Derek was looking out a window watching the sunset. He was thinking about a lot of things that happened his first year at Hogwarts. He can only imagine what to expect to see in his coming second year. Little did he know that the biggest event that had been discontinued for years was making a return.
"Master Derek, Orphelia has returned." Winston said while the hawkowl was perched on his arm and his mail in his other hand.
"Thank you, Winston." Derek said as he turned towards him and walked towards him. Orphelia flew onto him, and he retrieved his mail. "Ah, my Hogwarts letters have arrived." He said while opening it and reading it.
"It seems that Master Derek can now officially buy his own racing broom since master is no longer a first-year student." Winston said.
"Neat! Not only that but I could also try out for Quidditch this year! I wonder what position I should go for." Derek wondered to himself while reading his list of school supplies that he'll need.
"Perhaps we can talk more about that while we head for Diagon Alley?" Juan's voice spoke out from the other side of the doorway.
"Hey! Everything alright?" Derek asked while going to him.
"No! Peter Pettigrew escaped from Azkaban!" He said furiously.
"WHAT!? How did…that little rat!" Derek growled as he recalled Peter being an Animagus. "Didn't you guys put a jinx on him that would prevent him from turning into a rat?" He asked him.
"Oh we did, but somehow, he must've had help from someone that is connected to You-Know-Who." Juan said while thinking about it.
"Voldemort?" Derek asked, only for Juan to just nod at his answer.
"Anyway, let's be ready to go to Diagon Alley. If I recall correctly, you can now officially have your own broomstick, and you could try out for Quidditch. Want to see what they have after you got the money you need?" Juan asked.
"Yes, please!" He yelled happily.
"Very well. Winston, if you please?" Juan asked the house-elf.
"Of course." Winston said. He went over to a fireplace and readied some dark ashes from a pot, confusing Derek. "Floo powder is ready." Winston said.
"Floo powder?" Derek asked.
"It's an alternative way to get to where you need to go. All you need to do is take a bit of that and very clearly speak to where you need to go. In this case, say Diagon Alley. Throw it underneath you while standing in the fireplace." Juan explained.
Derek took a small handful of it and walked into the fireplace. He looked at the both of them with a bit of worry until he took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
"Diagon Alley!" He yelled before throwing the powder beneath him.
A jet of emerald, green flames shot out of the powder and engulfed him into the flames. He felt his body being pulled into a vast location that made him feel like he was going all over the world. He closed his eyes and kept himself stiff to stay on course until he reached his final destination.
In the Leaky Cauldron, the emerald flames erupted, and Derek shot out of it, causing him to land on his face on the floor near tables around. The flame faded away after he emerged from it.
"Mr. Night!?" A voice yelled out nearby. When Derek came about and wiped some soot out of his eyes, he looked up and saw Lupin looking down at him. "Where'd you come from?" He asked.
"Oh you know, fireplace with Floo Powder." He answered before giving a powerful cough and some soot was hacked out of it. He continued to cough until he got up.
Just then, Juan and Winston arrived via Apparition, and they tended to Derek.
"You alright?" Juan asked him.
"Yeah…next time I should take a mask." Derek said while wiping himself off.
"Ah, Professor Lupin. Good afternoon." Juan said while he greeted the professor.
"Good to see you again. I heard about the escape of Wormtail, and Sirius is not happy about it. I'm surprised he didn't get the Dementor's Kiss after being sentenced." Lupin said.
"Right, from the Shrieking Shack when you and Sirius explained about him to us. He deserved the kiss." Derek said.
'That…sounded a bit weird.' Plutonia said.
'Maybe, but these are Dementor's we're talking about.' Derek thought to her.
"Anyway, wish we could stay, but we have things to do." Juan said.
"Of course. See you at Hogwarts professor." Derek said.
"See you then." Lupin said before he headed off somewhere.
The three of them went off to Diagon Alley and they began to get the school supplies Derek needed. They got some more money from his vault, which was in a different vault since he gained more money due to his discovery of the cure of Lycanthropy.
"So have you thought about what subjects you are gonna take for the next few years since you have to pick at least two elective subjects?" Juan asked him after they left Gringotts.
"Actually, yes. I've decided to take up Care of Magical Creatures, and Ancient Ruins. Besides, I wonder if Ancient Ruins may have something about my kind all those years ago." Derek answered.
"It is a possibility. So let's get to it." Juan said.
They went around Diagon Alley, and they bought all the things that Derek needed. But there was one last place he needed to go to. They arrived at Quality Quidditch Supplies. Derek got really excited to see what was in store for him since he now could buy his own broomstick.
Upon going inside, they immediately saw a case that showed off a Firebolt racing broom. Derek saw that goblin metal was used to manufacture the broom with the wood of ash that was polished and had the state-of-the-art twigs for perfect aerodynamics.
"Wow! That's amazing…but probably not for me." Derek said to himself while going onward.
'A wise choice. But I must ask, with the fortune you have, why choose to deny it?' Plutonia asked him.
'It'll be a bit bigheaded for me. Besides, I think I could make any broom work.' Derek answered.
"Sir? Finding everything alright?" A woman asked while approaching him.
"Yeah, just figuring out what model to go with." Derek answered while looking at her.
"How about some recommendations?" She asked him.
"Sure." He said before they started going around the place. After a bit, while getting a look at all the models they own, he was still conflicted. "Man! This is a headache! It's not like a broom will just fly right into my hand or anything!" He yelled a bit just when he reached out into the air.
Suddenly, there was a sound of something crashing coming from across the room. A sound of something flying into the sky came hurling towards Derek, and he caught something in his extended hand. He froze for a moment, and he looked at what he caught. It was a shiny, brand spanking new Nimbus 2001 shining brightly in his hand.
"Well…I guess that answers that question." The woman said with a bit of an awkward smile.
Derek then just glared out into space with a rather unamused look.
"Thanks!" He said annoyingly before people started breaking into laughter, even Derek started to get in on the fun.
After deciding the Nimbus 2001, he also got himself a service kit, Quidditch armor, and a starter kit as well. After all of that, they returned back to the manor where Derek began to make final preparations for his second year.
"Master, perhaps master could try for Chaser." Winston suggested.
"Maybe, but I guess we'll just see how things play out. After all, as long as I can make good out of myself for my house, how bad could I be?" Derek asked.
When the start of term is coming up, Derek, Juan and Winston made it to platform 9¾ just before it began to rain.
"Good luck Derek and enjoy your term!" Juan said while he was waving goodbye to him when the Hogwarts Express began to move.
"I sure will! See you guys soon!" Derek called out to them. When they were out of sight, he went to a compartment where he just sat there and watched as the rain splattered against the window watching the world go by. 'I wonder who busted Pettigrew out of prison.' Derek thought.
'It would have to be someone just as powerful, if now more powerful than him. From what I learned about him; his cowardice led to both sides as fools. If this Voldemort has a powerful servant like him back in his inner circle, who knows what they'll do next?' Plutonia asked with a bit of concern.
'He will rise to power once again, but maybe in the shadows?' Derek asked while closing his eyes.
"Hi Derek!" Cho's voice called out, snapping him out of his thinking.
"Oh! Hey Cho! How was your break?" Derek asked as she, along with Marietta sat in front of him.
"Quite alright." Cho said.
"Have you heard that there might be some sort of special event happening at Hogwarts this year?" Derek asked them.
"No." Marietta answered.
"Well…my mother works in the ministry. I did overhear something that was happening, but she was very discrete about it. I tried asking, but she told me it was classified." Cho said.
"Hmm…hmm?" Derek asked while looking at the door when he sensed a few boys go by. His eyes glowed a bit and he saw a hint of evil go by. "Huh?" He asked again.
"Derek? What's wrong? You just looked at the door and got a bit serious all of a sudden?" Cho asked him.
"Just…some people going by that gave me some bad vibes. Probably that Malfoy guy. He's quite the sketchy guy, isn't he?" He asked them.
"He needs to grow up. Just because he's a Slytherin and from a pureblooded family doesn't mean he's the ruler of Hogwarts." Marietta said while rolling her eyes.
Suddenly, they heard a distance laughter coming from further down the train, and they heard the sound of window shattering.
'He really is quite the character, isn't he?' Plutonia asked with a hint of anger.
'Probably. Never actually met him, but I have heard of his reputation.' He answered.
When they finally arrived at Hogwarts, the rain was coming down harder than before. Derek, along with pretty much everyone else, had to have their hoods up to keep themselves as dry as possible. They hopped onboard carriages that are being pulled by strange skeletal horses that will take them to the castle. When they finally got to the castle, they quickly got inside, and they would get themselves dried.
Just then, water balloons rained down on everyone. A large one drenched Ron to the skin.
"What the…PEEVES!?" Derek shouted in anger.
They looked up and saw Peeves the Poltergeist hovering above them throwing water balloons at everyone.
"PEEVES! Come down here this INSTANT!" Professor McGonagall shouted nearby. The Deputy Headmistress and head of Gryffindor house stormed in with anger.
"Not doing nothing! Everyone was already drenched, aren't they?" Peeves asked with a sinister smile.
"Professor, my I?" Derek asked her while his eyes glowed bright.
"A warning shot will suffice." She answered.
"Cover your ears everybody!" Derek yelled to everyone while glaring at Peeves. Everyone did just that before he fired a beam of magic at Peeves, barely missing him and he fell out of the ceiling. "Consider that a warning. Next time, I won't miss." Derek said while glaring daggers at the poltergeist with his still glowing eyes.
Peeves stuck his tongue out at him and he flew away.
"Never gets old." Derek whispered to himself with a smile.
When everyone entered the Great Hall, everyone got dried and the Sorting Ceremony has begun. The first-year students were being sorted into their houses. Derek smiled as a several students joined Ravenclaw and welcomed them warmly when a couple of them sat by him.
After the ceremony ended, Professor Dumbledore got to his feet and everyone looked at the Headmaster.
"I have only two words to say…tuck in." He said before the plates in front of them finally filled themselves with food.
As they ate, Derek looked at the staff table and saw Lupin talking to Snape. From what he could tell, they were finally at a truce with each other, especially since they used to be at each other's throats during their time at Hogwarts.
"Hello Derek." Helena said as she hovered towards him and placed her hands on his shoulders, causing a chilly feeling to spread through his body, but he didn't mind.
"Hey Helena. Missed you." Derek said while looking at her and smiled.
"I hope you are ready for a new successful year like last time." She said while hovering around him.
"Indeed." He answered.
After a delicious meal, Dumbledore approached his pedestal.
"So now that we are all sorted, fed and watered, I have a few start of term notices that I will need to address. As ever, the dark forest on the ground is out-of-bounds to students, as to the village of Hogsmeade to all below third years. Also, Mr. Filch has comprised a list of four hundred and thirty-seven magical objects that are forbidden in the corridors." Dumbledore stated to everyone.
'This Filch guy must not sleep much.' Derek thought to himself.
'For caretakers, it can be quite a handful.' Plutonia said.
"It also comes with a saddened heart to inform that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year." Dumbledore also stated. This caused most students mutter with bitter madness of that matter. "Silence!" Dumbledore called out, bringing silence across the Great Hall. "This is due to a special event that will be taking place throughout the school year. I have the great pleasure to announce that Hogwarts has been chosen to host the Triwizard Tournament." He finished.
This caused many to yell and cheer in excitement of this announcement.
'So this must be the classified information Cho might've been talking about. Not to mention the thing Juan kept quiet about.' Derek said while he was smiling.
'I've heard of this tournament. It's not exactly for the fate of heart. It's very dangerous, and people could and have died.' Plutonia pointed out to him.
"For those that aren't aware, the Triwizard Tournament brings together Hogwarts, Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, and Durmstrang Institute to select a single champion to represent. They will face off in a friendly competition in three extremely dangerous tasks. Fortunately, since we have successfully managed to make things easier and more under control thanks to the Department of Magical Cooperation, and Magical Games and Sports, we can now guarantee their safety. To make it even more safe, an age restriction has been decided. Only students at least the age of seventeen shall be allowed to enter, and this–" But Dumbledore was interrupted by the sound of many students being angered and shouting about it.
"This might complicate things a bit." Derek whispered.
"SILENCE!" Dumbledore shouted and sent a few sparks from his wand, bring that chaos under control. "Now as I was saying, this is a measure that is necessary to make things less deadly. To ensure of that matter, I personally will ensure that no underage student that tries to hoodwink our impartial judge for that matter. The delegates from the two schools will be arriving at the beginning of October and will remain with us for the duration of that school year. Now off to bed now. Chop chop." Dumbledore finished before the food vanished and everyone was now making their way to their common rooms.
When Derek, along with the other Ravenclaws, returned to the common room, he went to the private library so he can do some studies on that of the Triwizard Tournament. It took some doing, but he eventually found it.
"A tournament that has been around for over seven hundred years? And the fact that the death tolls were high back then? No wonder why it hasn't been played for so long. Hopefully this time we will have less of a problem." Derek said to himself.
'I recall seeing something like the tasks the Triwizard Tournaments had during those times while waiting for the next descendant with my powers. They were terrible. We should be safe since they are heavily restricting many participants and what kind of tasks that they will do this time around.' Plutonia explained.
'That bad huh? What was the worst?' Derek asked her.
'You don't want to know.' She answered.
'Either way, I cannot wait to see what the representing schools are like. Plus, since the tournament takes place every five years, maybe I'll represent Hogwarts.' He said while smiling and putting his book away.
'Just don't participate. Especially since you are our last hope for our kind to be restored.' Plutonia begged while he went upstairs to get ready for bed.
'I won't." Derek thought.
With a new year, and a new event resurfacing to the surface, Derek faces new challenges as a second year. The Triwizard Tournament will be something worth seeing, and meeting the students of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, and Durmstrang Institute. But what will he expect to see throughout the tournament? Find out more next time as the story continues.