning back to Fred. "How 'bout an Birch Coldblood?" At the name Birch my breath caught and I stiffened. The dream flashed before my eyes so real it could've been happening in front of me. My hands balled into fists, and my fingernails dug into the soft flesh of my palms.

"You okay?" I looked at Fred's concerned gaze and nodded. "Wait, Coldblood?"

"Yea, I'm fine." I forced myself to relax and followed Hagrid and Lex away from the carriage. "See you guys at Hogwarts." I threw over my shoulder as I walked away. I heard a wolf whistle from behind me and rolled my eyes.

Hagrid prattled on about how great Hogwarts was, but I wasn't really listening. Four new fourth years? All in my situation. Coincidence? I should think not. What if the other three can't remember anything either? I made a mental note to ask Lex about it. I was so deeply in thought that I almost ran into Hagrid.

"Are you Birch Coldblood?" I heard Hagrid ask. I stepped around Hagrid to see the boy from my dreams in flesh in front of me. We stared at each other and I saw my confusion and wonder reflected into his eyes. He nodded mutely, then looked surprised.

"Se-re-na?" He said the name as if it were foreign. He looked more surprised after he spoke my name then when he first saw me. I cocked my head to the side and regarded him.

"Come on. We still 'ave one mo'e to pick up before we go." Hagrid told us. Birch started to walk toward me but I shook my head. Now is not the time or the place. I suppressed the itch for answers that arose inside me, and I used my hand to subtly motion Birch away. He glared for a minute before jogging next to Hagrid.

"You must be Hagrid." A boy said, seeming to appear from the shadows. He had a light tan with sun blonde hair and puppy dog brown eyes. I felt Lex stiffen next to me and turned my head to find her glowering at her foot. She glanced up quickly and shared a knowing look with the boy who gave a slight smirk. Lex's eyes darted back to the ground and she glared ferociously at her shoe. They knew something. I would be asking Lex about this boy later.

"Austin Reed." Hagrid said more of a statement than a question. Then, without another word, we were piled into a carriage. Four of us cramped on one side and Hagrid taking up the entire back seat. I was smooshed in between Austin and Lex, who kept exchanging smirks and glares. Birch was on the other side of Lex and was smooshed into the door of the carriage.

We walked next to Hagrid in a sea of kids up the marble staircase and entered the entrance hall. It was my first look at Hogwarts and I have to say it was just as fantastic as Fred described. Though Hogwarts had an undeniable beauty I (and the three other kids next to me I would imagine) found it hard to appreciate for I was dripping wet and wringing water out of my soaked Hogwarts robes.

"Blimey! If that keeps up the lake's going to overflow. I'm soak-" I jumped and saw Ron, Hermione, and Harry along with a boy I didn't recognize standing beside me.

"Oh, hey guys." I said and was about to add more when a huge water balloon exploded on Ron's head, drenching him more.

"ARRGH!" He yelled and I dodged the droplets of water. A second water balloon exploded at Harry's feet. That was when chaos broke loose. I figured out two things in the twenty seconds that followed: 1) I was completely at home in chaos 2) when you find a shelter, make sure no ones hiding in it first.

I maneuvered around people with a skillful grace. from afar it would have seemed like I was dancing. Finally, I found a shelter in a narrow ledge under the stairs. I crouched beneath it and tried to push myself farther in. I sat on the ground and that was when someone started shoving me.

"Hey! Find your own hiding spot!" Though I only heard the voice once I think I would recognize it anywhere. Draco Malfoy. Now I was being pushed from both sides. A very wet Lex Allgood squished in beside me.

"Lex! I was just drying!" I complained playfully, completely ignoring Draco.

"Both of you get out of this spot right now!" Draco said hotly, glaring at the both of us.

"Hey! Watch your mouth, boy! I'm old enough to be your mother!" Lex said matter-of-factly. I snickered.

"My mother! You're not even fifteen!" Draco said. Lex bristled.

"Sixteen. Thank you very much." She snapped.

"Fancy meeting you hear, Draco." I broke in. Lex paled when I said his name.

"Draco? As in…"

"Draco Malfoy, Scum." Draco insulted her and introduced himself in three words. A personal best probably.

"Listen up, buddy boy, I don't give a crap about who you or your fath-" I cut of Lex's words with my laughter. Lex and Draco looked at me weirdly. I pointed to a poor kid who just got hit by water balloon and slipped. A girl then proceeded to trip onto him and they were both blushing like mad.

"Young love." I said, laughing. Lex joined in and even Draco cracked a small smile.

"Get out!" Draco hissed suddenly. The last of the children were clearing out and we scrambled out of our hiding spot and rushed to join them just as they disappeared into the dining hall- or Great hall as I later found out it was called.

"Draco Malfoy!" I heard a teacher snap.

"Yes, professor?"

"Why were you wandering off?"

"I didn't-"

"Detention already, Mr. Malfoy?" Lex suddenly disappeared and ran back to where the teacher was snapping at Draco. I rolled my eyes towards heaven in a silent prayer before running after her.

"Draco, come on! What's the hold up?" Lex asked, feigning impatience. She descended the marble staircase to see a withered old library looking lady in front of Draco. "Oh, sorry, Professor…"

"McGonagall. And who may you be?"

"Alexias Allgood. I'm new."

"You're to old to be new."

"I'm one of the transfers. I got lost and Draco was showing me back to the group. Me and Serena."

"Hi, Professor." I said sticking out my hand. "Pleasure to meet you. Harry and Hermione talked about you." I thought it wise not to mention the Weasleys; especially the twins. Plus McGonagall's face softened a tad at Hermione's name.

"Go into the great hall, then. No detention for you, Mr. Malfoy, but don't let me catch you sneaking off again!" We hurried into the great hall without a word to each other. Lex and I went to the front of the room where the new students and Austin and Birch were gathered. McGonagall came in a moment later and took her seat at a big table at the front of the room. A stool with a dusty old hat was placed in the middle of the front of the room. I couldn't help feeling awkward as no one around me reached my shoulder height except for Lex, Austin, and Birch.

The sorting hat opened his mouth and began to sing. The song wasn't very long and I feel no reason to repeat it to you know (I probably don't remember all the words anyways). Everyone applauded, so I hesitantly joined in. McGonagall unrolled a large scroll.

"When I call out your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool. When the hat announces your House you will go and sit at the appropriate table." she cleared her throat. "Ackerley, Stewart!" A trembling boy walked forward and the hat was placed on his head.

"RAVENCLAW!" the hat yelled. A table shrouded in blue broke out into cheers.

"Baddock, Malcolm!"

"SLYTHERIN!" This time a table in green applauded loudly.

"Branstone, Eleanor!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!" The yellow table this time.

"Cauldwell, Owen!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Creevey, Dennis!"

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted. The table where all my friends sat erupted into cheers and hoots.

The rest of the sorting went like that until all that were left were Birch, Lex, Austin, and me. McGonagall explained about us and we came to be known as the 'transfers'.

"Coldblood, Serena." Everyone was silent as I walked up to the stool and sat down in it. The sorting hat was place on my head.

"Aaahhh. A Coldblood. I haven't had one of you in quite some time."

"My mother came here?" I thought at it, desperate for knowledge.

"And father. This is how they met! She never told-Ah, I see. You can't remember anything. You're memory has been ripped away from you. That's a very bad sign."

"What do you mean? Am I important?"

"Smart girl! Always questioning. Yes, you are important. But now for the sorting. You should not be in Hufflepuff. That much is clear from the tiny bit of information you have on yourself."

"How can you sort me if I don't know myself?"

"I can't that is why for the second time in history…" The hat opened it's mouth.

Instead of yelling the hat spoke in a monotone voice that carried throughout the room and seemed to hang in the air, "Inconclusive." I took the hat off and looked at McGonagall for guidance. She was looking an old man with a white beard and half moon spectacles. The man beckoned for me to stand to the side and for McGonagall to continue with the sorting. McGonagall cleared her throat and continued.

"Allgood, Alexias" She called. A few moments passed.

"SLYTHERIN!" I was surprised to say the least. I must admit I was hoping Lex would get an inconclusive result. She threw a discreet look at the Gryffindor table and I would almost say it was a longing look. The Slytherins seemed to finally realize what happened and cheered and applauded.

"Reed, Austin" The sorting hat was placed on his blonde hair.

"HUFFLEPUFF!" Austin, just like Lex had snuck a discreet glance but towards the Slytherin table. Something was not right here.

"Coldblood, Birch" Birch was on for a whole minute before the hat opened its mouth. I crossed my fingers.

"Inconclusive." I breathed a sigh of relief. I wasn't the only one. Everyone started murmuring in confusion. Dumbledore stood up and raised his hand for silence. The hall instantly quieted.

"In this unlikely event, I have decided to let the students choose which house they would like to be in." I could've jumped for joy. Instead I just smiled at the headmaster.

"Coldblood, Serena."

"Gryffindor." I said and the Gryffindor table erupted into cheers led by the Weasleys, Hermione, and Harry. I sat down between Fred and George who had instantly made room.

"Coldblood, Birch."

"Ravenclaw." He said and I was a little disappointed, but I shrugged it off. My eyes followed him to where he sat next to a pale blonde haired girl that looked a year younger than him.

"I have only two words to say to you. Tuck in." Dumbledore said and our empty plates magically filled with food. I grinned and started eating.

"You're lucky there's a feast at all tonight, you know." I turned to look at a floating…ghost. "There was trouble in the kitchens earlier."

"Why? Wha'appened?" Jeez. don't talk with your mouth full.

"Peeves, of course." The ghost shook his head.

"Peeves? Wasn't he the ghost who pulled that water balloon stunt?" I asked after I'd swallowed.

"I'm Nearly Headless Nick."

"Nearly Headless? How-" I saw Hermione shaking her head. "Nevermind. So what happened?"

"Oh, the usual. Wrecked havoc and mayhem. Pots and pans everywhere. Place swimming in soup. Terrified the house-elves out of their wits-" Clang. Hermione was livid at the mention of house elves. I rolled my eyes and went back to George and Fred's conversation.

"So, what shall we do this year. I was thinking of setting fireworks off in Snape's office."

"Yea, did you notice the DADA teacher hasn't even arrived yet?"

"Rumor is the jobs cursed." Katie Bell spoke up from across the table.

"Why?" I asked.

"Oh! I keep forgetting you weren't here!" Lucy Farchester piped up from her place next to Katie. Lucy had curly reddish orange hair that she wore in a side ponytail. She was fair skinned with freckles and blue eyes. She was rather pretty, and had a high voice. She has a tendency to get overexcited, and I've only known her for half a day, but she seems nice enough.

"Well the first year-" Before Michael could continue, a huge clap of thunder shook the room and lightning flashed. I made a motion for him to continue. "The first year-well-we had a bit of a two faced teacher." Fred nearly chocked on his pudding I slapped him on the back.

"Literally." Seth joined the conversation, winking at me. "The word is that You-Know-Who is on the rise again. So, anyway. The first year no one is really sure what happened to Quirrel, all we know is one day he was there and the next he was gone. Dumbledore told us he had a most unfortunate and mysterious death. The second year-"

"The second year," Fred spat with sudden venom. Everyone around him shot him sympathetic looks. "We had a fraud and an old fool to teach us nothing. And when the time came for something to be done-"

"Dude, chill. It happened two years ago. She's fine." Seth cut into Fred's rant.

"Who?" I asked, curiously, looking at Seth.

"Ginny. Anyway,"

"Wait, what happened to Ginny?" Everyone was glancing at Fred and George who were glaring at there plates. I became suddenly aware of the tension. Lucy and Lilly made death motions with their hands across their necks.

"Anyway the third year was best, I think. We had a great professor and he taught us a lot."

"What was the hitch?" I asked.

"He was a werewolf." Lucy whispered, looking at the ground.

"Oh, just that." I said as if it were nothing. Lucy gave a nervous laugh.

"Yeah… just that."

"Are you okay?" Michael asked.

"What? Yeah I'm fine." Lucy said returning to her usual peppy self. I opened my mouth to say something when a huge clap of thunder sounded and the doors flew open. A grotesque figure walked through the door with a dull clank of his wooden leg. The man had a weird fake eye and scars all along his body. He looked pretty cool if you ask me. The man walked to the front of the room and greeted the headmaster, whose name I still hadn't known, but I assumed it was Dumbledore from Fred and George's descriptions.

"May I introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher? Professor Moody." No one clapped except for Dumbledore and Hagrid, who quickly stopped.

"Moody? He can't mean Mad-eye Moody! Dad went to help him just this morning." Fred said.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "As I was saying, 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 . It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year."

"You're JOKING!" Fred yelled. Everyone laughed including me.

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

"The Triwizard Tournament was first established some seven hundred years ago as a friendly competition between the three largest European schools of wizardry: Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. A champion was selected to represent each school and the three champions competed in three magical tasks. The schools took it in turns to host the tournament once every five years, and it was generally agreed to be a most excellent way of establishing ties between young witches and wizards of different nationalities - until, that is, the death toll mounted so high that the tournament was discontinued.

Death toll?

"There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the tournament," Dumbledore said continuing with his story. "none of which has been very successful. However, our own Departments of International Magical Cooperation and Magical Games and Sports have decided the time is ripe for another attempt. We have worked hard over the summer to ensure that this time, no champion will find himself or herself in mortal danger.

"The Heads of Beauxvatons and Durmstrang will be arriving with their shortlisted 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."

"I'm going for it!" Fred hissed enthusiastically.

"Me too." I agreed, matching his enthusiasm.

"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. This-" Dumbledore had to put his hand up for the onslaught of outrage. The Weasley twins looked furious, but I would just find a way around the age line. "is a measure we feel 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 ensuing that no underage student hoodwinks our impartial judge tint making them the Hogwarts champion. I therefore beg you not to waste your time submitting yourself if you are under seventeen.

"The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving in October and remaining with us for the =greater part of this year. I know that you will all extend every courtesy to our foreign guests while they are with us, and will give your whole-hearted support to the Hogwarts champion when he or she is selected. And now, it is late, and I know how important it is to you all to be alert and rested as you enter your lessons tomorrow morning. Bedtime! Chop Chop!"

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

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

"Come on! We're going to be left alone." I said grabbing Fred and George by there ears and pulling them towards the door. "Besides! I want to see the common room!" I couldn't help adding enthusiastically.

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

"It's not a who Harry, but a what. It's a goblet of some sort." I said. Everyone stared at me.

"How do you know that?" I shrugged. "Well, it's that thing we'll have to fool. I reckon a couple of drops of Aging Potion might do it, George… Do you know how Dumbledore's planning on stopping us, Sere?"

"An aging line, I think. I don't know much more. That's all he'd tell me." I realized my mistake as soon as I said it. I bit my lip.

"He?" George asked looking at me. "Who's he?" Suddenly Hermione doubled over with peels of laughter. I bit my lip and looked at the ground.

"You."-gasp-"didn't." I nodded and whacked her lightly on the shoulder.

"What?" Fred asked.

"Well, I really wanted to know what was going to happen and Percy is the most weak willed out of all of you, so…" I shrugged. It really wasn't that hard. Just bat my eyelashes at him and a few kisses and boom now I know everything there is to know about the tournament. But we are not going out. He hates me now. Prick. The strange thing about the situation was I didn't know what I was doing, my body just did it for me. All I thought was oh I really want to know what's going on, and all of a sudden my body knew what to do. Fred and George looked sick and Ron, Harry and Hermione were on the floor with laughter. When the four managed to stand up, Ron said, "Dumbledore knows you're not of age, though."

"Yeah, but he's not the one who decides who the champion is, is he?" said Fred not looking at me. "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." It was as if he didn't hear any of the information I'd previously given.

"People have died, though!" Hermione said as we stepped through a hidden door.

"Yeah," Fred said as though he didn't care. "but that was years ago, wash;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?" he asked, still ignoring me. He asked Ron just to spite me! I glowered at him.

"What d'you reckon? 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." A voice behind Fred and George said. I whirled around to find the boy that was standing next to Hermione, Harry, and Ron before Peeves did his thing.

"Hey, I'm Serena Wil-Coldblood." I corrected myself. Shaking his hand.

"Neville Longbottom. I expect my gran'd want me to try, though. She's always going on about how I should be upholding the family honor. I;ll just have to - oops…." His foot sunk into the step I was about to step on. I wisely skipped that one and hopped onto the next. Ron and Harry helped him out. I whirled around to see an empty suit of armor laughing at him. Ron slammed down the armor's visor as they passed with a, "Shut it, you!"

"Password?" We reached a portrait of a lady.

"Balderdash," George said. "A prefect downstairs told me." he explained. The portrait swung forward to allow entrance to the hole in the wall. I walked through into the Gryffindor common room. Hermione told me she'd show me where my bed was. We said goodnight and departed, but not without one last glare at Fred.