Chapter 2 – Ascenda and Luminati

The great hall was quiet as Dumbledore spoke; Harry, Hermione, Cho and Cedric were paying no attention to what Oliver kept saying about the agreement madam Hooch made with the Romanian quidditch instructor, and were looking straight into they're former headmaster's half-moon spectacles. "Good evening Endora students; for those of you who do not know me, I am Albus Dumbledore, former headmaster of Hogwards school of witchcraft and wizardry. With the kindness of your headmistress" he then pointed at professor De La Croix.

"She's the headmistress?! I had absolutely no idea!" Hermione said in surprise. "I mean, I should've guessed that..."

"Hermione, keep quiet..." Harry whispered into her ear.

"I am going to explain why we are here today." Dumbledore continued; a moment of complete silence followed. "This year, the Triwizard tournament, a very important competition which I am sure all of you know about was supposed to take place once more. However, ... despite the safety precautions we took, someone managed to fool us." It was then half the heads in the great hall turned towards Harry. "No doubt, a very powerful wizard whose intentions were not so noble. When people started asking questions and pointing fingers, the only reasonable thing to do was to seek help from the ministry of magic." He continued, with a sigh "Surely thinking of what is best, the ministry decided to cancel the competition. Then, the school was considered an unsafe place to be."

"And guess what happened..." said Cho. She was looking at Hemione, and didn't notice Harry glancing at her.

"After the school was closed down, the students were supposed to go home for the rest of the school year. However, that is when the chance of coming here to Endora's school of magic took place." Dumbledore smiled "I think a round of applause for Madame De La Croix are in order..." But there was no need for Dumbledore to say that; everybody started clapping they're hands as loud as they could, whistling and screaming.

Professor De La Croix stood up and bowed politely to the crowd. Dumbledore had to wait a few moments for the clapping to fade. "Before I leave professor De La Croix sort the students into they're groups, I must tell you all one more last minute decision: probably for most of you this is the first time Romania; that is why the ministry of magic had decided to allow underage wizards to use every form of magic necessary in case of ...danger... But I am sure that won't be necessary. Now, professor, if you please..."

Dumbledore sat down, and the Great Hall looked at Anne De La Croix as she stood up again and started speaking "Thank you professor. I would like to tell all the other students that they should treat both they're new colleagues, as well as they're new professors with the same amount of respect they treated all other Endora students and teachers. Now, I am going to sort the former Hogwards students into the two houses we have here at Endora; if you don't know them, I'll let you know that they're named "Ascenda" and "Luminati""

"That's what he called me!" Hermione told Harry who looked back at her with curiosity. "Oh, Harry, the boy I told you about! He bumped into me earlier and that's what he called me; he said I was an Ascenda!" she continued.

"Due to the amount of students we have now, each house will be divided into three groups. Now..." she raised her wand and pointed it towards the cabinet which was situated left from the teachers table. "Accio!" a piece of parchment immediately flew into her hand. "... we should start the sorting!" She started saying the student's names in alphabetical order, followed by the house they were in.

"Oh... That's it?" Hermione said disappointed. "I thought it was going to be different... She's just gonna read our names from a piece of paper?!" she continued.

"... Cho Chang – Ascenda ... Cedric Diggory – Luminati!" De La Croix was reciting. Cho and Cedric exchanged said looks. "Hermione Granger!" time stopped for a short moment for her; where was she going to be sorted? "Ascenda!" the proffesor said.

"He was right ... but how did he know?" Hermione thought; she then looked around the Great hall, trying to spot the boy, but with no luck. She didn't think about him much until now. She was in such a hurry that she didn't even look at him carefully; would she even recognize him if she saw him again?

Her thoughts were then interrupted by the headmistress's voice "Harry Potter – Luminati!"

She bit her lip. Wasn't it enough that she earlier lost her watch? The watch Oliver gave her last year. Now she had to loose her friends too? She tried to pull herself together, but tears filled her eyes. She didn't look into Harry's eyes.

"Hermione?" Harry asked. He then put his right arm on her shoulder, but she shook it of.

"I had enough for one day..." she said, trying to keep herself from crying. She jumped to her feet and started walking towards the door.

"Hermione ..." Harry whispered to her, hoping she would stop and come back to the table. However, she continued walking. He then looked at professor De La Croix who apparently didn't notice Hermione walk out the door. He wanted to go after her, but just as he wanted to stand up, he felt Cedric's hand on his arm.

"No, wait here. Let me go!" he said. Harry then looked into his eyes, and then into Cho's; she looked just as surprised as he did. "Ok?" Cedric asked Harry.

Harry nodded.

"Hermione! Wait!" Cedric called out to her. They were now outside the Great Hall.

Hermione stopped walking and looked back at him; her eyes were red and filled with tears. "I don't know what's wrong with me!" she said. The truth was that even she didn't knew the exact reason that made her burst into tears. Was it the sorting that she thought was obviously unfair, or was it that Wood hadn't paid her as much attention as she expected tonight? She didn't notice the plump witch sitting in a portrait behind her looking moved at her.

"Don't be ridiculous! Nothing's wrong with you." Cedric said to her, trying to calm her down. "I know that our coming here to Romania was a drastic change, not just for you, but for all of us!" he continued. "Cho and I are in different houses too, but that's just the way it goes! We were in different houses back at Hogwards as well, so I can guarantee that it won't affect your relationship with Harry..."

"Harry... Harry and me are just... just friends." She said, whipping the tears out of her eyes. "The true reason I got so upset tonight is that..." she stopped.

"Go on, talk about it... It will make you feel better." Cedric said. Hermione shook her head. "Ok..." He grabbed her in his arms tightly. She then put her head on his shoulder. Cedric could smell her perfume. He ran his left hand through her hair and said "Let's go back in the Great Hall. The sorting should be ending any moment now." Hermione nodded.

They started walking towards the mahogany door that lead to the Great Hall. "Wait!" Cedric said just as Hermione reached out for the doorknob. He raised his wand and whispered "Orchideous!" He then handed Hermione the bunch of flowers that burst from the wand tip. Hermione smiled.

"Oh, how nice..." Agatha Dubois, the witch in the painting said, looking at them as they entered the Great Hall.

"So, decided to join us after all?" Harry said to Hermione who threw him back a "Don't you start!" look.

Cho however remained quiet and decided it was more interesting to look into her empty plate than at Cedric who sat down beside her.

"The sorting should end any minute now. God I'm hungry!" Harry said, placing his right hand on his stomach.

"Don't eat to much, Potter! We still need you for Quidditch practice!" Oliver said to him laughing. Hermione however didn't looked towards him.

The sorting ceremony ended in a few more minutes. "Now that that's over, let me officially welcome you all to Endora's school of magic!" Professor De La Croix said smiling. She raised her wand into the air.

Hermione then looked at her robes. Instead of the Griffinndoor sign on her chest she now had a yellow letter "A". She then looked at Harry and Cedric, whose robes now had a blue letter "L" attached to them. Her sight turned towards Oliver; to her surprise, she discovered he was an Ascenda!

"Before we can all feast, I have one more announcement to make: I know that the changes you've just gone through are difficult, and that's why I decided to organize a little competition. Each one of you will now receive a clue. If you manage to figure out what it means, then you are allowed to compete."

She waved her wand one more time, and small boxes appeared before each student. "I would suggest you keep your thoughts to yourself. Hexes can be really ... well, you know!" She giggled and sat down.

Food appeared on the tables and everyone started eating. Now, every person sitting there was an Endora student.

A.N. Thanks for your reviews! I really appreciate them. Abra de Winter, you were a little confused about when my story takes place; I think this chapter explained everything :)

XxPaDfOoTiExX – thank you for adding my story to your favorites! I hope I won't let you down!

P.S: I know that the chapter was supposed to be entitled A surprise visit, but ... you know how it is...

Comments are appreciated!

Nice quote: "Ron, where are you? Oh this is stupid - lumos!" (This line is so cool!)