It was Harry Potter's fourth year at Hogwarts. Another nine months with no Dursleys', another nine months with Ron and Hermione, and – hopefully – a nine months that would break the trend of coming within an inch of death multiple times a year.
It wasn't really too much to ask, he didn't think at least. No DADA professors that were secretly possessed by Voldemort, no hack celebrities trying to Obliviate him, and -
Well, actually, he'd take another werewolf. Moony actually had been pretty good, if you could overlook the Wolfsbane incident at the end. It was one of his least terrible experiences with Defense professors, all things considered.
With the Death Eater attack at the Quidditch World Championship over the summer, he'd sort of (foolishly) hoped his terrible luck would be satisfied. Not that it seemed much like that would be happening, he thought, eyeing the assorted girls at the faculty table. Hermione was even less subtle about it than him, and he wasn't trying too hard to conceal his suspicion. Of course, with her it was probably just burning curiosity.
He didn't really have anything against them, aside from maybe the young one that looked suspiciously like Draco Malfoy except with the red eyes that -
That Voldemort had. At least, when he'd been grafted to the back of Quirrell's head.
Harry still hated thinking about that. Even years later, he still got nauseous recalling the smell of burning – well, burning human.
"Now, before you're all tempted away by the usual scrumptious feast, I have a few announcements, as I'm sure the more astute of you have noticed," Dumbledore cheerfully called from the front of the Great Hall.
The more astute? Harry thought, in mild disbelief. Practically everyone was curious why there were five newcomers to the faculty table, all of which looked to be students. Hell, Crabbe and Goyle looked curious. It definitely wasn't just the 'more astute'.
"First, I would like to welcome to the faculty, our new Defense Against Dark Arts professor – One! One what? I'm afraid I'm not quite sure. Please direct all such inquiries to the young lady in question. A warm welcome for her, if you would."
The red-eyed girl stood and inclined her head slightly, looking vaguely exasperated at Dumbledore's rather lame joke.
… What?
She looked like she was thirteen! Fourteen, at the very oldest! Unless she was way older than she seemed? Had they let a vampire teach at Hogwarts? That… almost sounded like something Dumbledore would do, actually.
Harry didn't seem to be the only one dumbstruck. All around him, people were either struck silent or gossiping in hushed whispers. A quick check showed Hermione was torn somewhere between outrage, intense curiosity, and bitter resignation. He definitely got the last one. They finally had a good DADA professor last year, and Lupin gets replaced by a girl who barely looks their age.
Or a vampire.
Considering his own luck, and some of the things that went on at Hogwarts, Harry really wasn't going to discount his knee-jerk reaction here.
The only applause she received were from the staff table, a few spattered claps from Hufflepuff, and a lone, rather enthusiastic ovation from an odd looking Ravenclaw.
Harry took a second look at their new professor(?) and started. It hadn't been too obvious while she was sitting, but…
Was that the roman numeral one? Tattooed onto her forehead? A furtive glance at the other girls confirmed that every single one of them had a forehead tattoo.
That's… Harry didn't know what to think. It looked liked some kind of cult thing. He was uncomfortably reminded of the Dark Mark. This all was getting bizarre, even for Hogwarts. A quick pinch proved he – probably – wasn't dreaming. There was, indeed, a thirteenish, possibly a vampire, girl as their newest teacher.
Despite the lackluster response, the Headmaster continued as though nothing had happened.
"Our other additions, Two, Three, Four, and Five," because of course those were their names, "are staying in the castle as guests, invited that we might, as a community push the study of magical beings."
The other four girls stood up on cue, giving a verbal greeting unlike One.
"Why hello everyone! I'm the youngest of the Utautai, Five. Very nice to meet you," said the oldest looking one with a wink of – yeah he wasn't imagining it. Slit eyes. And what the hell was she wearing? Every pureblood, and half of everyone else, in the room looked scandalized. The rest looked either embarrassed or couldn't stop staring.
And what was an Oo-tah-tie?
"I'm Four, the second youngest sister. It's a pleasure to meet you all, and I hope we can get along," the next girl seemed a few years younger but definitely not as young as One or the one in the lineup who was probably going to be Three if the pattern held. Also, how were any of them related? They didn't look related in the slightest.
"…"
Or she might be Three, if she ever introduced herself.
Four nudged her and whisper-shouted.
"Three!"
The dozing purple-haired girl stirred from her slouched position, where she'd been leaning on her next sister in line.
"… I'm Three," she muttered halfheartedly before leaning back into the blue one's shoulder.
Four just sighed. The blue haired girl giggled a little before waving with the hand not holding her sister up and giving a much more cheerful introduction than the others, "Hi everyone! I'm Two, the third oldest Utautai. Feel free to come talk to me or whatever! I don't bite!"
Third oldest? That seemed a bit odd. With the way they had been going down the line, and the fact appearance apparently had nothing to do with their age, since Five definitely looekd way older than the rest, Harry had expected her to be second oldest. Maybe it had just been a coincidence.
With their introductions done, the five sat back down. Or were sat down, in the case of Three, who seemed to have fallen asleep while standing up.
Looks of confusion and slowly dawning realization dotted the crowd in equal measure. Harry really wanted to know what the people who seemed to have a clue were thinking, because he was just plain lost.
Dumbledore stroked his beard, "A pleasure," he absently scanned the student reactions, "Some of you already seem to be on the right track. Our new guests are, what appears to be, a new species of magical beings – referred to as Utautai, or as I am told, Intoner."
So not vampires. Just an undiscovered species. That no one seemed to know anything about except maybe Dumbledore, the staff, and a few better connected students.
…
At least one of them was going to almost kill him by the end of the year, intentionally or not.
Either way, Professor Dumbledore firmly had everyone's attention by now, all the students eagerly awaiting more information. The Ravenclaw from earlier looked almost rabid, who, now that he looked more closely, seemed to have radish shaped earrings. What the ruddy hell?
"But that's enough of that, there are more. equally exciting announcements, and I fear if I don't move on we'd never get to eat."
Or he'd just blow it off. That too.
"It is my great pleasure to announce that Quidditch this year is canceled!"
Immediately the student body called for blood. Oliver Wood looked like someone murdered his firstborn child, and the Gryffindor beaters looked like they were about the murder Dumbledore's. Ron was sputtering in outrage, and Harry swore that even Malfoy was joining in the booing. Hermione just rolled her eyes.
Dumbledore continued, completely unphased.
"Instead, Hogwarts has the honor of hosting, for the first time in almost two centuries, the Triwizard Tournament! Prizes for the victor include one thousand galleons, the Triwizard Cup, and, naturally, eternal and everlasting glory."
And now everyone was cheering. Except Hermione, who looked stricken. What the bloody hell was the Triwizard tournament and how did everyone at Hogwarts not have whiplash from the back and forth tone of this speech?
Harry looked to Ron for an explanation, but immediately abandoned that plan when all he got were repeated whispers of 'eternal glory' and a starstruck expression. Hermione seemed to take notice of his plight and deigned to offer assistance.
"The Triwizard tournament is once every five years tournament held between Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, the Durmstrang Institute, and Hogwarts – last held in the 1700s. It was canceled due to an exceedingly high death rate," she whispered, "one of these days, I'm going to tie you to a chair and force you to read Hogwarts: A History!"
Ignoring that last comment (which was a bit too likely to happen for his liking), he hissed back, "And they're bringing it back?"
Hermione looked like she swallowed a lemon. "So it seems."
Dumbledore conveniently continued, "Now, of course, to those concerned about the unfortunately bloody history of the tournament, many steps are being taken to reduce the death toll. Regardless, this is not a light undertaking. To those interested, I would recommend a thorough consideration of both your own abilities and the dangers involved."
Grim warnings from Dumbledore were usually somehow even more dangerous than he made them sounds. Harry was inclined to take him seriously.
It was at that moment everyone started, several people almost jumping out of their skins as the door to the Great Hall burst open with a crash.
Dumbledore smiled, "Indeed, it seems one of the precautions I mentioned earlier has arrived. Please welcome retired Auror Alastor Moody. He shall be providing security for the Triwizard Tournament, independently assessing its safety, and assisting One in her duties as DADA professor."
Today seemed to be a bad day for applause. Or maybe it had something to do with a towering man with an eye patch, peg leg, and crazed look on his face who looked very much like he'd been half drowned. Either way, no one clapped.
The man grunted something unintelligible in acknowledgment that only seemed to frighten the younger years even more, before drudging his way over to the staff table. The Intoners – minus One, who seemed to be intently browsing an ancient looking tome – eyed him curiously. McGonagall just wrinkled her nose at his soaked clothing before hitting him with a drying charm, earning a nod in thanks.
"Please await All-Hallows Eve with anticipation, when both our fellow schools shall arrive, and more details about the Tri-Wizard tournament shall be revealed! Until then, tuck in!"
Harry wasn't going to be awaiting the pre-anniversary of his parent's death and the start of some kind of death tournament with any kind of anticipation. At least this year's life-threatening conspiracy was probably only centered around the DADA professor, and after decades of that position's probable-curse, everyone expected that, not just Harry.
Still, he had a bad feeling about these Intoners.
"So? What do you think?" Hermione asked, practically demanding Harry and Ron express an opinion. It was late, far past the usual time everyone in Gryffindor was asleep – especially for the start of term. The three of them had gathered in the common room, all of them practically buzzing with various amounts of excitement and apprehension. Not like they couldn't have talked earlier, but Harry had pressed for later.
It was easier to watch what you said when no one was around to hear you, and after the 'Heir of Slytherin' incident a few years back, he hadn't been exactly keen on his classmates. Definitely not enough to trust with half the shite he wanted to bring up to explain why he didn't trust their two new professors and the other 'guests'.
"That this tournament is the best bloody thing to happen at Hogwarts?" Ron's excitement, at least, hadn't been phased by anything. Everyone in the dorm had, in detail, heard about his plans to enter. Harry didn't blame him, really. A thousand galleons wasn't anything to scoff at, and he hated hand-me-downs as much as Ron did.
If he had to fit into another pair of pants designed for Dudley's fat arse…
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Not that. The new professor – and her sisters. Did you hear what the Headmaster called them? 'Utautai'? I've never even heard of that race before! A whole new species! And one of them is our teacher!" It was a little hard to tell if she was as excited as that one Ravenclaw had been at the feast, or if she was just incredibly worried about their academics.
Probably both. At least it had distracted her what had looked like the beginnings of a house elf crusade, and from the fact this tournament sounded like exactly the sort of thing Hermione hated.
"She looked young. Like a few years older than us at the oldest, young. That strange to anyone else?" Harry asked, sympathetic to Ron's excitement, but more focused on the possible source of death, and a little sour that Quidditch was canceled. Then again, there was at least one game a year that almost killed him, so that part wasn't going to be missed at least.
Hermione looked concerned, but mostly thoughtful. Apparently that was what had her somewhat worried. "Well, maybe – they could be somewhat like vampires? Not the blood drinking, but the always young part. Or they could just age oddly. Wizards seem to age slower at older ages – Headmaster Dumbledore definitely doesn't look almost two-hundred."
"The professor one – One – I mean the one called One. That's going to be confusing, but yeah, her. Her eyes were red," Harry paused, "Real vampires have red eyes, right?" It wasn't like he'd actually met one, last night a possible exception.
Both Ron and Hermione responded affirmatively – Ron having obviously grown up a wizard and knowing more than just what they'd learned in school, and it being the sort of random fact Hermione was likely to know.
Ron was a little nervous. "You don't think they're actually vampires, do you, mate? I mean, Dumbledore wouldn't let vampires into the castle, yeah?"
"He let Lupin into the castle. Not that Lupin was evil – just most people wouldn't let a werewolf in either," Harry said, not particularly wanting to refer to him as Moony where people could overhear – even if they were all supposed to be asleep.
"Professor Lupin didn't drink blood, and he had a potion that was supposed to help him stay sane as a wolf," Hermione pointed out, "But either way, even if they are related to vampires, they probably don't share the same habits. They might be some offshoot, though, since new species don't just pop out of nowhere. It's an interesting theory, at least. I'll ask if I see them."
Hermione's fears seemed allayed by their age theory. She had been more worried about their education than the danger.
"And anyway, they can't be worse than a basilisk." Hermione said, matter-of-factually.
She might also be a little jaded.
"Aw, now why'd you have to say that," Ron complained.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Don't be so superstitious."
Harry frowned. "Is now a bad time to admit they make my scar itch a little? Like Quirrell-ultra-lite?"
They both turned to stare at him.
He held his hands up defensively, "What? It was faint. I thought it might've been my imagination. Still might be, really."
The look on their faces said exactly what they thought about that.
After several lectures on "relevant information" and a demand that Harry take that information to the Headmaster the next day (he'd managed to negotiate from 'immediately' to 'after the first DADA class', just so he was sure it wasn't all in his head), they'd eventually come off the topic, twice as worried as when they'd all started.
They'd have probably adjourned for the night way earlier than they'd intended if it hadn't been for the reemergence of Ron's excitability about the Triwizard Tournament.
"So, are either of you entering? I mean, come on. A thousand galleons? Eternal glory?" Ron, needless to say, seemed pretty sold on the eternal glory part.
Hermione, less so. "People die in this tournament, Ron. I know they said they planned to make it safer, but hundreds of students have died in the Triwizard Tournament since its inception, and if they're trying to make a comeback it will have to at least be exciting enough to convince people its worth bringing back. You could die," she reiterated.
Ron's face flushed, but he only faltered a little, "Well, it wouldn't be a tournament if it was easy, right? But think about it – this is my chance. I can be something other than the second youngest Weasly. Plus, its not like they'll force me to keep going. I'll just bow out if it's seriously too much." His tone made it pretty obvious he had no expectation of actually needing to go through with that.
Harry didn't think it was the worst idea. It wasn't at all worth it to him, but Ron didn't exactly loathe fame the same way he did.
"I'll probably pass," he grimaced, "Boy-Who-Lived is already a bit too much fame for me. I'm kind of looking forward to a quiet, lazy year. Hopefully."
Hermione nodded her approval, "Good."
Ron and Harry both looked a little confused.
"Good?" they echoed. Ron continued, "Not 'you'll have a chance to bring your grades up with that time' or something?"
She nodded again, ears a little red. "Good. I learned first hand how important time to relax is last year. And I think we all could really use a year that isn't life-threatening. Which is why Ron shouldn't enter this tournament."
Harry cut Ron off before the argument could really get going, "I think it's fine. It's important to him, and you said it yourself – there's no way it's as dangerous as a basilisk. He's survived a lot, it'd be pretty sad for a tournament to do him in."
Now it was Ron's turn to a look a little embarrassed. "Yeah, what he said," he mumbled uncharacteristically.
"And how many people even get in, anyway?"
"Three," Hermione and Ron echoed, "One from each school," she clarified.
"See? He might not even get in. Dunno if entering is a good idea, but it probably isn't bad at least," Harry reasoned. Ron didn't seem to like that idea very much.
Hermione just pursed her lips. "That's the thing though. The basilisk? That was lucky. Killing no one even though it looked at several people? Absurd. It might've even been actively trying to only petrify people, which is still lucky – in a different way. And then the dementors last year, what if Harry hadn't picked up his Patronus so quickly?"
"I'm just – I'm just worried we won't keep getting lucky," she finished quietly.
They finished their discussion on a somber note. Eventually, they'd come to a consensus. Harry would go to Dumbledore if his scar acted up around the Intoners again, and Ron would put his name forward for the tournament – but with a far better understanding of the dangers. Hemione had made sure of that – quoting the few disasters listed in Hogwarts: A History to check his resolve.
They also tentatively agreed that all of them, not just Harry, should keep an eye on the Intoners, if only because they were strange and new – and most importantly – one of them was this year's DADA professor, and, that if Ron did make it into the tournament, they'd both do their best to help him outside it however they could.
Harry was still holding out hope that he'd just started getting acne or something. He wasn't looking forward to another Quirrell.
Probably no Disciples in this? Just because I've literally already dumped half the cast of dod3 into Hogwarts and that's would be a looott of characters to keep track of if I want this fleshed out in anything less than 200k words. Plus, the disciples already got a ton of screen-time in the game so I'm more interested in exploring the Intoners. Also, Gabriella. As for timeline, if you've read Utautai Five, think right after that but no Disciples. Or if you've only played the game, then right before Zero's prologue attack.
If you've done neither, then this means absolutely nothing to you ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
If you're interested in reading original content, supporting me, or want something specific written check out my website melancholiccorner. If you have problems finding it (Thank you google analytics /s) you can also email me directly at snowlitreverie at aol. Those are wayyy better way to contact me than pms here, which I honestly don't even remember if I have turned on.
I might host this stuff there, too, but I actually take money for the original stuff over there (no paywalls, just donations), and while I want people who like my fanfiction to be aware my original stuff exists, and vice versa, it's a bit scummy to use other people's ips for advertising or money making. So maybe leaving it all only here is better, just for the extra layer of separation? Idk. It's a really weird balancing act to keep them connected enough for awareness, but loose enough I don't feel like a total leech. And you know, not break the law.