The world of Harry Potter and its characters belong to JKR. I do not support JKR. Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Trans people are people.

TW for swearing.

Chapter 2: The Announcement

Ron stood there for a moment, staring at Hermione taking in her features, she looked quite flustered at seeing him. Her eyes were puffy meaning she probably cried while he had been alone brooding inside his room, her frizzly, bushy brown hair looked somehow tamed and deflated in comparison to its normal electrified look. Despite all that she still looked like one of the most beautiful girls Ron had ever seen.

Ron didn't know when he started looking at Hermione with different eyes, he knew he denied it to himself all throughout third year, the row they had regarding Scabbers and Crookshanks was a good excuse as to why he didn't fancy her. Yet, that's exactly what it was, an excuse. When she slapped Malfoy after the git had insulted Hagrid, he felt the tug in his heart, he saw the fiery passion in her eyes, and he could only dream of that same passion now directed at him, but in a good way. He was quite annoyed with her crush on Lockhart. But, could someone really blame Ron? Even Neville, with all his accidents was ten times the wizard Lockhart could ever be... or was. He could recall the rage that passed through him when Malfoy dared to call her that awful word, despite having to throw up slugs for the rest of the day he would vomit slugs for Hermione every day.

He knew deep inside when he could no longer deny it to himself, but tried hard not to think about it. Fourth year, the Yule Ball. Her skin had looked like fine porcelain, and her hair, even when he preferred it wild like a mane of curls, had looked marvelous. She looked gorgeous. Gorgeous for him , Ron couldn't think of that night without reminding himself that Hermione had been laughing, dancing and probably feeling the best in a long time since Rita Skeeter had come out with her articles, and it wasn't because of Ron, it was for Krum. Vicky had made her laugh, Vicky got to dance with her, and Vicky made her feel better, he had done what Ron had always done with Hermione. Make her feel happy.

Yep. Fourth year had definitely made it impossible to deny it to himself for much longer. He had fallen for Hermione, he had fallen for his best friend. And blimey had he fallen hard.

"Your mother," said Hermione, sounding cautious. "Said we'll be having a party to celebrate both of us becoming prefects?" it sounded like a question as if she was asking Ron if he had changed his mind.

Ron nodded, himself feeling quite awkward at the tension in the room. "Yeah, figured I'd stay a prefect. Harry told me the prefects' bathroom is wicked."

A soft smile crossed her face before she was looking down at her feet as if embarrassed to look him in the eye. When he raised his head she saw the guilt in her eyes and the tug at his heart made its daily appearance, but it wasn't a good tug.

"I'm sorry!" they both blurted out at the same time. Hermione looked as surprised as Ron felt. Why was she apologizing? He was the one that snapped on her. He should've kept his emotions under control.

"What? No," said Ron. "I'm sorry, Hermione. I shouldn't have said that to you, I was just being an angry git." He put his hands in his pockets and looked down at his feet.

"Yes, you were." said Hermione. Ron looked up in indignation to see her grinning and he realized she was just taking the mickey, her smile caused Ron to mirror her grin. But, then her smile suddenly fell off her face. "I'm sorry too, I should've told you that I thought you'd make a good prefect. I was just surprised that's all" Ron's smile also fell off his face.

"Yeah," Ron grumbled. "I guess me making prefect is a shock 'innit." Hermione's eyes widened in fear.

"No. No. No. That's not it Ron." She rushed to say. "I was just surprised Harry wasn't chosen."

There was a knot in Ron's throat and his head was begging for his lips to stay shut but he couldn't help it when his mouth opened up and said. "Did you- did you want it to be Harry?" His voice was so low that it could've been confused with a whisper, nevertheless Hermione heard him.

Hermione looked unsure of even answering Ron's question. Ron was about to apologize and tell her she didn't need to answer when she finally decided to speak up.

"Well…" she said, her cheeks were beginning to blush and her eyes were looking everywhere but him. "I wouldn't be opposed to Harry being a prefect, but…" And she said the last part so quietly that Ron wasn't able to hear her.

"What was that?" he asked as he walked closer to Hermione. Her previous slight blush had turned her entire face a shade of pink. She looked up at Ron shyly, Ron couldn't think of why, and cleared throat.

"I said," and it looked like she was bracing himself for the worst. "I'm glad that it was you." She closed her eyes and looked down at her feet.

Ron could feel his own heartbeat roar in his chest, his cheeks and ears reddening, and his own mouth formed into the most stupid grin his face could ever muster.

"Really?" he heard himself asking. His voice was quiet however, so quiet that it was a miracle that Hermione had actually listened to him. She looked up at him with her warm brown eyes, a smile formed in her face.

"Really," she said in the same quiet tone that Ron had gone with.

'Blimey!' his mind swore. 'You'd think this was the bloody library from all the whispering.'

Ron suddenly became aware of the closeness between the two of them. He couldn't have been more than a foot apart from her. His head had to slightly bent down to look her in the eye. His eyes couldn't help it as they drifted to her lips, she must have noticed because the next moment he could hear her breath hitched. His gaze quickly settled back on her eyes to apologize to her, but he realized Hermione was looking right at his own lips.

He was sure Hermione could hear his heartbeat as it seemed to be thundering inside his chest, it felt like it wanted to escape his ribcage and leave Ron's body. Hermione bit down on her lip and Ron fought the urge to groan. Blimey, he wanted to bite down on that lip himself. His tongue escaped his mouth to wet his lips and he could've sworn her eyelids fluttered.

Ron was about to lean down when the door banged open. Hermione and him drifted a relatively platonic distance away from each other. Harry and the twins had come inside the room.

"Hey you two," said Harry not realizing what he'd just walked in on. "Mrs. Weasley is back, we're having the party, you two are the only ones missing." The twins were looking over Harry, unlike Harry they surely must've realized what they almost walked in on as they were hardly containing their laughter.

Ron was Harry's best friend, but at that moment had there not been anyone else he would've absolutely wrecked the scrawny git, Boy-Who-Lived or not. He tried very hard not to show his annoyance and failed as he could feel his ears reddening at an inhuman pace. Ron sent Harry he's most subtle glare, for a moment Harry seemed to acknowledge it, but then he tilted his head as if to ask what he'd done wrong.

"Oh no, we've kept everyone waiting?" said Hermione, but it sounded as if she was excusing herself out of the room. "I'll be right down. Ron," at the sound of his name, his head whipped towards Hermione. "I'll see you down stairs." She kept her gaze far away from Ron. And without a second word Hermione left the room.

The twins let out their laughter and it echoed inside Ron and Harry's room. Fred was clutching his stomach and had fallen to the floor. George had his hands on his knees and was wiping his tears away. Harry looked thoroughly confused by the whole ordeal.

"What did I miss?" asked Harry. The twins stopped their laughter, they looked at each other, then at Harry, then at Ron and back at each other before they broke into more laughter. Harry looked even more confused and turned to Ron. "Do you know why they're laughing like idiots?" Ron looked Harry dead in the face as if to say 'are you joking?' before he left the room to join the party.

'For fuck's sake, Harry!' he mentally screamed. 'You absolute cockblock. Next time, how about you wait five minutes so Hermione and I can… can...'

Ron had to stop walking as he fully realized what had almost happened.

"Holy fuckin' shi-"

"IF YOU FINISH THAT SENTENCE RON WEASLEY YOU WON'T BE SEEING YOUR NEW BROOM UNTIL YOU'RE OLD ENOUGH TO APPARATE!" He heard the loud voice of his mother from inside the kitchen.

Had it almost happened or had his mind been playing games with him? Was Hermione really about to kiss him? Was he about to kiss her? Was that chocolate cake he was smelling?

Hermione Granger was having a really eventful day. Just hours ago she had learned she had been chosen as prefect, even when every person who'd ever met her would see that she was an obvious choice seeing that other girls Dumbledore and McGonagall could've chosen were Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown, the little girl inside her that arrived to Hogwarts already planning to achieve top marks and become Head Girl couldn't help squealing in excitement.

She had been so excited when she went to share the news and saw Harry holding the prefect badge, she had simply incorrectly assumed Harry had been chosen as prefect. She honestly hadn't been thinking, she just acted on impulse. She was so happy, being prefect was one of the things that she had always wanted, it was one of the few things her parents could understand about Hogwarts, she was excited so when she saw Harry she didn't think twice before congratulating him. She saw that Harry had been holding the prefect badge, so how was she supposed to know that Ron had been the one to get it?

Still, she could've done a better job at congratulating Ron. The simple fact that Harry hadn't been chosen had really shocked her, shocked her so much that she could only give Ron a mediocre congratulations. After Mrs. Weasley had barged in the room, she couldn't have been more thankful for her intrusion. Yet, throughout all of her talking she could feel Ron's gaze on her, and she was constantly fighting the urge to look in his eyes.

What would she see in those handsome blue orbs of his? Anger of having to spend all of his time during prefect patrol with his nagging best friend? Disgust of having to be near her instead of someone as pretty as Parvati or as attractive as Lavender? She didn't want to find out, but she did and in the worst way possible.

Dejection, hurt, disappointment, in who she didn't know. How something that she found so beautiful as Ron's eyes convey such negative emotions was beyond her. She felt so bad, she was honestly quite glad that Ron had been the one to become prefect. As soon as the news settled and Mrs. Weasley started going on about pajamas, her head had been filled with a hundred scenarios of the two of them walking down the halls, one thing leading to another as the image of herself and Ron snogging inside an abandoned classroom came to the front of her mind.

Then, he said no. She could not believe it. She had driven him away and it was all her, Harry and the twins' fault. To say she was disappointed in herself would be an understatement. But then she had run into Mrs. Weasley and she'd congratulated her and Ron for becoming prefects. That smashed down hope had returned and thoughts of snogging inside abandoned classrooms came back in an unrelenting wave.

Hermione knew when she started falling for Ron. It was second year, after Malfoy had called her a 'mudblood' she hadn't known the meaning of the word at the time, only that it was meant to be insulting. Harry hadn't known it either, most of the Gryffindor Quidditch team however did, she felt touched that even when a lot of people in her own House had called her names like know-it-all they still came to her defense. And Ron hadn't even doubted for a second before he tried hexing Malfoy, she had felt something. She didn't know what it had been, and her not-so-platonic dreams she had that night involving her and Ron holding hands and sharing chaste kisses were not helping. She had woken up that morning blushing to the roots of her face, unable to look at Ron in the eyes. The fact that she had scolded him and he had been so sweet was not helping either.

"You shouldn't have Ron," she remembers saying. "You could've been in serious trouble. Not to mention your wand could've seriously hurt you."

"I couldn't let Malfoy call you that," he'd said. "I care way too much about you to let a git like him insult you like that." her face couldn't have possibly gone more red.

"Y-you care about me?" It was his turn to blush.

"O-of course I care about you," his ears had reddened in that adorable way they did whenever he was embarrassed. "You're my best friend, Hermione. I-I'd do anything for you."

Her thirteen year old self had finished that conversation in her head with Ron giving Hermione a very chaste kiss on the lips. Instead the both of them had headed down to breakfast and that conversation had been filed in the 'things Ron and Hermione don't talk about' accompanying Ron holding Hermione's hand during their first Hogsmeade visit, their fight after the Yule Ball, and now the almost kiss they shared in Grimmauld Place. She didn't know what had come over her, she just knew that Ron had been close, as close as one could get without touching. His eyes looked hungrily at her lips and her breathing hitched. Her own gaze fell to his lips, it had been so close. Only a couple of moments before he had maybe leaned down and maybe… Just maybe…

But maybes didn't cut it with Hermione, facts and absolutes were the way the world was ruled according to her. And the fact was that Ron hadn't said anything throughout the whole party. He had stared in awe at his new broom and laughed with Sirius and Lupin about stories regarding Lupin ignoring his prefect duties so that Sirius and Harry's father could cause mischief among Hogwarts, but there had been no mention of the almost kiss during the times he'd talked to her.

Perhaps, it was for the best. Maybe that way she wouldn't be embarrassed if she were to bring it up just for him to shut her down. He wouldn't outright reject her, Ron wasn't that kind of person, he'd probably ease her into rejection so they could keep being friends.

However, if it had been what she thought was going to happen she was going to hex Harry and the twins into oblivion. Harry could be quite thick if she were to be honest and she used to overlook this fact early in their friendship, from the moment the three of them became friends it was more as if Ron and Hermione were Harry's friends, but the two of them weren't friends with each other. She overlooked his obliviousness since she thought he was the glue that sticked them together.

She realized how wrong she was last year. Ron had gotten upset thinking that Harry had lied to him. Harry wasn't any better, when he told Hermione he had thrown a badge at Ron's forehead she had half a mind to teach him a lesson. But for the most part it had even been her and Harry or her and Ron for three weeks. And if she were to be honest spending time with Ron had been a lot more pleasant. Hermione liked Harry, but they were far too different in regards to pleasantries, he would rather spend time talking, playing and talking about playing Quidditch, while she rather liked spending time in the library.

With Ron there was a balance, he was the first one to complain when Hermione nagged the both of them to do their work, yet he started his work along with the two. When her mind first goes to homework and essays Ron is there to teach her to relax, to take their time and enjoy the strategic plays of chess. There was almost this protectiveness for the two of them that neither Harry and Hermione ever expressed. He was the first to stand up to Malfoy, he wasn't afraid of confronting Snape, he fought Hermione's bossy side to calm her down.

Yes, she just spent the majority of a party thinking about the redheaded boy she likes instead of actually talking to him. But there would be plenty of talking during their prefect patrols and perhaps some not talking .

Harry stepped off the Hogwarts Express having just made a fool of himself in front of Cho. Not like he could really change her mind, after what happened with Cedric, the new Head Boy and her had become inseparable, but it just so happened that the moment that he caught her alone was when he'd been covered in plant slime from one of Neville's bloody plants.

He'd just stepped off the train when he spotted her again, along with Cedric. It wasn't that Harry was jealous of Cedric, the same anger and fiery envy that coursed through last year wasn't there anymore. He still thought Cho was pretty and he'd rather Cho be with him instead of Cedric. But no, it wasn't jealousy that prevented Harry from talking to Cedric. It was shame, Harry had been the one that thought it was a good idea for Cedric and him to both touch the Goblet of Fire last year, it was Harry's fault that Cedric almost died, that Cedric had been tortured by Voldemort just like he had. Cedric hadn't blamed Harry, he thought if it was anyone's blame it was Voldemort's, that still didn't make his guilt any less prominent.

He was walking around Hogsmeade Station trying to see if Hagrid was around as only Professor Grubbly-Plank was there to welcome the first years. As he walked through the carriages he had to do a double take when he saw them.

The normally horseless stagecoaches were no longer horseless. There were creatures pulling the carriages. Although they looked like horses, they had a reptilian look, with silver eyes and giant wings that might've belonged to an enormous bat. Their black coat clinged to their skeletons, of which every bone was visible. They had a sinister aura to them that unnerved Harry. Why these creatures were now pulling the carriages when they were perfectly able to move by themselves Harry didn't know.

"Harry," Ron's voice was right behind Harry's. "Where'd you put Pig?"

"Luna Lovegood said she'd carried it for me." Harry was still looking at the creatures before looking at Ron and asking about Hagrid's whereabouts.

"I dunno," he said, sounding worried. "But, he better be okay…"

Harry bore witness as he saw Malfoy, Crabbe Goyle and Pansy Parkinson bully some second-years into getting out of the carriage to make space for themselves. Then Hermione emerged from the crowd panting from being shoved around.

"Malfoy was acting absolutely foul towards the first-years. Honestly, what was Dumbledore thinking? Three minutes with his badge and he's already abusing his power. Where's Crookshanks?"

"Ginny's got a hold of him," said Harry. "There…"

From the crowd Ginny was holding a very squirming Crookshanks, it seemed as if someone other than Hermione holding him was enough to anger the ginger cat. Ginny handed Crookshanks to Hermione as she thanked her. They started heading for an empty carriage when Ron shouted over them.

"Oi, I still don't have Pig with me!" And at that precise moment Pigwidgeon had decided to land on Ron's shoulders. His small body that reminded Harry of a feathered snitch started shaking excitedly, before affectionately giving Ron a nibble on his earlobe. The sight reminded Harry of Hedwig nibbling on his fingers or ears whenever she thought Harry looked particularly sad. Ron looked awestruck, someone taped his shoulder behind him and both Harry and Ron turned to look.

"If I were you I would let him out once in a while," Luna Lovegood was looking with her wide eyes at Ron. Her dreamy voice had a sort of cheerful tone. "Scops Owls get very erratic when they're caged for a long time."

"Uh… thanks," said Ron, but it didn't look as if he was very grateful for it.

"What d'you reckon are those things?" he asked Ron, pointing at the horrible horses, the other students surged by them and didn't seem to notice them.

"You see them too?!" a sudden voice spoke up. Harry and Ron turned to see Cedric Diggory approaching them, there was a sort of worry on his normally carefree handsome face. Harry suddenly felt very uncomfortable and would've liked a Time-Turner to go back in time and just shut up about the horses.

"What things?" asked Ron as he looked directly at the horses, he didn't seem to notice them, as if they weren't even there. Harry turned to Cedric who looked alarmed.

"I asked Cho about them," the mention of Cho's name made Harry's envy surged in his stomach. "Thought maybe the charms that move the carriages had stopped working. But she couldn't see them, neither could Ernie MacMillan or Hannah Abbott."

"Is there something I'm missing here?" said Ron, who looked as lost as a little boy visiting Diagon Alley for the first time. Harry and Cedric looked nervously at one another, before Cedric cleared his throat.

"Do you- umm… Do you reckon this has something to do with… V-voldemort?" he spoke the last part so quietly Harry could barely hear it. Harry stood pensievely before Cedric. He would've liked to say that year after year of fighting Voldemort had given him an idea or two, but if he were to be honest he was at a loss.

"Maybe," he whispered. "I don't know, I've never seen something like that."

"I can see them too," Luna's voice suddenly spoke up, and it looked like Cedric had nearly jumped in the air as he hadn't noticed she had been there at all. "You're just as sane as I am." She walked to the carriage along with Ron who had grown irritated at being kept in the dark. Harry and Cedric looked nervously at each other, could Loony Lovegood really see them or was she just being… Loony?

"They're called Thestrals I think," said Cedric. Harry looked at him in surprise "One of my dormmates took Care of Magical Creatures. Got an O in his O.W.L.s, he talked once about some invisible horses I think. It was the year that Professor Hagrid started teaching." Harry tried very hard not to laugh at the last part, the idea of someone calling Hagrid a professor was quite humorous. "I'll try and find out more about them once we're in the castle. Take care, Harry." Cedric started walking towards one of the carriages. Leaving Harry to think about the meaning of the Thestrals.

Why could only Cedric and him see them? Could Luna Lovegood really see them as well? His mind wondered as his body started heading for the carriage.

"Finally," said Ginny's voice. "That only took you forever Harry." Harry nodded, still thinking about Hagrid and the skeletal creatures. Hermione looked as if she wanted to ask, but Ron was giving her a warning glare that made her back down.

Ron had sat down at the table, Harry was still looking for Hagrid, while Hermione looked none too pleased about the new DADA professor. If Ron were to be honest she looked almost like a toad wearing makeup. The noise had settled down and people were looking expectantly at the Sorting Hat.

The hat started singing a new song, unlike the one it sang on Ron's first, third, or fourth year there was a new meaning behind this one. It talked about unity, about staying together. Ron knew why it changed, everybody knew, but few would admit it. The hat knew of Voldemort's return, it was a challenge to even think of his name instead of thinking of You-Know-Who. But, unlike the stories that Fred and George told him when he was little, it was real now. A war like the one that took away his uncles was about to start. Dumbledore had to reassemble back The Order, Bill had to come back home to stay close to The Burrow in case something bad happened, Harry couldn't go to King Cross without a full escort. Many things were about to change and it unnerved Ron that even the Sorting Hat knew.

Ron was already craving the feast when the last first year "Zeller, Rose" was sorted into Hufflepuff. McGonagall had joined the staff table when Dumbledore stood up probably to say one of his barmy speeches.

"Welcome to our newcomers!" said the old Headmaster. "And to our old friends, welcome back! There is a time for speechmaking, and although I would love nothing more than to accompany you by eating some good toast with marmalade, I'm afraid you shall wait." There were confused murmurs and glances all around the Great Hall, Ron could see that some of those glances were directed at Harry.

"As some of you may know, last year a sporting event that should've brought excitement and joy ended in a way that I myself couldn't prevent." The hall fell into silence as many students started looking at Harry and Cedric. Harry looked like he wanted to be anywhere, but there; Cedric had an unreadable expression as students from all Houses were staring at him, he faced them and whatever he did worked as their gaze fell down to their laps. "We are living in times of confusion, which is why I'm so glad to announce the next news." His tone had become more chipper, and his eyes started to twinkle.

"For those who still don't know, almost a thousand years ago Hogwarts was founded by four of the greatest wizards of the time. Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin." At the last name Ron saw Harry's fist clench. "These four wizards had a dream of creating a school where every young boy or girl could learn to control their magic. But, as the Sorting Hat sang a few moments ago, just because they had a common mission, didn't mean that disagreements were nonexistent."

"Exactly a thousand years ago, the four founders found themselves in a dispute. The four believed each of their students were the best among the other Houses. Their disagreement led to every student in Hogwarts fighting against any other classmate that didn't belong in their House. Seeing the chaos that their constant fighting led to, the founders came down with a solution, a way for a student of each House to prove themselves among the others. A way for the founders to settle which of them was the best mentor and educator." When Dumbledore finished the murmuring of the students had returned. Why was the Headmaster telling them any of this?

"You might wonder why I'm telling you any of this."

'Bloody mind reader,' thought Ron.

"When it came time for choosing the worthiest students of each House, none of the founders were satisfied. An answer came to them in the form of a Seer, one who made a prophecy that in exactly a thousand years the time would come for the founders to claim their Champions. The time has come for the tournament to begin and for four great wizards to return to their home. Please give a warm welcome to the Founders of Hogwarts!"

The doors of the Great Hall were banged open, students couldn't turn their heads quicker. "The first Head of Gryffindor House, a man who exceeds courage, once called the Bravest Wizard Alive! Lord Godric Gryffindor!" A man with a red mane and an equally red beard entered the Great Hall. He had a long cloak that looked more practical than luxurious, his eyes were a piercing blue. He wore gloves that looked like leather, but Ron quickly realized they were made of dragon skin. As soon as he entered the banners of the Great Hall fell down and a golden lion appeared roaring at Gryffindor's entrance. He joined the staff table and sat right beside McGonagall who looked quite pleased with herself.

"The first Head of Ravenclaw House, a lady whose thirst for knowledge is never sated, called Wisest Sorcerer in the old times of Scotland! Lady Rowena Ravenclaw!" A beautiful woman that wore her wavy black hair in a knot entered the Great Hall and its banners changed to a bronze eagle that made its call. A few strands fell by the sides of her head and she had black eyes that seemed to sparkle and she wore a blue dress that looked to be floating above the ground. She wore a lot of jewelry in her person; rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces, yet it looked formal and royal-like. As she sat down next to Professor Flitwick, who jumped excitedly in his seat, Ron noticed Gryffindor send Ravenclaw a sly smirk. She huffed and rolled her eyes, but a slight blush could be seen on her face.

"The first Head of Hufflepuff House, a woman who has never been afraid of getting her hands dirty, known by her students as the Mother of All! Lady Helga Hufflepuff!" A plump woman with brown hair was walking excitedly down the Great Hall, she had brown eyes and her hands, which were holding up her dress, looked calloused and rough. Her dress was simple, but stylish. The banners changed again, now a black badger appeared and it made a growling noise similar to a bear. She sat down shaking Professor Sprout's hand rapidly, Ron was sure he had never seen Professor Sprout blush before, but meeting her first predecessor was apparently it for her.

"The first Head of Slytherin House, a lord whose cunning led to incredible powers, named the Silver Tongued Snake! Lord Salazar Slytherin!" The ideal look of a pureblood wizard entered the Great Hall. He bore a neutral look, but his eyes were furrowed, his walk was graceful and it made his long black ponytail sway side to side. He was clean shaven and he had a handsome face whose green eyes were looking directly at their front. He held his nose high, and Ron was instantly reminded of Mr. Malfoy. His green robes, unlike Gryffindor's, looked luxurious and were silver, it reminded him of Harry's cloak when he first saw it. Slytherin stood beside Snape who stood up, the both of them bowed before each other and sat down. Ron had never seen Snape look so smug.

"On behalf of Hogwarts," said Dumbledore looking at the founders. "Welcome back." The headmaster started clapping which prompted everyone else to do so as well. The Gryffindor table was looking starry-eyed at their founder who was smiling and had a face that looked as if he'd been gone from home for a long time. Ron, who was looking awed at Godric Gryffindor, turned to look at Harry expecting him to look just as excited as he was, instead he found his best friend glaring daggers at Salazar Slytherin who was talking with Professor Snape with a snobbish expression.

"You alright?" asked Ron. This seemed to do it as Harry looked at Ron and his expression softened, his hand which was holding his fork so tightly Harry's knuckles had gone white looked more relaxed and its grip looked less tight. Harry nodded and started eating and looking cautiously at Slytherin. Ron on the other hand took turns between ravenously eating his food and staring at the founders. Hermione was looking at Slytherin, and she seemed scared. For the first time, in Weasley history, Ron put down his fork and pushed his plate. With all of his Gryffindor courage he put his hand over Hermione's who was holding her knife as tightly as Harry was. Hermione looked at Ron, took a deep breath and seemed to calm down, she nodded at Ron and mouthed a thanks. The hall finished eating when the four founders stood up.

"Thank you, to all of you for the warm welcome," said Gryffindor. "It's been a long time since we've been home. As your headmaster said, there is a reason we are here." The tension inside the hall had never been more tense.

"The Hogwarts Tournament," continued Slytherin. "A competition created by us to find out which Hogwarts House houses the best witch or wizard."

"Since the moment the hat was put on your heads when you were first sorted," said Hufflepuff. "You have been studied, your virtues, your morals, your skills, beliefs, everything that makes up who you are."

"The Tournament is set to take place a month before the end of your term," said Ravenclaw. "The champions have been chosen and shall be revealed during the Halloween Feast."

"However," said Hufflepuff. "We are teachers and educators, we want to take this opportunity to see how our classes have advanced. If you see some of us during your time here, we ask that you show the same respect you'd show your teachers."

The four founders bowed before the hall in a sign of respect, the whispers couldn't have begun quicker. Murmurs and glances all around speculating who of their House was worthy enough to be chosen as a Founder's Champion. But, it seemed that the founders weren't finished, Helga Hufflepuff raised her hands and made an astounding clap that resonated through all of the hall, it even knocked a third-year Hufflepuff off their seat who'd later claim to have gone deaf on one ear.

"Sorry," said the motherly looking witch. "But we're not done."

"When we first made the Tournament," said Slytherin looking in mild annoyance at Hufflepuff. "We realized how selfish we were. For our own pride we planned to make our beloved students go through an impressive amount of hard work just for them to receive no reward in the end." Some of the words seemed to be poison in Slytherin's mouth, Ron wasn't surprised at the exact words.

"That's why we have prepared a special reward for the winner of the Tournament," said Ravenclaw, before taking the Sorting Hat and placing it above Gryffindor's extended arms. She shook it three times before a weird looking vase came out of it. "This… is a djinni." the moment the words came out of her mouth chaos broke out. Everyone was staring at the vase in awe, with obvious reason. Ron had heard from his mother's stories about djinnis all the time, they were powerful beings. The murmuring, the talking, the whispering, the conspiring all came at once.

"QUIET!" shouted Slytherin, he didn't sound angry however, only loud. The hall fell silent at once.

"It seems for some of you a djinni is something that you know of," said Gryffindor. "But for those of you who don't, let me explain. A djinni is a powerful being capable of extraordinary acts of magic. But their more notable nature is that of wish granting. From fame and fortune to the deepest and darkest desires, there is little that a djinni can't do."

"The winner of the Tournament," said Hufflepuff. "Shall be granted the wish from the djinni. No exceptions, no tricks, a single wish. The hat and the vase shall be hidden until the end of the Tournament to ensure no mischievous students try to steal it."

Godric Gryffindor put the vase back in the hat, and with a snap of his fingers it disappeared. The four founders sat back in their seats and soon enough the feast had ended, but not before a very awkward self-introduction from the new DADA professor. As soon as students came out of the Great Hall, people couldn't stop talking. Some speculated about the identities of the Champions while others were saying what they would do if they had the djinni's wish. Ron was no exception.

"Definitely, unlimited chocolate frogs. NO! Unlimited galleons, that way I can buy how many chocolate frogs I could want." He kept talking as Harry, Hermione and him were walking to the Gryffindor Tower. Harry had a pensive look on his face, and Ron knew why, he'd known since his first year. Harry's deepest desire was to see his family back. That sudden thought quieted him down, and after an ugly discussion with Seamus Finnigan Ron went to sleep with dreams of… The Sword of Gryffindor? Weird.

Dumbledore was sitting inside the Headmaster's office. A knocking sound outside his doors disturbed him out of his thoughts.

"Come in," said the Headmaster.

Dolores Umbridge entered his office, her pink outfit almost blinding the old wizard. "What can I do for you Professor Umbridge?"

"Well," she said in that overly fake sweet tone of hers. "You see headmaster, when I accepted the job that the Minister himself had entrusted me with, I was told that I was to do the utmost possible for Hogwarts to stay as quiet as possible. I wonder why I was not informed of this tournament."

"This is part of Hogwarts' history, if the Minister has any problems with it he can come himself to talk to the founders. After all, they're the ones who created the Tournament." said Dumbledore. "I was simply the Headmaster lucky enough to meet the legendary people who created the place that I hold dearly in my heart. Perhaps you yourself would be willing to talk to them, I believe you were a Slytheirn at your time at Hogwarts? Hopefully, Lord Slytherin is willing to help you."

Dumbledore had never seen someone's face change from a smile to a frown in less time than Umbridge had. The witch said nothing as she barged outside Dumbledore's office and slammed the door causing one of the portraits to grumpily yell at whoever was making so much noise. Dumbledore sighed to himself bracing for whatever tantrum the Minister was preparing for him next year.

"I see Dolores," said Cornelius Fudge. "Thank you." The floo call ended and Fudge sat down on his chair, rubbed his eyes and put his fingers on the bridge of his nose. It was tiring to keep the public calm when Dumbledore couldn't stop spewing his lies, and now on top of all of it there was this new tournament.

He started writing a letter, sure enough this particular person would help him. He'd seem absurdly loyal the past month or so. He finished and neared his personal owl.

"Send this to the Junior Assistant to the Minister of Magic."

"What is it, Lucius?" asked the Dark Lord's hissing voice. "What news do you bring before me?"

"My lord," said Lucius Malfoy, bowing before Lord Voldemort. "My son has been informed of the most peculiar event at Hogwarts."

"Speak Lucius!" said Voldemort. "I do not have all day!"

As Lucius started retelling everything in Draco's letter, a sinister smile was forming on Voldemort's lips. His crimson eyes seemed to glow in excitement and he seemed to tap his wand against the palm of his hand in a way that looked as if a first-year student was playing with his new wand.

"It seems," said Voldemort. "We may have a worthy ally in our hands Lucius."