The Hogwarts Express hadn't changed over the summer. Sure, maybe the cast had changed a bit; there were faces, the Seventh years, missing. And there were the new first years. But the Hogwarts Express never changed. And I liked it that way; something about the big, shiny train aging or being painted made me even sadder than the prospect that I was now a sixth year. Sixth year! That was almost a seventh year! And a seventh year was almost graduated!
And graduated meant no more Hogwarts.
I might be seeing you all sooner than you think," said Charlie with his signature grin as we said goodbye on the platform. This stopped us all short.
"Why?" said Fred.
"You'll see," said Charlie. "Just don't tell Percy I mentioned it...it's 'classified information, until such time as the Ministry sees fit to release it,' after all."
"Yeah, I sort of wish I were back at Hogwarts this year," said Bill wistfully.
"Why?" said George impatiently.
"You're going to have an interesting year," said Bill, his eyes twinkling. "I might even get time off to come and watch a bit of it."
"A bit of what?" said Ron.
"You'll see!" said Bill. I scowled.
"Oh, come on! You have to tell us!" I pleaded with Bill. He only shook his head at me with a big, knowing grin that drove me mad. He should not know more than I should about my own school!
Nobody told us a bloody thing.
By the time Fred, George, and I had found our compartment, Lee had already eaten more than half of the food supply on the train, Alicia, Katie, and Angelina had started the summer-gossip circle without me, and I was ecstatic nonetheless.
"The indignation!" exclaimed Fred. "Lee! You bought candy-"
"-without us?" finished George, a mock look of hurt on both their faces.
I shook my head and trooped over to sit next to the girls. Over the summer I had had enough of male presence. First the Weasley company exclusively, which meant young Ginny, motherly and on-edge Molly Weasley, and annoying Hermione was all I had as far as female company went. I was seriously starved. Not that I could complain - the Weasley's were the best. I just wished they had a girl my age. And nothing against Hermione - I just wished Harry would pick less of a know-it-all as a friend.
"Kal!" they all exclaimed in unison. We weren't a very huggy group, so I settled in between Katie and Alicia with just some high-fives and a half-hug from Katie.
"I heard you saw Ange at the Quidditch cup," Alicia said. "Lucky! I wanted to go, but mother said it was stupid to spend good money on something when I could just see in the newspapers who had won."
"Parents," sighed Katie. "Sometimes, Kal, I swear you're the lucky one."
A lot of time and about 300 Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans later, I could see Hogwarts up ahead. It was pouring rain, which just enhanced the gloomy beauty of the Victorian-Era castle. I whirled around to grab my luggage up off the ground, and when the train came to a halt, I was the first to jump out and yell a greeting at Hagrid.
Fred climbed into the Thelestral-pulled carriage right behind me, then came the rest of the gang. We were lucky to all fit, actually. Being older students, and seven of us in a seat-six carriage, I was practically in Fred's lap the entire time. Not that I minded.
Don't even go there, brain.
We talked about whatever we could grasp onto for the ride to the castle. Mostly about the poor first years out in this, most likely afraid of drowning. I remembered wanting to swim in the Black Lake the first day. It had been Katie who had saved me from impulsively sticking my arm in the water to test the temperature that day. It was also the first time we had ever met.
Meeting a close friend, my near-mauling… good times.
We reached Hogwarts all excitable and slightly wet from the rain we were soaked with on our brief time out of the carriages. We all settled down at the Gryffindor table. It felt so good to be back. Like realizing you still had a place in the world even when you were sure just moments ago that you didn't, that was what it felt like to me.
"Hello," greeted a few of the regular faces at the table. It was still startling that I, Kalmine Potter, was old enough to be considered a regular face, much less be looked up to by the younger students. I looked over eagerly at the Hat, hungry and anticipating the Sorting. I loved the Sorting.
A thousand years or more ago,
When I was newly sewn,There lived four wizards of renown,
Whose names are still well known:
Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,
Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,
Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad,
Shrewd Slytherin, from fin.
They shared a wish, a hope, a dream,
They hatched a daring plan
To educate young sorcerers
Thus Hogwarts School began.
Now each of these four founders
Formed their own house, for each
Did value different virtues
In the ones they had to teach.
By Gryffindor, the bravest were
Prized far beyond the rest;
For Ravenclaw, the cleverest
Would always be the best;
For Hufflepuff, hard workers were
Most worthy of admission;
And power-hungry Slytherin
Loved those of great ambition.
While still alive they did divide
Their favorites from the throng,
Yet how to pick the worthy ones
When they were dead and gone?
Twas Gryffindor who found the way,
He whipped me off his head
The founders put some brains in me
So I could choose instead!
Now slip me snug about your ears,
I've never yet been wrong,
I'll have a look inside your mind
And tell where you belong!
We all clapped politely, as always, but the real show was the food and we all knew that. After all, there were plenty of things better to do than marvel at an old, singing piece of burlap.
My mouth flew open, as if I were going to scream in elation. Dumbledore had just dropped a bomb. Mad Eye Moody… THE Mad Eye Moody… was going to be teaching US Defense Against the Dark Arts.
"Holy Hippogriff!" I squealed.
"He looks like he's on drugs," observed Lee. "That is NOT what a person is supposed to look like."
"Neither is your face, yet here you are!" said Alicia.
Fred and George were quick to shush us. Dumbledore was still trying to get our attention. What could possibly be more important that Moody-inspection?
"As I was saying," he said, smiling at the sea of students before him, all of whom were still gazing transfixed at Mad-Eye 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."
There was a plausible pause. I didn't understand what he meant - obviously, this was the big surprise… but it didn't seem so great yet.
"You're JOKING!" cried Fred in excitement.
"I am not joking, Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore 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."
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat loudly.
"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.
"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 WHAT?" hissed Alicia, looking worriedly around at the eager faces. "What?!" Nobody was paying her any attention, however: I was busy listening with awe in my face and my heart.
"There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the tournament," Dumbledore continued, "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 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."
"I'm going for it!" Fred hissed to us all. "Can you imagine winning?"
"Eager though I know all of you will be to bring the Triwizard Cup to Hogwarts," he said, "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 raised his voice slightly, for several people had made noises of outrage at these words, and the Weasley twins were suddenly looking furious - "is a measure 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 student hoodwinks our impartial judge into making them Hogwarts champion." His light blue eyes twinkled as they flickered over Fred's and George's mutinous faces. "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!"
The twins were not happy about the whole "17" rule at all. They were still ranting about it as we parted ways on the staircase. I laughed and trudged up heavy-footed into our dormitory (our meaning myself, Ange, Alicia, and Katie). I stepped inside the room… and immediately wanted to run back out and ask somebody what a dog was doing on my bed.
There was a "border collie" on my bed, just sitting there intelligently. I had never really had much interaction with dogs, so I was very antsy. Of course, I knew Sirius was a dog, but this was no human dog - it was just plain dog. Something about it's deep eyes made me think it - she - was smarter than she let on.
(Dog: Harry%20Cara_ )
"Read the note out loud, Alicia," I demanded, nudging the parchment that had fallen off the dog's tag with my foot. Alicia obliged and picked it up. She cleared her throat, eyes scanning the pages already.
"Dear Kalmine,
It has come to my attention that you - and your brother - have been in a lot of danger on multiple occasions on school grounds. Your brother has several closely devoted friends who know the true depth of his situation and who have proved themselves more than enough in the ways of protection. I wish I could say the same for you. While I have no doubt in your loyalties, I cannot safely say that I think your chosen crowd would be of any protection to you if something were to go seriously awry, especially now, when it is so crucial to remain safe for the Tournament."
"That's all a load of crap!" I said. "Fred rescued me from that Nilixa only last year!"
"Shh!" scolded Alicia.
"I know a dog is not the most practical guardian, but I thought it would be both an appropriate way to keep you safe, and good for my own peace of mind that you keep this dog near. You may just find that she's of more use to you than you think.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore"
It took a moment for that to sink in. Then I looked down at the Border Collie that was still posed, almost dramatically, on my bed, watching my face. I jumped to my feet.
"This is fantastic! I have a pet! I'll be the only witch at Hogwarts with a dog!"
"Snape'll blow a gasket!" squealed Angelina.
"What's her name?" demanded Katie, looking over the collar for anything besides a leather loop. There was nothing. "I think it's for you to decide, Kal."
"Damn! You're so lucky!"
"She's black, something dark," said Angelina.
The suggestions rolled at us.
"Cutie Pie!"
"Cavity!"
"Dark Angel!"
"You-Know-Who!"
"Nilixa Lestrange's Hair!"
"Fred Weasley's soul!"
"Please Angelina, Fred's a ginger, he doesn't have a soul."
"Lee Jordan's soul, then!"
"Katie! You're just saying that because he's black!"
"Not everything is about skin color, Ange!"
"Except for when it is-"
I rolled my eyes the ridiculous three-way conversation taking place in front of me. I stooped to look into the dog's eyes, ignoring the other suggestions. It hit her like a ton of bricks falling from a Hippogryph.
"Nox," she said out loud. "Her name is Nox. Like the light-cancelling spell?"
"Because she's black, very clever! No - NOT the skin color, Merlin Angelina," said Katie.
"Nox it is!" I said. My head hit the pillow and I was asleep. I couldn't help but feel like Nox was watching over me somehow… and not just because she was a dog, but something further than that. I could swear as I fell asleep that the dog felt more human than most of my professors.
A/N: IMPORTANT THAT YOU READ THIS
Heyo guys! This is me with the REALLY TERRIBLE I'M SO SORRY back to Hogwarts chapter! You people have no idea how much I take every comment to heart… I had to re-work so much of the story to fit what some comments said. My original story idea had Kal and Fred getting together in the CUTEST way ever in their LAST year… but there is no way I'm keeping it for another year… almost TWO if you count the part of their 7th that the event does not happen!
Also, it has come to my attention that she might come off as a REALLY CHICHE Mary-Sue because I gave her a lovely pet, and yes, this pet will turn out to be a very unrealistically awesome pet. BUT... I swear, there is a signifigance. I didn't just throw it in so she could have a pet - it's actually a HUGE part of the plot. Curious? Stick around, then. ;)
So this is going to be a short-ish year. But there is a fabulous plot if you stick around, I swear. Do you think it's odd what Dumbledore thinks? What do you people think about Nox? Your predictions are epic. Sometimes I see a prediction and just think: "Wow! This is better than MY story…"
Stay awesome,
Forever Maria