D/N: We don't own anything.

Chapter 4: Velare and the All O'-er

By: a.bluestar

It was the afternoon of the first day of term and Hogwart's halls were buzzing with activity. Various groups of students walked in huddled clusters, discussing their first day's work. The Fifth and Seventh years looked particularly disgruntled at their new workloads. Cutting a swath down the hall towards dinner were Sarah Greywand and Matthew Bourne, absently behind them Chris Lunem strolled along. Matt broke ahead of the small group, apparently in a huff.

"She's trying to kill me!" Matt started, his hands flailing about.

"Come off it! It just means she really believes in your abilities." Sarah said consolingly, while trying to keep pace with Matt; something strange itself considering Sarah's typically brisk pace.

Just as they came to a turn besides the History of Magic classroom, they ran into the other members of their usual gang, Matthew doing so literally as he collided with Maria. Her books fell out of her grasp and landed on the floor. Sarah and Steffanie gasped at first, and then realized that they'd just happened into each other.

"Matt!" Steffanie scolded. Matt looked up and shrugged mouth agape.

Sarah rolled her eyes and began to pick up Maria's books.

"Oy.... err, sorry there." Matt started; Maria just looked up with a frown and a sigh.

"He's just distracted," Sarah began to explain. "You see, his mother had already contacted McGonagall about entering Matt into the Tri-wizard..." Jacqueline looked surprised, although mildly pleased at the thought of even Matthew's mother being so concerned. Justin's would have to feel similarly, of course.

"Your mum isn't letting you enter? That's a shame, you're one of the better Seventh Years..." Steffanie added thoughtfully.

"I 'preciate it, Steff, I really do. But my mother isn't protesting me entering... she's... well, thrilled." Matt said, sounding annoyed. Jacqueline's subtle hint of optimism quickly faded.

"What? Then what are you all up and on about?" Maria said, having straightened out her robes and replaced her books into her satchel. "I mean, that's nothing to complain about, you were going to enter anyway, right?"

Matt just grumbled. Sarah looked at Matt and then explained with a sigh, "Well, he just found out that going to the Triwizard means he'll have to spend two weeks in the Summer making up for his NEWTS-"

"Not just that, either!" Matt broke in, interrupting Sarah. "But I'll need

to register for Apparating this summer as well, then there's the Auror Training Entrance Exams! Plus I'm still considering being an Animagus, after all! Too much! It's all too much!"

Sarah looked again at Matt and frowned. "Well, I don't see why you've waitedso long to get licensed for Apparating anyway, I've already got mine, so this isn't ALL your mother's doing."

Matt looked as though he was about to say something and then as quickly shut his mouth.

"So how'd the first day go for everyone else?" Sarah asked, suddenly cheery.

The general consensus seemed to be that the year seemed to be a good one, and everyone was very excited about the prospect of the Tri-Wizard, although Jacqueline remained as quiet as Chris at the mention. Together, the group headed for the Great Hall, where dinner was already on the tables. The group split-up to their house tables to eat, and quickly joined back together to catch-up about their breaks in a Study Hall.

As they took their seats at a long table in hall monitored by Professor Flitwick; Sarah, Chris, and Matt's head of house, Professor McGonagall passed the door and looked in with a pleasant surprise. Sarah looked briefly nervous, and averted her eyes from McGonagall, and the other's watched confusedly as she came up to their table, positively beaming.

"Congratulations Miss Greywand! I don't think we've had an 'all-o-er' in my entire stay of teaching!" she said briskly and nodded to the rest of the table before heading out just as quickly. Sarah nodded quietly and immediately took her Advanced Potions book out. After pretending to be reading for a few seconds she looked back up to the staring group.

"What?" she asked innocently.

"An 'allower'?" Steffanie asked, scrunching her face up in thought.

"Is that some sort of animal?" Jacqueline asked, Maria pepping up at the mention.

"Ohhh, sounds exotic!"

"Not 'allower'," Matt started, sounding mildly exasperated. "An 'all-o-er'."he said, looking around to the group, who's attention had turned to him instead. He blinked looking sort of surprised. "Oh...errr, it means she got all O's on her OWLs. A perfect score..."

A brief flash of shock and the slightest hint of outrage quickly came and passed on Sarah's face, Matt figured he was the only one to notice before the rest of the group all turned and looked with amazement at Sarah, who quickly regained her composure into a timid pleasant expression.

"That's great!" Maria started, beaming at Sarah.

"Really amazing! I reckon you'll be able to do any profession you want!"

Steffanie added, clearly excited.

"Ha ha... well... you really didn't need to say anything Matt." Sarah

said, her voice sounding slightly less perky than usual.

"Oh come on! They were bound to have found out somehow." Matt sighed, turning to the rest of the group. "The only reason I even know is because Fabian Prewett, our head of house, was told by Professor Flitwick." Matt's eyes flickered to Sarah and he had the distinct impression she was making a mental note of something terrible happening to Fabian.

Jacqueline sighed a bit softly, and mumbled. "I only got two 'O's from my

OWLs..."

"Oh Jackie! It's nothing! Don't worry about all that nonsense! See what you've done, Matt!" Sarah said, glaring at Matt, who shrugged resignedly.

The rest of the evening passed with some brief discussion of OWLs, some talk of a Slytherin girl getting a "T" in all her exams, and Matt propositioning Sarah about taking his NEWTs one too many times to be taken entirely as a joke; even moreso once he discussed the researching of Polyjuice Potions over break. Just as the the Hall began to clear out a many veiled and dark-looking witch strode confidently into the doorway, many students looked a bit startled by her presence, though she appeared to be of a very frail build. Even those not outwardly discomfited stood with full respect to the witch. Professor Flitwick looked up from his book.

"Oh, Professor Velare, what brings you here?"

Professor Velare stood silently for moment, with no sign of movement. After a moment a voice came from under the veils that sounded something like a haunting echo, though it carried loudly through the hall.

"Congratulations at your Outstanding in Defense against the Dark Arts, MissGreywand. As well to you, Miss Crown." Professor Velare said before turning her obscured head towards Professor Flitwick.

"Dumbledore has requested one of your students, Professor Flitwick. We have a late arrival, transferred from Beaxbatons." Velare's head turned back. "We believed your time spent in France would be helpful in her adjustment Miss Greywand."

"You went to France?" Matt whispered dully at Sarah, she turned and shushed him.

"Oh, then of course you are excused Miss Greywand. Someone else will oversee the girl's dormitories this evening." Flitwick nodded.

Sarah smiled pensively and followed Professor Velare out of the hall. Quickly the group began taking survey of what just happened.

"A transfer?" Maria asked the table.

"From Beauxbatons?" Jacqueline added.

"I wonder what house they'll be in?" Steffanie pondered.

"Velare said 'her', right? So it's a new girl..." Matt considered, thoughtfully. "They really shouldn't send Velare into an unsuspecting room like that. She really creeps me out."

"Well, me too, but that's no way to talk about her!" Steffanie reprimanded.

"I thought you said she was a good teacher?" Maria asked.

"There's a difference between a good teacher and someone you'd want at a picnic." Matt said shrewdly, a sound that could've been amusement or disappointment came from Chris Lunem.

"I can't wait to hear from Sarah what the new girl is like..." Steffanie said, looking off in thought.

"Right then, shall we call it a night?" Matt said, standing up.

The group all nodded and said their good-nights as they made off to their houses.