Through the gates, flanked with statues of winged boars, and up the sweeping drive, the carriages trundled, swaying dangerously in what was fast becoming a gale. Leaning against the windows, Harry could see Hogwarts coming nearer, its many lighted windows blurred and shimmering behind the thick curtain of rain. Lightning flashed across the sky as their carriage came to a halt before the great oak front doors. People who had occupied the carriages in front were already hurrying up the stone steps into the castle. Harry, Draco, Hermione, and Ginny jumped down from their carriage and dashed up the steps too, looking up only when they were inside the great hall.

Professor McGonagall now placed the four-legged stool on the ground before the first years and, on top of it, the sorting hat. Everyone stared at it. For a moment, there was silence. Then along tear near the brim opened wide like a mouth, and the hat broke into song:

A thousand years or more ago

When I was newly sewn,

There lived four wizards of renown,

Whose names are still well known:

Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,

Fair Ravenclaw, from the glen,

Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad,

Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.

They shared a wish, a hope, a dream,

They hatched a daring plan

To educate young sorcerers

Thus Hogwarts School began.

Now each of these four founders

Formed their own house, for each

Did value different virtues

In the ones, they had to teach.

By Gryffindor, the bravest was

Prized far beyond the rest;

For Ravenclaw, the cleverest

Would always be the best;

For Hufflepuff, hard workers were

Most worthy of admission;

And power-hungry Slytherin

Loved those of great ambition.

While still alive they did divide

Their favorites from the throng,

Yet how do pick the worthy ones

When they were dead and gone?

Twas Gryffindor who found the way,

He whipped me off his head

The founders put some brains in me

So I could choose instead!

Now slip me snug about your ears,

I've never yet been wrong,

I'll have a look inside your mind

And tell me where you belong!

The Great hall rang with applause as the Sorting hat finished.

When all the food had been demolished, and the last crumbs had faded off the plates, leaving them sparkling clean, Dumbeldore got to his feet. The buzz of clatter filling the hall ceased almost at once so that only the howling wind and pounding rain could be heard.

"So!" said Dumbledore, smiling around at them all. "Now that we are all fed and watered, I must 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."

The corners of Dumbledore's mouth twitched. He continued, "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 the third year.

"It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year."

This is due to an event that will be starting in October and continuing through the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy — but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this at Hogwarts —"

But at that moment, there was a deafening rumble of thunder and the doors of the Great Hall banged open.

A man stood in the doorway, leaning upon a long staff, shrouded in a black traveling cloak. Every head in the Great Hall swiveled toward the stranger, suddenly illuminated by a fork of lightning that flashed across the ceiling. He lowered his hood and shook out a long mane of grizzled, dark grey hair, then began to walk up toward the teacher's table.

A dull thunk echoed through the Hall on his every other step. He reached the end of the top table, turned right, and limped heavily toward Dumbledore.

Lightning threw the man's face into sharp relief, and it was a face that could only belong to one person.

"Mad-eye fucking moody" Harry said.

"May I introduce our new Defense against the dark arts teacher?" said Dumbledore brightly into the silence. "Professor Moody."

It was usual for new staff members to be greeted with applause but none of the staff or students clapped except Dumbledore.

Dumbledore cleared his throat.

"As I was saying," he said smiling at the sea of students before him, all of whom were still gazing transfixed at Mad-eye Moody, "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 great pleasure to inform you that the tri wizard tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year,"

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.

"There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the tournament." Dumbledore continued "none of which has been very successful. However, our Departments of international Magical cooperation and Magical sports and games 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 themself 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 in the Triwizard Cup, the glory of their school, and a thousand Galleons prize money.

"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 wholehearted support to the Hogwarts champion when they are selected. And now it is late, and I know how important is to you all to be alert and rested as you enter your lessons tomorrow morning.

Harry left for Slytherin common room.

As you as he fell asleep.

He appeared in a lounge.

"So let's talk" Nihilus said.

To be continued.