The start of Stella's seventh year, and Livie's first was nothing but tearful for Victoire.
"I can't believe this is my baby's last year! Oh and Olivia…it's your first year…and you're leaving me…and now I won't have any babies at home! What am I going to do with myself?" Victoire fussed.
"Get a job?" Stella offered.
Teddy shot her a scolding look, then turned to comfort his wife. "It's alright dear, our girls are just growing up."
Stella shook her head and looked around for Jake. She spotted him over by the train, talking to Will. She snuck up behind him and put her hands over his eyes.
"Guess who!" She sing-songed.
"Hmm…" Jake pretended to think. "The giant squid?"
Stella dropped her hands and planted a peck on his cheek. "Of course!"
"I missed you." Jake grinned, snaking his arm around her waist and pulling her into him.
"Back atcha." Stella smiled, turning to Will, who looked disgusted. "Hey, you. Nice badge you've got there!"
"Oh, this little thing?" he chuckled, looking down at his shiny head boy badge. "It's nothing!"
"Sure it isn't." Stella chuckled.
"I still can't believe I did it." Grinned Will.
"Oh, come on mate! Have a little faith in yourself. We knew you'd make head boy from first year."
Stella nodded, "Yeah, we did!"
"Ohh, sorry." A small boy with dark brown hair and brown eyes said apologetically after bumping into Stella.
"It's alright, mate." She smiled sweetly. "You're a little young to being to school, aren't you?"
"I'm here to see my brother off, actually. I start next year." He beamed.
"That's nice. This is my last year here…whose your brother? Maybe I know him." She said.
"Xavier Zabini. He just got on the train…" the boy said, trying to point him out.
"Oh." Stella said quietly.
"By your reaction, I take it you've met him." Chuckled the boy.
"Are you Luke?" Stella deadpanned.
The boy's eyes widened. "My brother's mentioned me?"
Stella shook her head. "No, my aunt has. She's your mom's sister, but they don't speak anymore. I'm your cousin, Stella."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, then." He smiled, "I wasn't aware I had a cousin."
"Oh, you have several." Jake chuckled.
"You know what…" Stella said, rummaging through her messenger bag. She found what she was looking for, and scrawled on it with a pen. "Here's a picture of all of your cousins. You can owl me, and I'll tell you all about them, if you like."
"Whoah," his face lit up as he took in the huge family. "I'll be sure to do that, thanks!"
"Anytime." She smiled.
"That's mum calling…I've got to go. It was really nice meeting you!" he waved, rushing so he didn't keep his mother waiting.
"You too!" Stella told him, then she sighed. "My aunt really is a prune, huh? Poor kid looked like he never saw a family before in his life."
"Don't worry about her, it's good you can keep in touch with your cousins."
"One of them, at least." Stella added, catching a glimpse of Xavier with his face pressed up against the window waving to his mother.
After the sorting, everyone was congratulating the new Gryffindor editions, which included Olivia.
"Mom will be over the roof…all 3 of us made it into Gryffindor." Said Bella.
Stella laughed. "As if there were ever any doubts!"
"Did you make prefect again, Sean?" asked Livie.
"Indeed I did." He grinned.
"Attention students!" McGonagall called, standing up in the front, waiting for all eyes to be on her. "I have an announcement to make."
Stella looked up at her head master and gasped. "Oh my Godric."
"What?" asked Bella.
"Mom-mom Fleur and Uncle Harry." Stella stated, still shocked.
"What about them?" asked Dominic.
"They're here." Stella pointed towards the staff table, where 3 extra people were seated then usual. Fleur, Harry, and retired professional quidditch star, Viktor Krum.
"The ministry of magic has elected to bring back a tradition the schools have celebrated for ages. We haven't done it in a long time, due to the unfortunate circumstances in the ending of the last one, which was hosted at Hogwarts, and resulted in the death of a student. But now that the dark times are over, the Tri Wizard Tournament will be re-instated, and will be once again held at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We have our 3 champions from the last competition, who despite not supporting the idea of bring the tournament back, have agreed to mentor the champion from each school now.
Tomorrow evening, the girls of Beauxbatons and boys of Durmstrang academy will arrive to stay at Hogwarts for the rest of the year. The Beauxbatons have their own private dormitory, and share a common room with the Ravenclaws, and The Durmstrang boys will share with the Hufflepuffs. I expect you all to be on your very best behavior, and show everyone complete respect.
Now about the tournament, first and foremost, you must be 17 years old to enter. Once you put your name into the Goblet of Fire, there is not turning back. So be wise about your decision, and think it through. The 3 tasks are not easy, every thing you know will be tested. As you do know, lives have been lost in this tournament, and although we will be taking as many safety precautions as we could, there's always that risk. The prize, for winning the tri-wizard cup- eternal glory. The cup will be brought back tomorrow, you have until then to think about your decision. Good luck, and may everyone have a wonderful year." Said McGonagall.
Stella's eyes were locked on Harry and her grandmother, who seemed to be in extreme discomfort. She knew they'd be opposed to this-they were still haunted by the last competition-and she was surprised they had even agreed to come back.
"Wow." Jake said, finally breaking the silence.
"Wow is right." Stella agreed.
Later that night, Stella was tossing and turning in bed. She couldn't get to sleep…all she could think about was whether she wanted to enter her name or not. She knew her family would kill her but…this is the kind of thing she thrived on. Plus, she had the confidence that she could win.
Eventually, she gave up on thinking about that and decided to write Luke a letter. She wanted to tell him about his family, and even get him to meet them, if she could think of a way to sneak him out.
Dear Luke,
Hey, it's Stella-long lost cousin from the Hogwarts Express. I wanted to write and tell you about our cousins, from the picture. I forget who was where, but I'm sure you'll know by the descriptions.
I'm the oldest, I'm 17. I'm a proud Gryffindor, and captain of the quidditch team; I play seeker and my last name is Lupin. My little sister, Bella, is 13. She's the one with the streak of pink hair. She's a metamorphagus-something she inherited from my dad. She's also in Gryffindor-most of us are-she plays beater. Bella's a bit of a tom boy, unlike my youngest sister, Olivia. This is her first year in Hogwarts, and she just made it into Gryffindor. She loves clothes and make up, and all that boring girly stuff. Not much of a quidditch fan, that one…She's the girl with the perfectly curled golden locks, and brown eyes.
Then there's your first cousin-Sean Turner. He's 16, and a prefect in school. He's a really good kid, and the smartest one out of all of us. Sometime I wonder if Ravenclaw would have suited him as well as Gryffindor. You should get to know him next year-I know he'd love to meet you. He's the tall boy with brown hair and eyes.
Dominic Weasley is the fourteen year old with olive skin, spikey black hair, and dark brown eyes. He's my first cousin, but he's more like a brother to me. He's the other Gryffindor beater, alongside my sister. He's really good. His mother is Dominique Weasley, she's a professional beater for Puddlemere United-my favorite team, by the way…
Chloe and Katie Weasley are 5 and 2, they're my Uncle Louis' kids. Chloe has curly plantinum blonde hair and icy blue eyes. Katie has dark blonde hair, and royal blue eyes, she's a sweetheart. Chloe, on the other hand, can be a bit snobby, like her mother. (Sophia Hart-the whole family hates her.)
Lorie Scamander is 9, she's the girl with the blonde pigtails with streaks of pink, blue, and purple. She's what we call the free spirit of the family…she's just like her grandmother, Luna Lovegood. I think she's a sweet girl…but I can't for the life of me understand what she means when she tells me to wash the nargles out of my hair.
The pretty little red head, with the perfect curls, ivory skin, and blue eyes, is Giselle Weasley. She's 8, and basically the perfect child. It's hard to believe she's uncle Fred's daughter, she is nothing like him. Did you know her grandpop, George Weasley, owns Weasley Wizard Wheezes? It's the joke shop in Diagon Alley. I'm sure you've seen it before, it's truly amazing.
Then there's uncle Albus' kids, Harry, Frank, and Ruby. Harry is 8, he is the spitting image of Uncle Al. He has jet black hair, emerald green eyes, and glasses. Frank just turned 6, he's got brown hair and brown eyes. He's very interested in quidditch, I think he'll make a promising beater. The youngest is Ruby. She's got wavy Weasley red hair, brown eyes, and freckles sprawled across her nose and cheeks. She's only 4, but boy does she have a temper…
The two boys with platinum blonde hair are Sebastian and Salvatore Malfoy, they're 7 and 5. They're both very smart, and athletic, and they have amazing blue eyes…they're gonna be knock outs by the time they hit Hogwarts. I'm sure they'll both have a spot on the Quidditch team, maybe even captain…Salv wants to go out for seeker. Their little brother is Riley, he's only 3. He stands out from them a bit, with his red hair and brown eyes. Not to mention he's very shy, and reserved….but the sweetest kid once you start talking to him.
The cutie 2 year old with the black hair in pigtails, and brown eyes, is Jamie. My uncle James (a.k.a. Seeker for Puddlemere United)'s daughter. Her mom just left her on his doorstep…pretty rude…but we're all thrilled to have Jamie in our lives, I love that kid!
Hailey Weasley is my Uncle Hugo's daughter, she's almost a year old, and the youngest (so far…haha)…She has light brown hair and eyes…and she doesn't do much besides eat, sleep, and poop yet…she's just like her daddy! Haha!
I guess that's about everybody. The kids, at least. I'd like to get to know you a little better, if you don't mind. So write back soon…tell me about yourself! And if you have anything you want to know, don't hesitate to ask.
Love, Stella xo xo