Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, but my OC's are mine.
Chapter Twelve
Two days later and the day finally came to return to Hogwarts. Ira wasn't feeling it. She burrowed back under the covers for a few extra minutes before Hermione was shaking her awake. It took some convincing on Hermione's part to get Ira out of bed. After dumping ice water over the girl, earning a few curse words in return, the two made it downstairs just in time to leave. They called for three Muggle taxis that would transport them to Kings Cross Station.
The ride took longer than Ira anticipated. The whole way she sat uncomfortably between Hermione and Harry, jostled around with each turn the taxi took. This was the first time she was ever in one of these contraptions. It kind of spooked her.
When the car finally lurched to a stop, Ira was the first to exit. She stretched her limbs and grabbed her trunk. It took everything in her not to charm her trunk into the air to float behind her while she walked to the platform. But with Muggles milling about, she couldn't.
She followed the others to platform nine and three-quarters. It materialized in front of them and Ira was hit with the sound of hundreds of wizards carrying on outside the express. Ira could still feel the tiredness in her body as she yawned.
"Yippie," Ira commented dryly when she saw the train.
"Oh, cheer up, squirt," Fred said, bringing Ira into his arms and ruffling her hair.
"Yeah, squirt," George laughed.
Ira groaned. "Just because you guys are older and taller thank me doesn't give you the right to call me that or ruffle my hair like I'm a child."
"But you are a child," Fred pointed out.
"So are you," Ira said.
Fred and George looked at each other in unison. "Nah."
Ira rolled her eyes and continued towards the black-and-crimson train.
"Okay, dears," Molly said, hugging each of them tightly. "Do you guys have everything?"
They told her yes and with a satisfied smile, she bid them farewell. Charlie and Bill also came along, doing the same as Molly.
"I might be seeing you all sooner than you think," Charlie grinned.
"Why?" Fred asked.
"You'll see. 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," Bill said thoughtfully.
"Why?" George pried.
"You're going to have an interesting year. I might even get time off to come and watch a bit of it."
Ron stood taller. "A bit of what?"
The train sounded behind them and that was all they were going to get out of them.
"Thanks for having us to stay, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said once they were on board, peeking outside a window.
"Yeah, thanks for everything, Mrs. Weasley," Harry added.
Ira nodded along.
"Oh, it was my pleasure, dears," Mrs. Weasley smiled "I'd invite you for Christmas, but...well, I expect you're all going to want to stay at Hogwarts, what with...one thing and another."
"Mum!" Ron's fuse was getting shorter. "What d'you three know that we don't?"
"You'll find out this evening, I expect. It's going to be very exciting—mind you, I'm very glad they've changed the rules—"
"What rules?" Harry, Ron, Fred, and George said together.
"I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will tell you...now, behave, won't you? Won't you, Fred? And you, George?"
The train started to move, and the twins continued prying their mother for more information before they disappeared out of sight. They got nothing out of them other than very vague details that didn't help piece anything together.
As Harry, Hermione, and Ron found a compartment for them to sit in, Ira went in the opposite direction. Her Slytherin friends were around there somewhere. She hadn't spoken to them since the World Cup, and she hoped more than anything they were okay after the ordeal.
A voice drawled from a compartment she passed.
"Father actually considered sending me to Durmstrang rather than Hogwarts, you know. He knows the headmaster, you see. Well, you know his opinion of Dumbledore—the man's such a Mudblood-lover—and Durmstrang doesn't admit that sort of riffraff. But Mother didn't like the idea of me going to school so far away. Father says Durmstrang takes a far more sensible line than Hogwarts about the Dark Arts. Durmstrang students actually learn them, not just the defense rubbish we do..."
Ira wished Lucius had chosen against Narcissa and sent Draco away. It would've made life at school so much better for her.
When Ira finally found her three other friends, only two of them were present in the compartment, one sitting on a bench and the other sitting on the floor. Theo wasn't around. "Where's Theo?" Ira asked, pulling the door shut behind her.
Sally frowned from her place on the floor. "Off with his other friends."
Lily scoffed. "Sally, give him a break. You two have spent every waking moment together this past summer and you're already having separation issues? It's been ten minutes."
"Ten long and grueling minutes," Sally clarified sadly. "Long enough for him to be swept over to the dark side."
"Will you quit it? Theo is just as much friends with us as he is with Draco and Blaise. He needs his guy-time."
Ira and Sally shared a look before the former spoke. "Guy-time?"
"Yeah, you know, to talk about girls and brood about their non-existent feelings," Lily said. "Things Theo can't talk about with us."
"But he can talk to me about anything," Sally pointed out.
Lily sighed. "That's what you think."
Sally put down the paper that she'd been reading to assess her friend. "Do you know something I don't?"
Silence.
"Lily Jazmin Moon! Tell me what you know."
"I swore to secrecy," Lily said. "I'm not allowed to tell."
"Oh, so Theo's keeping secrets from me now?" Sally huffed and crossed her arms.
Ira took a seat beside Lily. "If it means anything, Sal, I don't know anything either."
"That doesn't help."
"Maybe if you didn't get upset so easily, Theo would be able to tell you things without worrying about you getting worked up," Lily stated.
Ira nodded in agreement.
"I don't get worked up easily," Sally said in a high voice, lowering it when she concluded that she was, in fact, getting worked up at that very moment.
Ira and Lily looked at each other and laughed. That same moment their compartment door slid open and Theo entered, already dressed in his uniform and cloak. A quick survey around the compartment and he could tell things were tense. He took a seat.
"Did I miss something?"
"No, not at all." Sally sat next to him after removing herself from the floor. "Theo, is everything okay with you?"
Ira and Lily tried to hide their chuckles.
"You can tell me anything—I won't get worked up, I promise."
Theo stared at her. "Uh, okay."
"So, what's on your mind?"
Taking a literal approach, Theo looked across the compartment at the rest of his friends. "I just got done talking with the boys about the Triwizard Tournament."
That wasn't what Sally was expecting, but she masked her defeat with a forced smile. "Ooh, exciting."
"The Triwizard Tournament?" Lily asked confusedly.
"Yeah, it's a competition that was discontinued a long time ago because of the death toll—"
"Death toll?" Lily looked faint.
"Anyway, it's revival is taking place at Hogwarts this year. Three schools compete—Hogwarts, Durmstrang, Beauxbatons—a champion for each and they battle in three tasks."
Ira was familiar with it, given she was a pureblood. Sally also seemed to know what it was, because she grinned from ear-to-ear as Theo explained it. That must've been what the Weasley's were going on about before they boarded. It all made sense now.
Ira didn't like the sound of it. "Sounds like an uncomplicated way to die, though. I don't know who'd be crazy enough to do it."
"A lot of people, actually."
"You're kidding!"
"Draco thinks he's going to put his name in, just to see what happens."
"'Just to see what happens' can easily turn into a death wish," Ira said. But why should she care?
"Oh, well," Lily said flatly, flipping open a magazine. "If it isn't affecting us, I don't care what that sorry excuse of a human being does."
Ira nodded with her friends at that—deciding that it wasn't their issue if someone wanted to sacrifice themselves like that.
"So—did you guys end up drinking the night of the World Cup?" Ira asked.
"Is that even a question?" Sally laughed. "Only a little bit, though, till everything went crazy."
Lily dropped her issue of Witch Weekly. "Who do you guys think did it? The Death Eaters or Voldemort himself?"
Sally shuddered. "Don't speak his name!"
"Voldemort, Voldemort, Vol-de-mort! Well, would you look at that, it's almost like it's just a word and not something that summons the Dark Lord on command," Lily said sarcastically, making Sally uncomfortably. "Honestly, I think it was both."
"He's gone, Lily," Ira stated. "Most likely it was his followers than him. They were probably just making sure his existence was still prominent in our minds."
"Spoken like a true Death Eater, eh?"
Ira's head shot up at the person filing into their compartment. Draco Malfoy—always too noisy for his own good. That pointed nose of his was always butting into peoples' business. He donned his usual black apparel and emerald cloak—looking every bit the part of the menacing cockroach he so rightfully was. His lips pulled back when he saw Ira's reaction at his appearance.
Sally beat Ira to the punch. "Mind you, your father is an actual Death Eater, Malfoy."
"So is hers," he pointed out, then he looked at Theo. "And his."
Lily snickered. "Wow, all three of you have heinous fathers, but you, Draco, still prove you're so much like yours while Ira and Theo have beautifully crafted themselves into their own persons."
"I'm nothing like my father." Draco's eyes turned to slits. "And what about Ira? She's the one that put the Dark Mark into the sky that night."
Ira jumped from her seat. "I did not!"
"That's what everyone's saying," he said calmly. "Apparently, where the person sent it off into the sky, they found you unconscious."
"Exactly. Unconscious. You really are an idiot, aren't you?"
He glared. This was a different Draco than the one that helped her the night of the World Cup. That one was so…genuine. While this one was so hard and guarded. She slapped herself for even thinking that Draco might have come around.
"You even know that I would never do such a thing. But you, on the other hand—"
"I wouldn't."
Ira laughed. "Oh, but you were the one boasting about your father being one of the masked bunch that night, right? I wasn't there to witness it, but a few little birdies told me all about how you enabled your father for his activities that night."
"What about yours?" Draco's nostrils flared. "How do you know yours wasn't marching along with mine?"
"I don't," Ira said simply. "I hope he wasn't but there's always the chance that his past never left him."
The blonde boy watched her for a moment and dismissed her when he spoke to Theo. "Daphne's looking for you. Probably looking forward to another one of your—"
Theo's aggressive head movements made Draco drop his voice. Sally glared at him from the side.
"Uh, yeah. I should probably go find her then." Theo hurried to make it to the door.
With one last glance, he and Draco exited into the hallway.
Sally's glare moved to Lily. "Daphne Greengrass is his secret?"
"Err, kind of."
"But they broke things off last year!" Sally's hands went to the air. "What's changed?"
Lily shrugged. "She came crawling back to him, I guess. And you know Theo, he can never say no to a pretty face."
Pretty isn't the word Ira would use. Okay, sure, the girl had long flowing blonde hair and an amazing shade of green eyes—and a body Ira would kill for—but that didn't make the girl pretty. At least, to Ira anyway. The girl's follower-the-leader-personality and vindictive attitude made her extremely off-putting and overshadowed what a decent person she could be. She was a lot like her best friend Pansy—only Pansy was the so-called leader she followed around like a lost puppy. However, Theo told the girls that Daphne was a different person when they were alone. Only one would have to witness it to believe it.
Theo and Daphne's love story started out in second year following a year's worth of study sessions and late night runs to the kitchens after lights out. If Theo wasn't with the guys or the girls, he could be found with the blonde girl that stole his heart. Daphne could rip it out of his chest, trample it, and hex it into oblivion and Theo would still have heart eyes for the girl. Although the girls disapproved of the friendship in first year, they got over it quickly when they saw he wouldn't budge from the daze she left him in. They got used to it quickly, growing out of their petty banter over the whole relationship. When the two finally called it quits around Christmas time the year before, it was the biggest gossip Hogwarts had gotten their hands on since the Chamber of Secrets happened. Apparently, Daphne wasn't interested in him anymore and had her eyes set on a Hufflepuff two years ahead of them. Theo vowed not to go back to her if given the chance. Oh, how things have changed.
And Sally was the only one of them that was really upset about the relationship. She put up a good front for Theo's sake, but the underlying jealousy she felt when he gave attention to someone else was still there. Lily and Ira would ponder whether Sally's feelings for Theo were strictly platonic or something more. They never had the nerve to ask.
"It just infuriates me that he would go back to her! After all the rumors and things that happened! Ugh, boys are so frustrating." By this point, Sally nearly pulled the hair from her head.
The rumors Sally spoke of were one's people usually correlated to a break up—usually cheating. Both kids were called cheaters after the fallout. The plain truth to it all was that Daphne didn't want him anymore. Simple as that.
For the remained of the trip, Ira sat back in her seat and watched rain patter down on the windows. Sometime during it, Theo returned looking ruffled in his uniform. His lips were red, and he appeared flustered. Sally tried her best not to comment, keeping her eyes trained of the book in her hand.
The Hogwarts Express finally stopped at Hogsmeade station. Unlike the first years, the older students took the carriages up to the castle. Ira shared a quick hello with Hagrid after arriving before finding a carriage to ride in. She nestled herself between Theo and Sally, across from Lily and two other students that were in a higher year than them.
Hogwarts still amazed Ira no matter how many years she'd went there. From the great turrets spanning the building to the amazing architecture of the grounds, everything was awe-worthy. It took her by surprise every year.
The students moved from the carriages outside to the stone steps leading to the large oak doors. Rain soaked their clothes and lightning flashed across the sky. Ira wouldn't admit it, but storms scared her.
Just when they thought they'd be accompanied by the warmth and dryness of the castle, someone from above began pelting them with water balloons. Ira shrieked as Peeves the Poltergeist got her good on the head. Somehow, her friends didn't get hit and already casted drying charms over them. Everyone laughed.
"Peeves!" Ira yelled, looking up at the culprit through soggy hair.
He gazed down at her unabashedly.
"I'm going to get you for this!" Ira reached into her cloak for her wand.
"What are you gonna do? Kill me?" He spun in the air with his tongue out. "I'm already dead."
Thankfully, Professor McGonagall made her way through the crowd of students to get Peeves to settle down.
While that happened, Ira ducked away with her friends to the Great Hall. They helped her dry off quickly before seating at the Slytherin table accompanied with gold plates and goblets.
"The Bloody Baron really needs to sort that one out," Ira commented while wringing her hair out.
Lily casted a drying charm over Ira's hair and watched as it back fired and made Ira's hair dry, but frizz all over the place. "Oops."
Ira tried smoothing it down, but it didn't work.
Sally leaned in, holding her wand. "Let me see."
Ira felt her curls fall into place again, thanking Sally as McGonagall began with the first year sorting. A sizable number of students made it to Slytherin, who were appended by applause and cheers right from the go. Ira clapped with the rest of them, watching humble kids take their seats. Only some of them bared the resemblance of Ira in her first year; the disappointment in their slouch, the upset feeling in their stomachs. Some of them were fearful—and Ira didn't blame them.
After it was over, the feast began. Food of all kinds appeared down the middle of each house's table. Ira's stomach grumbled loudly as the smells hit her in the face. The only thing she had on the train was a cauldron cake. Although they were her favorite, actual food couldn't compare.
Dumbledore spoke over the students when their stomachs were filled and contentment showed on their faces. "So! 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."
Ira glanced over at the Gryffindor table to see the Weasley twins grinning mischievously.
"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." Dumbledore sighed. "It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year."
Ira frowned as Draco complained across the table, looking at each of their Quidditch team members—which included her.
Draco sneered. "It's probably because of that damned Triwiza—"
There was a great rumble of thunder from above and a loud clash from the Great Hall doors opening that shut him up.
All heads whipped in the door's direction, finding in the doorway an older man leaning on a cane. His cloak dripped across the stone floors while he swung his hood back, a ghastly face underneath. He had one normal eye and another that was strapped across his face, looking around wickedly. The permanent scarring on his face left all the kids in horror. He started to the front of the room, limping heavily towards Dumbledore.
"Mad Eye Moody," Draco whispered, watching as the man shook hands with Dumbledore.
Words were exchanged, but it was too quiet for any of them to hear.
Dumbledore continued when the man took his seat at the High Table. "May I introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher? Professor Moody."
There wasn't an applause. Just pure silence.
"As I was saying, 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!" Fred Weasley yelled for all to hear.
The silence broke with laughter. Everyone laughed at that, including some of the Slytherins.
"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…err—but maybe this is not the time...no...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."
Theo smirked, watching Lily go pale. "Told you."
Lots of students talked amongst themselves about this. While others like Lily looked fearful, many students were excited—Draco included.
Ira stopped the boy when he talked about entering. "I think the champion should go to someone capable of winning. Not someone incapable of even catching a snitch."
Draco halted. "So, what? You think you're capable, Soares?"
"Capable of winning something like the Triwizard Tournament? No. Capable of catching a snitch? Yes," she said smugly. "And I'm not even a seeker. You're the only reason we haven't won against Gryffindor in two years."
"You can't even get the Quaffle in the hoops!" Draco said furiously.
Blaise snickered from his side. "Malfoy, she has. Numerous times."
"You're not helping!"
Blaise turned to the rest of their Quidditch teammates, a playful glint in his eyes. "Who thinks we should make Malfoy and Soares switch positions?"
Most of them nodded their heads eagerly, just to get a rise out of Draco. It worked. He was seething.
Dumbledore continued. "There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the tournament, 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 could do so much with that money," Sally said wistfully.
Ira snorted. "Sally, you're already loaded."
"The more the merrier, right?"
Ira could only manage a chuckle.
"Eager, though, I know all of you will be to bring the Triwizard Cup to Hogwarts," the headmaster continued, "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—" he broke off when students spoke up furiously "—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 eyes fell to Fred and George Weasley. "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!"
Draco still stared daggers at Ira the whole walk to the dungeons. It wasn't until Pansy pulled him to one of the leather couches in the common room that his stare broke.
"He'll get over it," Theo said.
Ira shook her head. "Yeah, by cornering me and cursing me."
The two of them sat at one of the tables near a tall window staring out below the Great Lake. A pack of Grindylows swam by and jeered in their direction. Ira stuck her tongue out at one, watching as the little water demon swam straight at the window and started bashing on the glass. Its small face could've been mistaken for cute if it wasn't for the razor-sharp teeth glinting angrily.
Theo laughed. "Maybe Malfoy will surprise you."
Ira wanted to scoff, but her mind went back to their moment in the forest. She shook her head instead.
"Hey, he's not all that bad."
"Because you are friends with him, Theo. Malfoy has always hated me, ever since we were in nappies."
"Do you ever wonder why?" Theo asked, glancing at Draco, who had Pansy draped over him. "Maybe if you sat down and talked to him…you two could work things out."
"You're funny, Theo," Ira laughed. "That's not happening."
He sighed. "You're too stubborn for your own good."
"Maybe." Ira watched the Grindylows retreat. "So…you and Daphne, huh?"
"Don't start," Theo groaned.
"I'm not starting anything," Ira said innocently. "I'm just confused. I thought you said you wouldn't go back to her?"
He shrugged. "I can't say no to her. She means a lot to me. When she's gone, I feel empty…like a piece of me is missing, you know?"
No, she didn't know. Ira never had a romantic relationship before. She was far behind her peers. Sally already had two boyfriends and Theo currently had a girlfriend. Lily wasn't interested in dating, so at least Ira could relate to someone in that respect. But Ira was interested…kind of. Her fascination with a certain someone was kept under lock and key, but her friends saw right through her.
"What about you and Saint Potter?" Theo asked after a moment's silence.
"What about us?"
"You can lie to Sally and Lily, but you can't lie to me," he pointed out.
He was right.
Ira sighed. "Fine, I like him." Her eyes darted to the group of Slytherin's nearby, her voice moving to a whisper. "But it's not like anything's going to happen between us."
"Why not?"
"Because…" she pouted. "I'm a Slytherin."
"That's why? Ira, you know I hate your Gryffindor friends as much as any other Slytherin in our house, but they're your friends for a reason and if I'm being honest…I think Potter feels the same way."
Ira gave him a confused look.
"I mean, the way he looks at you and stuff, it's obvious." Theo appeared uncomfortable. "Being a Slytherin or some pureblood supremist like the rest of us won't make him dislike you any less. I mean, have you seen yourself, Ira? I don't blame him for feeling that way, if he truly does."
Ira blushed. "You think so?"
He forced a nod. "Yeah."
A yawn came from Ira and she and Theo agreed they needed some sleep before their classes the next day. After telling each other goodnight, Ira climbed the stairs to her dorm that she shared with Lily, Sally, Tracey Davis, and Daphne Greengrass for the year. Her two friends were fast asleep when she made it inside. She stripped of her clothes and put on some comfy PJ's.
Lady meowed quite loudly from Ira's bed.
"Shh, people are sleeping," Ira said quietly, slipping under the silk blankets.
Sleep didn't come for a while. She tossed and turned so much that she was afraid of waking the others. Quickly, she pulled the curtains around her bed closed and casted a quick silencing charm around her. When her head hit the pillow again, she got sucked into a vision, one that blurred and unblurred quickly around her.
The first things she noticed were the formally dressed people. Some unfamiliar faces, but most of them recognizable. People were smiling and laughing and dancing.
Dancing?
Ira watched people sway against each other with arms around necks or hands on waists. She saw herself dancing with someone she couldn't see the face of. Then, her world morphed, and she saw herself again—only this time with tears falling from her face. She stood outdoors, her makeup a mess and hair in tatters. She couldn't find a reason for her to be acting that way, until another person came up to her and started talking.
Ira's tears flowed harder and she hit the person in the chest, screaming something that was hard to hear. It was like hearing the voice through water.
Ira managed to keep her visions at bay since talking to Professor Trelawney in third year. Since then, only two visions happened within a span of six months, but every time things felt like they were getting better, it would fall apart all over again. She made a mental note to talk to Trelawney in the morning. For now, she drifted away from her vision and into her dreams, falling fast asleep.e
