It's not long when they were at the gate, and Hogwarts was in their sight. And as the carriage approached the great oak front door, hopped out onto the stone steps of the castle, Percy, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville make their way toward the torch-lit entrance hall, with magnificent marble staircase.

"Blimey," said Ron, shaking his head sending the water everywhere. "if that keeps up the lake's going to overflow. I'm soak - ARRGH!"

But then a large-filled with water balloon appeared right on Ron's head, exploded. and Ron step sideway, into Harry , and just a second when another one was dropped onto Hermione, but Percy pushed her away, making the balloon exploded as soon as it touch the ground. And twenty feet above them, Peeves was laughing.

"PEEVES!" yelled an angry voice. "Peeves, come down here at ONCE!"

Professor McGonagall called the poltergeist, dashing out from the hall, then skied on the wet floor before Percy managed to catch both her arms, stopping her from falling.

"Ouch - sorry, Mr Jackson."

"That's all right, Professor!" said Percy, releasing her arms.

"Peeves, get down here NOW!" barked Professor McGonagall, straightening her hat.

"Not doing nothing!" cackled Peeves, dropped another one on a fifth year girl."Already wet, aren't they? Little squirts! Wheeeeeeeeee!" then another one at a second year group.

"I shall call the headmaster!" shouted Professor McGonagall. "I'm warning you, Peeves -"

Peeves stuck his tongue out, throw one last balloon then zoomed up the marble staircase, crackling insane.

"Well, move along, then!" said Professor McGonagall. "Into the Great Hall, come on!"

So the fore slid themselves into the Hall, through the double door. Ron still muttered furiously.

The Great Hall this year seem a little different, brighter than usual. Golden plates and goblet gleaming by the light of hundred of floating candles. Students from all the tables were chatting. After the four walked pass the Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw table, they sat down, make themselves comfortable.

As the four sat down with the rest of the Griffindor students, Headless Nick greet them. And kinda hungry and also looking forward the sorting. But then a Harry's fan interrupted them. And a while later, when Colin finally left, they stared to notice on the staff table, one position was still empty.

"Where's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?" said Hermione.

People believe the position was jinxed, and they have their reasons. Never before was a teacher last longer than a year.

"Maybe they couldn't get anyone!" said Hermione

And for the rest of the teachers, nothing really change. And Percy's ADHD was getting worst, he started tapping his feet, then grabbed his wand and his pen, use them as drumsticks, and started to made a beat from the golden plate and goblet.

"Oh hurry up," Ron moaned, next to Harry. "I could eat a hippogriff."

Then the double burst open to reveal Professor McGonagall leading a line of first year, looked like had swum instead of sailing. And the head of Griffindor placed the three-legged stool on the ground before putted the Sorting hat on it. Then it sang, something it would do once a year, on this day.

As the hat finished, everyone clapped, included Percy. And the sorting begin after Professor McGonagall took out a large parchment.

"When I call out your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool," she told the first years. "When the hat announces your House, you will go and sit at the appropriate table.

"Ackerley, Stewart!"

A boy walked toward, nervously. McGonagall putted the hat on the boy's head as he sat on the stool.

"RAVENCLAW!" shouted the hat.

And Stewart ran toward the Ravenclaw table. And the sorting continued.

"Baddock, Malcolm!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

The table from the other side bursting with applauses.

"Branstone, Eleanor!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Cauldwell, Owen!"

And it went on and on, making Percy bored. Don't take it personally, but with everything going on around him, the sorting ceremony seems to be the most boring thing around. Percy was now lying on the table, waiting for it to end, so he can finally eat.

And a voice from a significant person caught his attention.

"I have only two words to say to you," said Dumbledore."Tuck in."

And the food appeared out of the air, so Percy loaded his plate with whatever he can get his hand on. While Percy was eating, Nick had told them about the little mess in the kitchens cause by none other than Peeves. And the fact Hermione found out about the house-elves making her a little - Percy don't even know how to describe, she care about the house-elves, Percy understand, but she seem to take it way too serious.

Soon the food disappeared, and Dumbledore was now on his feet.

"So!" said Dumbledore, smiling."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 tell 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, and can be viewed in Mr. Filch's office, if anybody would like to check it."

"As ever, 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."

"What?" Harry gasped, looked at Percy then the rest of his Quidditch teammates. There were whispered all over the place, asking why the school had cancel the cup. But Dumbledore continued, 'This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, 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 -"

But there was a rumble of thunder, the door of the Great Hall bang open.

A man was standing in the doorway, a long staff on one hand, with a black cloak. All eyes were on him, and every moves he take, a sound echoed through the Hall. The man removed his hood, his face like had been carved out of wood, but not from a skillful artist, but by someone who only just in for a job for a few days and still trying to learn. And the special thing about his face that it has an electric blue eye.

The stranger reached Dumbledore, and the two shook hand before the headmaster nodded his head, gestured the man to the empty seat on his right.

"May I introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?" said Dumbledore brightly as the new professor took his seat, and started to pulled a plate of sausages toward him."Professor Moody."

The staff greeted him with an applause.

"Moody?" Harry muttered to Ron. "Mad-Eye Moody? The one your dad went to help this morning?"

"Must be," said Ron.

"What happened to him?" Hermione whispered. "What happened to his face?"

"Don't know yet," said Percy. "But i definitely know where he get his nickname from."

Dumbledore cleared his throat.

"As I was saying," he said, smiling at his students still staring at Moody.

"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!" said Fred loudly.

Everyone laughed, even Dumbledore chuckled, breaking the silent of the Hall.

"I am not joking, Mr. Weasley," he said, "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."

But the joke was broke by Professor McGoganall.

"Er - but maybe this is not the time...no..." said Dumbledore, "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.

And the headmaster continued on explaining what is the Tri-wizard tourment. Announcing them about the arrival of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang in October, also the judge. And finally the prize, beside from glory,a thousand Galleons. Sound like a pretty good deal for Percy. And Fred had announce to 'go for it' but Dumbledore had to warn them about the danger of this game. In addition, new rule had been made, no students under seventeen can take part in the game. And it gained some complains about it, mostly from Fred and George.

Then the students started to left after Dumbledore announcement. They all headed back to the tower, where their cozy and warm bed await. But something was on Hermione's mind that can't seem to shake, 'about the house-elves' Percy thought.

And of course Ron also want to join in the game, but this time Percy just want a nice, easy going school year just to relax, and this time, he might get it after all. Then darkness consume him.

The following morning come quickly though, and the storm was still strong, blow through the ceiling of the Great Hall. And as gloomy as it was, Percy still had to check his schedule. But while Harry, Ron and Hermione had Herbology with the Hufflepuff and Care of Magical Creatures with Slytherin in the morning, Percy can handle Charm quite nicely with Ravenclaw and Muggle Studies with Hufflepuff.

And in the afternoon, double Potion with Slytherin then a free period. Since Percy is a fifth year now, O. is one in a few exams Percy has to take which mean, more study for him.

Percy groaned.

Of course Hermione has to bring up the house-elves as they were already going through half of their breakfast. But of course Hermione being Hermione, refused to eat, but it was an vague argument since she was also hungry.

Then hundred of owls came bursting to the open window, mail dropping, paper delivering and it seem some can't refuse the urge of swung down and bitting Percy after delivering. But it seem quite normal to everyone since it had happened a few times before.

As Percy making his way toward his Charm class, he spotted Cormac McLaggen, a Gryffindor student, same year as Percy. flirting with some girls at the corridor before headed to class. Cormac and Percy doesn't have a very good relationship you can say that. He was like the jock in your normal highschool, good looking, famouse, picking on the weak, although that's usually the job for Slytherin students, and girls swooning around him.

The class started with Professor Flitwick revised the Disarming charm, on pillow and soon go through to other spells such as Banishing charm, Fire-making spell, Levitation Charm and Bending Charm before started to the new one. And the rest of that morning went like wild wind, as Percy sit at the Gryffindor table, with the trio, grabbed a plate and helped himself with some grilled cheese. But Hermione just won't stop talking.

"Er - is this the new stand on elf rights?" said Ron. "You're going to make yourself puke instead?"

"No," said Hermione."I just want to get to the library."

"What?" said Ron in disbelief. "Hermione - it's the first day back! We haven't even got homework yet!"

But she shrugged and shovel down her food, then leapt away before saying"See you at dinner!"

With the bell rang one again, Percy dashed toward his Potion class, just to get point taken by Snape for tapping his feet in class. "It's irritating me Mr Jackson. Five points from Gryffindor." So for the rest of the class, Percy just tried to be as quite as possible, making his Draught of Peace. When he finished, Percy pour some into a tube, and brought it for Snape to grade it.

And before anyone can leave, he reminded them about the O. test in June, and according to Snape "will prove how much you have learned about the composition and use of magical potions." And of course, to make it worst, to write an essay about the Draught of Peace,and collect a few ingredients for the next lesson.

As the four were at the doorway, ready for dinner, but a loud voice rang behind them. Then they soon found out that Rita had once again write horrible things about Ron's dad. And Malfoy was the one who almost get into a wand with Harry, since the brats insulted Ron's mom. But all was stopped by Professor Moody, and turned Malfoy in to a white ferret. But then again, he was stopped by Professor McGonagall with a terrified look.

And with Fred, George and Jordan keep banging on how cool his class was, and it was cool, with the knowledge of an auror, he knows lots of spells to fight the Dark Arts, he also show them the three unforgivable curses. Which were something Percy did not recommended to do or tried to do at home.

Then finally, the trio finally had the taste of Moody's class, and Percy was sure now his nicknames-Moody and Mad-eye, fitted him perfectly.