A challenge so important ...
By costy
Summary: The bad things that happened at Hogwards have lead to the inevitable: the school is now closed. Luckily, Endora's school of magic, situated in Romania offers both students and teacher another chance... See how everybody reacts to the changes that take place. Harry is trying to forget Cho, and someone could help him do that :); Hermione is thinking a lot about starting a relationship with Oliver, but he is thinking more about sports than her. Cedric will have a surprise visit from a mystery girl who wants to confess her feeling about him. The school holds another surprise for our heroes: a competition!
Chapter 1 – A big change
Hermione was running along the empty corridor as fast as she could; being late for Defense against the Dark Arts was bad, very bad! She looked once more at her clock. How did she forget what time it is again, what was she thinking? Actually, she knew what, but she didn't really want to admit it. As she ran, witches and wizards from inside the paintings on the walls kept laughing, but she didn't even notice them, being more concentrated on finding the classroom. She looked left, she looked right, she thought she probably was on a wrong corridor, and just when she turned around to go back downstairs, she bumped into someone.
" 'ren't we in a 'urry today?" the boy said, with a rather strange accent. He looked at her. "You're a "Ascenda", aren't you?" he continued.
"I'm sorry, what?" she responded. Hermione didn't understand nor tried to understand what he said. "I'm really late. Can you please tell me where the Defence against the Dark Arts classroom is?" she asked.
"Downstairs." He responded. "Down – stairs." He repeated, more slowly, noticing that she didn't understand him the first time; he pointed at the floor.
"Down? Thanks!" Hermione said, picking up the books she dropped. She started running towards the stairs.
"My name's Alex." He said, looking at Hermione who was now climbing down the stairs. She didn't look back. "Nice knowing ... you."
"Open your books at page 43. Today we will be studying vampires; who can tell me what spells are most efficient against a vampire's attack? Potter!" Snape said with his usual cold voice. "You surely know them, don't you Potter?" he continued. A slight smile was noticeable on his pale face.
"As a matter of fact I don't know them. That's why we're studying them now!" Harry said calmly. He always considered Snape to be the worst professor he ever had; and now he had to face him on every Defence Against The Dark Arts class...
"Excuse me mister, but shouldn't we wait for professor De La Croix!" a girl from behind Harry said. She had brown hair, green eyes, and was wearing light blue robes. She sounded worried.
"What's your name, girl?" Snape asked on a frightful tone.
"Adina Dámon." She responded quickly.
"Well, Dámon, maybe you should think about what ... - what are YOU doing here?"
"I'm sorry, professor, I got lost!" Hermione said as she entered the classroom and took a seat beside Harry and Ron.
"Get a map, Granger!" Snape told her. "We can't just wonder around like we just fell of the moon, now can we?" he continued.
"Hello, class!" a strong female voice said. Professor Anne De La Croix just walked in the classroom. All the students stood up and responded with a "Hello, professor!"
"Is there something wrong, Mr. Severus?" she asked Snape, who was looking hatefully at Hermione and Harry.
"He was teaching us about vampires, miss." Adina told her.
"Is that right, Mr. Snape? Cause I don't remember telling you to teach in my absence, and, if I remember correctly I am the professor here at Endora's school of magic, and you are my assistant; or am I mistaking?" She said. Professor De La Croix was a very smart witch who everybody liked. She had long, blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and today she was wearing emerald-green robes. Her classes were always interesting and fun. "Let's see, what was the homework I gave you last hour about?" she asked smiling. Hemione's hand was already raised high into the air.
Harry and Hermione were waking towards the great hall,
"Have you heard?" Harry said to Hermione. "This night we'll be sorted into the two houses here."
"Yes – I've read that the sorting will be different here at Endora. Too bad none of the teachers would tell me more about it. But I guess it's about time for this; I'm really tired of sleeping on the floor in the great hall." Hermione said. She then changed the subject to something she considered to be more interesting "Did you talk to Oliver lately? Didn't see him much around here."
"He's helping professor Hooch deal with the quidich practice schedule. There are too many teams now!"
They were now in the great hall. It wasn't too different from the one they had at Hogwards.
"Let's sit down here." Hermione said pointing towards an empty table. They sat down and started talking.
"Snape's really pissed about having to be an assistant. But it was obvious that he wasn't going to get the Defence Against The Dark Arts position here; professor De La Croix already had it!" Harry said to Hermione smiling.
"It suits him well!" Hermione said. "Professor De La Croix is great! Her teaching methods are amazing. I managed to heal a vampire bite on my second try today!" she continued. "Earlier I got lost. I ended looking upstairs for the classroom." She laughed. "I bumped into this guy who told me where to go. His accent wasn't so good, for a moment I thought he said something about St. Patrik's day ... Oh, there's professor Dumbledore; I think he's gonna tell us about the sorting." She said, looking at the teacher's table in front of her. However, Dumbledore was just trying to speak with another teacher who she didn't recognize.
"I wonder why we're waiting so much. It's ... oh, no!" She said.
"What is it?" Harry asked curiously.
"My watch! The one Oliver gave me last year after helping him study for the Potions exams. Lost it!" she said sighing. "Where did I put it? Oh!"
Harry looked behind Hermione, and noticed Cedric and Cho walking towards they're table. "Don't mind if we sit with you? All the other tables are nearly full." Cedric told him.
"No. Of course not." Harry said. He looked at Cho as she sat down. He found her very attractive, but he knew he couldn't tell her anything, since she was Cedric's girlfriend. How could've he let himself fall in love with someone who didn't even talk to him, who didn't even notice him.
"Hope I'm not late! Did the sorting start?" a voice from behind Hermione said.
"Oliver!" Hermione said, surpised. She quickly hid her hand under the table. What if Oliver knew how careless she was with his presents. Her face turned pink.
"Hey, Granger!" he said to her, while taking a seat at the same table. "Harry, I think Madam Hooch will be able to get us a few hours ..."
Hermione felt her stomach turn upside down. He called her "Granger"; that's what she was to him: "Granger!"
Professor Dumbledore raised his wand and said "Attencio!" all the heads in the great hall turned immediately towards him. He lowered his wand and spoke slowly "Hello dear Endora students. For those who do not know me, I am Albus Dumbledore, former headmaster of Hogwards, school of witchcraft and wizardry. With the kindness of your headmistress, I am going to explain why we are here today."
To be continued ...
A.N.: Before I get to deep in this fic, I want to see what you think about it. Comments are appreciated!
P.S.: Some things might not make sense right now, but they will in the seconds chapter, A surprise visit.
Explanations: Although Endora's school of magic is situated in Romania, it doesn't mean that all the students are Romanians.