Author's Note: Hello, so I am backish, I had a lot of stuff written thankfully, half-way through the book! Kiddo was sick today so I figured I would do a quick edit and post :) I hope you guys enjoy! No triggers yet, but if there is one please tell me and I will tag it appropriately.

~Start Chapter 5~

Severus had apparated them just outside of Kings Crossing as it would have been suspicious to not only be seen with her, but if she had apparated herself, before he left her to find her way to platform 9 3/4. Her brand new trunk was behind her as she walked through the throng of people. She was wearing a black turtleneck dress that had long sleeves and extended to mid thigh. Underneath she wore grey fleece tights and sighed at the clothing she would be stuck in, she prefered the sweaters and tight pants over the metallic and sequined outfits that were all over the popular parts of london. Thank you Spice Girls! At least she didn't hate her school uniform.

Feeling awkward and way too old she quickly hopped onto the train looking for an empty carriage. Having been early she found herself one of the first on the train and able to get comfortable and ready for her new job.

She was an intern Curse-Breaker turned undercover agent, she also wasn't even born yet so she figured she may as well try something new.

Opening her potions book, she decided to re-read some of the first few potions they would be learning this year. She was terrified of making a mistake now that she was Severus' student and no longer his peer.

Shit she had heard he was a tough teacher and unforgiving in his grading. Actually, that made sense now that she thought about it...maybe she'd survive him yet, she did her first time around.

Pulling out some coloured post-its she made a big deal about purchasing, she started to tag the potions she needed to be prepared for before she got to Hogwarts.

After about ten minutes the door to her compartment opened and she was startled from her reading when a boy with thick red hair came clamouring in his trunk trailing behind him.

"Oh, sorry, did you need help?" Max instantly insisted as she bounced to her feet rushing to help the young boy in front of her.

"Oh, thanks." The boy blushed as they both pulled his heavy trunk into the compartment. As they did so, two other individuals stepped in eyeing her peculiarly. Their trunks were gingerly held behind them, so she rushed forward to help instantly recognizing one of the boys as Harry Potter.

"Oh! Come on in there should be enough space!" She smiled as she helped them both get settled as the red haired boy pulled out an armful of maroon fabric that he tossed haphazardly over his owl's cage.

"I'm sorry," The bushy haired girl apologised, "We didn't know this compartment would already be taken". Waving off her concerns Max just smiled and stuck out her hand.

"My name is Max Suthers, I'm a transfer student entering my fourth year." This was it, moment of truth. Did she look like a fourth year or did she look older...

"Really?" The red haired boy began, "You look third year at the most." Her face fell and she hung her head with a defeated sigh.

Damn it.

"I know, I have that kind of baby face, but I can assure you I am in fourth year." She smiled as she returned to her seat.

"My name is Hermione, that tactless idiot over there is Ron and this is-"

"Harry Potter, I know, it would be impossible not to know who he is." She smiled calmly as Harry itched the back of his neck, his eyes slanting away from her.

"I am not an idiot!" Ron shouted out as he huffed in his seat. Hermione rolled her eyes and Harry laughed as the tension eased from the compartment.

"Know what house you are in yet?" She asked turning back to Max.

"Gryffindor, I was sorted during the summer."

"Are you muggle-born like me?" Hermione asked, her eyes twinkling in hope.

"No, I am a half-blood." She grimaced feeling bad she had to lie. Hermione looked dejected for a second before she shrugged.

"Well you are in the right house then, we will help you get settled." She smiled eyeing Max's Potions book.

"Bagman wanted to tell us what's happening at Hogwarts," Ron began grumpily, his attention on Harry, who had seated himself beside Ron, now bored of the girls conversation, "At the World Cup, remember? But my own mother won't say. What-"

"Shh!" Hermione whispered suddenly, her fingers brushing her lips as she indicated for the level of Ron's voice to go down. Pointing towards the adjoining compartment she pantomimed lowering the volume.

As if on cue they heard the distant voice of someone drifting through the slightly ajar door.

"...Father actually considered sending me to Durmstrang rather than Hogwarts, you know. He knows the headmaster, you see. Well, you know his opinion of Dumbledore-the man's such a Mudblood-lover and Durmstrang doesn't admit that sort of riffraff. But Mother didn't like the idea of me going to school so far away. Father says Durmstrang takes a far more sensible line than Hogwarts about the Dark Arts. Durmstrang students actually LEARN them, not just the defense rubbish we do..."

Max's lips felt painful as she pressed them together to hold her tongue. She had known the tensions were high but she felt so insulted. She knew Hermione was as well, as she got up quietly and slid the door closed with a soft click.

"So he thinks Durmstrang would have suited him does he!" She spluttered angrily, "I wish he HAD gone, then we wouldn't have to put up with him." She finished as she glared hard at the door.

"Who was that?" Max inquired feeling very confused.

"Draco Malfoy," Harry spat out also glaring at the door, "Stay away from him, he's a total git and his father is a Death Eater" Max's mouth turned into a small 'O' shape as she realized just who that was.

She had gone to school with his son Scorpius; one of James' friends. While his son wasn't all bad, he still had an attitude. However, the Malfoys had always been a well-known family and had actually made amends in the future.

She took a moment and wondered what it was that could have occurred to drastically change their tune about Voldemort in the end. It was clear Draco believed in the dark arts and blood purity more than anything in this time.

"But hey...is that another wizarding school?" Harry asked turning to Ron now.

"Yes," Hermione said stiffly as she answered in Ron's stead, her back set rigid, "and it's got a horrible reputation. According to An Appraisal of Magical Education in Europe, it puts a lot of emphasis on the Dark Arts." She finished, he face set in a grim line.

Max had heard about the school, it had changed a lot in her time but still believed learning about the Dark Arts was greatly beneficial in knowing how to defend against them.

"I think I've heard of it, where is it?" Ron asked airily.

"Well nobody knows do they." Hermione cryptically responded. Now that Max thought about it, she had no clue either.

"Aren't the rivalries between the magical schools in Europe so big that both Durmstrang and Beauxbatons like to conceal their locations as secret?" Max interjected as Hermione looked startled.

"Yes, it's so no one can steal their school secrets, or so people assume". She shrugged.

"Oh come off it, Durmstrang has to be huge, how could they hide something that big?"

"They hid Hogwarts didn't they?" Max and Hermione responded at the same time. The two girls looked at one another before giggling lightly.

"Everyone knows that, well...everyone who has read Hogwarts: A History, anyway." Hermione supplied.

"So just you then." Ron retorted with a snort.

"Well I've read it." Max fit in as she shared a look with Hermione who looked grateful.

"Oh great another one..." Ron grumbled as Harry smacked him in the stomach.

"OIY!"

"They can hide it because they have bewitched the school, Durmstrang probably did the exact same thing." Max shrugged wanting this conversational topic to end.

"Hogwarts looks like a derelict castle in ruin with 'DO NOT ENTER', if you're a Muggle anyway." Hermione shrugged as she fished out a book to turn her attention to.

"So Durmstrang probably has similar enchantments then?"

"Maybe," Hermione shrugged, "Or it might have Muggle-repelling charms on it, like the World Cup stadium. And to keep foreign wizards from finding it, they'll have to make it Unplottable."

"Come again?" Ron and Harry both inquired.

"Well, you can enchant a building so it's impossible to find on a map, can't you?"

"Err, if you say so?" Harry attempted to confirm.

"Yes you can, Hogwarts is the same way." Max smirked as Ron gave her a look that suggested he hardly believed her.

"But I think Durmstrang is somewhere up north, cause they've got fur capes as part of their uniforms." Hermione finished thoughtfully.

"Ahh think of the possibilities, we could push Malfoy off a glacier!" Ron daydreamed out loud as everyone merely rolled their eyes at him.

The rain had started to pour harder now and the sky was so dark it felt as if it were night time. The lunch trolley eventually rolled by and Harry had bought everyone cauldron cakes refusing to take any payment from Max saying it was his way of welcoming her as a fellow fourth year and Gryffindor.

They had decided to pretty much adopt her in their group, Hermione instantly sparking a friendship with her as if it were second nature. They both adored Muggle literature and sat there promising to trade the books they brought so they never ran out. Thanks to Dumbledore, Max knew she would be placed in Hermione's dorm room to keep closer tabs on them.

She had been introduced to several of their friends throughout the trip. She had met Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, and Neville Longbottom. She had remembered him as her kind herbology teacher, and had smiled so warmly when she first saw him on the train; He was her favourite professor after all.

Within about an hour Hermione had grown bored of all the Quidditch talk, and moved to sit beside Max as they went through The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4, attempting to learn a Summoning Charm. With a soft smile Max played along pretending she hadn't already mastered it years prior.

Or rather years later.

Time travel was confusing.

Neville was listening jealousy to the others' conversation as they prattled on about the World Cup. Max felt a little jealous herself having never had the time to see one herself.

"Gran didn't want to go," Her future professor whined miserably and she couldn't help but shake her head. This was too unreal. Her old professor was her peer and her old peer was her professor. "Wouldn't buy tickets. It sounded amazing though."

"It was," Ron confirmed, his mouth full of pastry, "Look at this Neville." Hermione had shifted her gaze to look at Ron as she wrinkled her nose in disgust at the piece of food that flew from his mouth. He started to rummage through his trunk until he found what he was looking for. Pulling out a miniature figure of Victor Krum he brandished it proudly.

"Oh wow!" Neville admired, envious of Ron's prize, as Ron handed him the figurine to look at.

"We saw him right up close, as well," Ron started his story, "We were in the top box-"

"For the first and last time in your life Weasley." A cutting voice startled everyone from their conversation and Max turned her gaze onto a boy with slicked back blond hair and a thin face. He was smiling proud as can be as he mocked Ron. Behind him were two larger boys who looked to be about as dumb as they were strong.

"Don't remember asking you to join us Malfoy." Harry spat as he glared hard at the boy.

"Weasley...what is that?" Malfoy ignored Harry and stared at the mess of maroon fabric still laying across Ron's owl cage.

Before anyone could stop him, Malfoy had darted across the space and was holding the fabric mockingly as he showed the compartment exactly what it was.

"Look at this!" he laughed in ecstasy, "Weasley, you weren't thinking of WEARING these were you? I mean - they were very fashionable in about 1890..."

"Eat dung Malfoy!" Ron spat as he snatched the robes right from his hands. Malfoy's response was to cackle along with his cronies.

"So...going to enter, Weasley? Going to try and bring a bit of glory to the family name? There's money involved as well, you know...you'd be able to afford some decent robes if you won..." With a cheeky smile Malfoy turned his gaze to Max and stopped momentarily to regard her.

"What are you talking about?" Ron spat throwing his robes over his owl's cage again as he glared harder, his breath coming out in short wheezes through his nose.

"Are you going to enter?" Malfoy repeated as if it were remedial, "I suppose YOU will, Potter? You never miss a chance to show off, do you?"

"Either explain what it is you are talking about or get the fuck out." Max finally spat out beyond finished with his racist and classist ridicule.

Hermione looked at her mouth agape, her textbook held idly in her hands, looking positively scandalized.

"And just WHO are YOU?" Malfoy spat, turning his fury filled gaze onto her prone form.

"Max Suthers, Gryffindor, and sick of your shit, so either tell us what you are talking about or do us all a favour and leave." She responded crisply.

"I'm not sure I want to anymore...however I am surprised YOU don't know, having a Father and Brother working for the Ministry after all..." Malfoy cryptically mocked Ron again, looking down on Max as if she were merely the dirt the worms he stepped on resided in.

He looked as if he wanted to begin rambling about how impressive his own family was, with having warned him so Max stood having had enough of him poking fun at the sensitive red head.

"Get out before I make you." Max started dangerously as she stood nose to nose with him, her glare positively withering. She heard a small sound of shuffling and noticed Hermione had come to stand at her rear, glaring hard at the boy, almost in warning.

With a small huff Malfoy looked between her and Hermione's angry gaze before turning on his heel and beckoning his goons to follow.

"Come on Crabbe. Goyle, we have better places to be than with the mud-blood and these blood-traitors." He looked for a brief moment towards Max before he slipped out of the compartment, the door clicking shut.

"Thank you." Ron started staring at Max as she deflated and sat down in her seat. What had she just done?

"Well it's official, that makes you one of us." Harry laughed, enjoying the momentary panic that had flitted across Malfoy's face.

"It was nothing." Max smiled warmly as she returned to studying with Hermione. They exchanged small smiles as they returned to their seats, as if laughing at some inside joke.

"Stupid Malfoy assuming he knows everything...what do you think he was talking about?" Ron said, his disposition turning sour as he glared offending at the closed door, "My father knows just as many important people as his father, he just doesn't like to gloat or break rules, he's happy where he is..." He trailed off in defeated ernest.

"We know Ron, we know. Try not to let him get to you." Hermione tried to quell his rage and he turned to her with such a raw expression.

"Him! Get to me! As if!" Ron exploded as Harry tried to place a hand on his arm to calm him down. Picking up another Cauldron Cake and squashed in in a pulp.

With wide eyes Max decided to leave him be and Hermione seemed to have the same idea. His bad mood persisted throughout the rest of the train ride and he didn't talk much, if at all.

Finally they entered the final stop at Hogsmeade and the train came to a halt and they all went to change into their school robes finally, having already gotten into their uniforms twenty minutes prior.

As the sky thundered above them Hermione bundled Crookshanks, her cat, up in her cloak. Ron had left his dress robes where they were not acknowledging anyone or anything as he glowered straight ahead of him, his trunk pulled noisily until he got to the spot where they were to leave them to be delivered to their rooms. Max deposited her own, watching curiously at his hunched over form.

Max had a brief moment wondering if she was this much trouble for Severus when they were in school.

The rain had started to come down in buckets, ice cold, and chilling to the bone. Max pulled her robes closer and wished she could cast a warming spell without being caught.

Ahead of them was the large bushy figure of Hagrid and she smiled. Hagrid had always been kind to her and she was looking forward to seeing him again.

"Hi Hagrid!" Harry yelled, waving his arm with vigor from their side of the platform.

"All righ', Harry?" Hagrid asked, his accent still thick and full of honey. Max smiled warmly as his eyes noticed her and he smiled big with his rosy cheeks, "An' this must be the new exchange student! You've made the righ' friend you 'ave." Hagrid roared jovially as he clapped her on the back causing her to stumble.

"Allo." She blushed as she smiled wide up at him.

"See yeh at the feast if we don' drown!" Hagrid laughed as they went past him as he started to corral the first years. After all, they had traditionally gotten to Hogwarts via boat with Hagrid. She smiled fondly at that memory. She had clung to Severus the entire time as he constantly chattered at her to let go.

"Oooh, I wouldn't fancy crossing the lake in this weather," Hermione spoke as she shivered at the thought, pulling her cat closer. A hundred horseless carriages sat ready for them just outside the station, a welcome and familiar sight for Max finally.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Max climbed happily into the first one they saw, happy to get out of the rain. The door shut with a snap and the carriage groaned as it lurched forward, heading straight for Hogwarts.

~Break~

They had passed through the gates only moments ago, flanked by winged statues and flying boars. Harry had leaned against the window and stared at the Castles glow with such happiness. Max felt her heart swell as she remember James, one of her few other friends, and felt the knot in her stomach tighten.

She was honestly frightened to be at Hogwarts for the first time ever.

Lightning flashed across the sky and she jumped causing Neville to giggle before blushing and looking downward. Cracking a smile Max snorted and shrugged causing the awkwardness to dissipate.

The carriage had come to a halt and the doors opened wide allowing the five of them to slip out and walk towards the castle. Harry with Hedwig, Ron with Pigwidgeon, Hermione with Crookshanks, and Neville with Max, they all walked together up the steps and through the big double doors.

Max took a moment to appreciate the beauty of the castle in its original form and couldn't help the squeal that bubbled up causing Harry to laugh at her.

"I know it's a lot to take in isn't it."

"It's stunning." She responded, her chest without air as the sight stole her breath.

Finally they had come into the torch-lit foyer and they shook off what rain they could.

"Blimey," Said Ron as he shook droplets of water everywhere, his hand threading through his damp hair, "if that keeps up the lake's going to overflow. I'm soaked - ARGH!"

A large, red, water filled balloon had smashed onto Ron's head from the ceiling causing splatters of water to hit them all in the face.

Ron staggered sideways spluttering as another balloon fell onto them narrowly missing Hermione. It ended up bursting at Harry's feet sending a wave of cold water across all their toes.

With a groan Max felt even more dejected. Soaked to the bone and now her somewhat dry shoes had turned into puddles.

Everyone around them started to shriek as more balloons were thrown down, a green one barely missing Max as she ducked behind the stairs railing.

Above them floated Peeves the Poltergeist, a little man in a bell-covered hat and orange bow tie. His mouth was spread wide in a malicious grin as his eyes twinkled in mischief, ready to take aim again with his ghostly pale hands.

"PEEVES!" Yelled a very angry voice, "Peeves, come down here at ONCE!" Max recognized the voice and spun around to meet the more youthful appearance of her best friend's future Mother.

Head-sorry, Professor McGonagall, current Deputy-Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor House, had come dashing out of the Great Hall at the sound of their screams; skidding across the wet floor where she had to grab onto Hermione to stop from falling.

"Ouch-sorry, Miss Granger..."

"That's alright Professor!" Hermione gasped as she rubbed her neck where the Head of their House had accidentally grabbed onto as she slipped.

"Peeves, get down here NOW!" She barked moving past them and glaring up at the offending ghost. Her hat gave her a more menacing appearance and Max stifled a giggle. Her square-rimmed glasses slid down her nose slightly but she paid them no mind in the midst of her rage.

"Not. doing. nothing!" Cackled Peeves as he flew up higher, lobbing another bomb at them this time hitting Max right on the top of her head.

Spluttering she shrieked as she shook the cold water off with a wide eyed expression.

Ron laughed out loud at her clearly loving the miserable company. Peeves threw another one at a gaggle of fifth year girls causing them all to dive into the Great Hall.

"Already wet aren't they? Little squirts! Wheeeeee!" and he took aim at a group of second years who had just arrived behind them.

"I shall call the Headmaster!" Professor McGonagall threatened, "I'm warning you Peeves!"

"What is going on out here?" a deep irate voice rang out from the entrance to the Great Hall.

There, wooshy robes and all, was the imposing frame of Severus Snape, her now Potions Professor. Her mouth opened with an embarrassed gape as he took in her wet appearance with an elegantly raised eyebrow.

"Ugh great..." Harry grumbled shrinking back as far as he could. Max looked over in confusion before another water balloon landed on her head.

"OIY!" She yelled out stifling a swear startling both of the Professors to turn their attention to her.

Once Peeves had noticed who had arrived he stuck out his tongue and zoomed away up the staircase and out of sight with a loud cackle.

"Well, move along then!" Professor McGonagall sharply spoke as she tested her ankle to ensure she wasn't injured from her almost fall.

"Into the Great Hall everyone, stop wasting time." Professor Snape spoke as he glanced towards Max et al, before raising his wand across the group of wet teenagers causing her to warmly tingle as her clothing dried.

Before she could say thank you he had already disappeared into the Great Hall leaving them all standing there quite stunned.

~Break~

To say Severus was anxious was an understatement. When he had heard the shrieks he had just about lost it as he locked eyes with Headmaster Dumbledore for a brief moment, before excusing himself to see how Minerva was fairing.

Finding Max sopping from head to toe eased his fears; if that was the worst thing to happen to her this year they would be lucky.

It went against his better judgement to remove the water and warm her and her fellow students, but he hadn't wanted her entire time to be miserable. Hopefully it wasn't too out of character for him. Not that many would see his act as kindness at this point.

Sitting back in his seat he ignored the funny stare that Minerva shot him before she excused herself as Filch ran over declaring that Peeves was mucking up the second floor now.

~Break~

"At least we aren't soaked anymore." Hermione supplied as they happily sat down at the Gryffindor table, ready to eat.

"Yeah, best not to look a gift horse in the mouth." Ron shrugged as Harry had an irritated look on his face as he looked up at Professor Snape suspiciously.

The Great Hall was decked out in its usual splendor, only this time the magical ceiling seemed to shine brighter than Max had ever seen it. She spent an inordinate amount of dinner staring up at it's changing colours as the candles floated up high twinkling like stars.

A ghost who was named Nearly Headless Nick, was seated not far from them and he had engaged Harry in conversation when he had sat down.

"I hope they hurry up with the Sorting. I'm starving." Harry expressed rubbing his grumbling stomach.

"Hiya Harry!" An excited, but breathless voice rang out. Harry turned to regard the boy, clearly knowing him.

"Hi, Colin." Harry greeted back with less enthusiasm.

"Harry, guess what? Guess what Harry?" The clearly much younger classmen bounced, "My brother's starting! My brother Dennis!"

"Er...good?" said Harry.

"He's really excited!" Said Colin completely missing how uninterested Harry was, "I just hope he is in Gryffindor! Keep your fingers crossed, eh, Harry?" He nudged Harry's arm with his elbow before turning to Harry's friends for help.

"Er, yeah, all right," He spoke, clearly awkward. "Brother's and sister's usually end up in the same Houses, don't they?" He asked staring at the array of Weasley faces set out before him.

"Oh no, not necessarily," Hermione began, "Parvati Patil's twin's in Ravenclaw, and they're identical. You'd think they'd be together, wouldn't you?"

Harry took a moment to look up at the Staff table noticing Hagrid still missing, and Professor Mcgonagall had disappeared again as well, assumingly to clean up whatever additional mess Peeves no doubtedly left on the second floor, or hopefully she was collecting the first years for Sorting.

"Where's the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher?" Hermione inquired as Harry noticed yet another seat missing.

Max had heard about the curse but never believed it was true. Then again, she had believed Severus was the same age as her. How wrong she was. She lifted her gaze to inspect the staff table along with the rest of them.

"Maybe they couldn't get anyone?" Hermione started again.

Scanning the table Max noticed all the Professors present, including a glowering at everyone Sev- Professor Snape.

"He's an absolute greasy git." Harry glowered darkly as he turned to regard Max.

"Who?" She stuttered out in surprise.

"Professor Snape." He explained, his eyes glancing at Dumbledore briefly before he turned to look at her again.

Max felt the instant need to defend her friend but kept her mouth shut; she wasn't supposed to know him.

"Oh hurry up! I could eat a hippogriff!" Ron moaned from Harry's right. As if he had summoned the first years himself, the doors to the Great Hall thundered open and the very, very wet first years trailed after Professor McGonagall awkwardly. Near the end was a dark haired boy with messy hair. He was wearing Hagrid's larger cloak and seemed as if he had swam across the lake itself.

As he passed Colin he gave a small thumbs up as he mouthed 'I fell into the lake!' as if he couldn't be more proud. Max let out a little bark of laughter as Harry shook his head with a small smile.

Ahead of them lay the sorting hat atop a wooden stool, Professor McGonagall was already standing beside it, her long list of first year students rolled in her right hand.

And as it had always done every year, the hat began to sing startling some of the first years out of their skin.

"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 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 were

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 favourites from the throng,

Yet how to 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 where you belong!"

Always a different song, bloody hat.

"That's not the song it sang when it Sorted us," Harry responded, thinking the same thing as he clapped along with the rest of the Great Hall.

"Sings a different one every year," Said Ron as Max stopped herself from nodding as well. She wasn't supposed to know that, "It's got to be a pretty boring life, hasn't it, being a hat? I suppose it spends all year making up the next one."

Professor McGonagall had started to unravel her parchment, explaining how the sorting was going to take place.

"When I call out your name, you will put on the hat and and sit on the stool," Clearing her throat she continued, "When the hat announces your House, you will go and sit at the appropriate table. Now, Ackerley, Stewart!"

Max tuned out the rest of the sorting having been at seven already in her life, including her own.

She did however note that Dennis Creevey was indeed sorted into Gryffindor if the hoots and hollers from Colin was any indication.

As he came to sit at the table he hurried to join his brother and proclaimed loudly in a squeaky proud voice that he had fallen in.

"It was brilliant! And something in the water grabbed me and pushed me back in the boat!" He gushed in excitement.

Pushed him back into the boat? What? Max looked up confused as can be, and she wasn't the only one as Hermione had turned her gaze to the two brother's in interest as well.

"Cool!" Colin remarked just as excited. "It was probably the giant squid Dennis!"

"Wow!" was Dennis' wide eyed response.

None of what was said sounded correct and Max felt an uncomfortable squirm in her stomach as her eyes flitted towards Severus out of habit.

"Dennis! Dennis! See that boy down there? The one with the black hair and glasses? See him? Know who he is, Dennis?" Colin turned the tables to talk about his exciting news.

Harry looked away, a frown on his face as he attempted to hide as he watched the rest of the Sorting.

"That has to be annoying." Max supplied as Harry turned to her surprised.

"It can be...most people don't really just treat me like a regular kid," He shrugged, "Hey...by the way, you knew who I was but didn't seem affected by it, why?"

With a sigh Max turned to give him her full attention, "If you haven't guessed by my accent I am not from the UK, rather my family is from Canada. They died not long ago so I became a ward of Hogwarts as the foster family that took me in resides here. I have dual-citizenship you see." she shrugged smiling kindly.

"So you haven't grown up hearing all about me?"

"Yes, and no, however I was never one for idle gossip so..." she trailed off leaving her sentence there. Harry nodded and smiled back. There wasn't much she could do to explain that she didn't grow up knowing who he was period due to being muggle-born.

"Well in any case thank you, it is frustrating sometimes." He admitted as Ron whined again.

"Oh hurry up!" Ron moaned as he rubbed his stomach again.

"Now, Ron, the sorting is much more important than food." Nearly Headless Nick expressed as "Madley, Laura!" became a Hufflepuff.

"Course it is, if you're dead," snapped Ron in a fit of frustration. He had clearly gotten hangry.

"I do hope this year's batch of Gryffindors are up to scratch," Nick continued ignoring Ron's callous retort. He clapped exuberantly as McDonald, Natalie became a Gryffindor. "We don't want to break our winning streak, do we?"

"Winning streak?" Max asked confused.

"Every year each house battles to get the most points. Prior to our first year Slytherin always won, but since then Gryffindor has." Hermione explained from her left and offered a kind smile.

At last the Sorting had finished and Ron let out a cheer as he stared at his food expectantly.

However, Professor Dumbledore had gotten to his feet instead, smiling around at everyone in the room. He held his arms out open in welcome and began to speak.

"I have only two words to say to you," he said, his deep voice echoing through the Great Hall, "Tuck in."

"Hear hear!" Ron and Harry loudly cheered along as the empty dishes began to fill with food.

Loading her own plate Max pushed her goblet of pumpkin juice away opting for tea and water with a smile.

"I'm not super into pumpkin juice either." Hermione whispered, holding her own cup of tea slyly. Max let out a laugh and bumped her shoulder against hers, feeling decidedly much better.

"Aaaa, 'at's be'er," Ron sighed out between a mouthful of food.

"You're lucky there's feast at all tonight, you know," Nearly Headless Nick forlornly spoke, arms crossed as he watched them all eat, "There was trouble in the kitchens earlier."

"Why? Wha' 'appened?" Harry asked around a sizeable chunk of steak.

"Peeves, of course," Nick explained with a scoff. He pulled his ruff a little higher on his neck which was starting to wobble dangerously at his intense explanation. "The usual argument, you know. He wanted to attend the feast - well, it's quite out of the question, you know what he's like, utterly uncivilized, can't see a plate of food without throwing it. We held a ghost's council - the Fat Friar was all for giving him the chance - but most wisely, in my opinion, the Bloody Baron put his foot down."

At the mention of his name Max turned to the Slytherin table and eyed the ghost in question before turning back to the conversation at hand.

"Yeah, we thought Peeves seemed hacked off about something," Ron muttered, his mouth full of food, "So what did he do in the kitchens?" He asked eyeing his mashed potatoes suspiciously.

"Oh the usual," Nick shrugged, "Wreaked havoc and mayhem. Pots and pans everywhere. Place swimming in soup. Terrified the house-elves out of their wits-" A clang interrupted their conversation and they turned to see Hermione had knocked over her golden goblet. Her untouched pumpkin juice was slowly spreading across the table cloth.

Right, Hermione was a big mover and shaker in a house-elf bill in the future that gave them more rights and protections than they currently had.

"There are house-elves here?" She hissed out, "Here at Hogwarts?"

"Certainly," Nick answered beyond confused and not quite understanding the issue, "The largest number in any dwelling in Britain, I believe, over a hundred."

"But I've never seen one!" Hermione gasped.

"Well, they hardly ever leave the kitchen by day, do they?" Nick was laughing at her now, not quite understanding her upset. "They come out at night to do a bit of cleaning...see to the fires and so on...I mean, you're not supposed to see them, are you? There's the mark of a good house-elf, isn't it, that you don't know it's there?"

"But they get paid right?" She started in, "They get holidays, don't they? And-sick leave, and pensions, and everything?" Oh dear the poor girl was becoming unraveled now.

Her response was merely a chortle from Nearly Headless Nick as he processed her words. It was enough to cause his head to loll to the side and he had to right himself before continuing.

"Sick leave and pensions?" He scoffed as he made sure his head was on right and his ruff was high enough, "House-elves don't want sick leave and pension!"

At that declaration Hermione looked down at her plate before placing her knife and fork down and pushing the food away from her.

"Oh c'mon, 'Er-my-knee," Ron said with his mouth full, accidentally spraying Harry with bits of food and spit, "Opps - sorry, 'Arry -" He swallowed. "You won't get them sick leave by starving yourself!"

"Slave labour," Hermione breathed out glaring at her plate, "That's what made this dinner. Slave labour!" and just like that she refused to eat another bite.

It was still thundering outside and Max felt the uncomfortable silence lay over them like a thick blanket and just prayed her next three years won't be filled with teen drama like this.

Soon their dinner was replaced with dessert and Ron loudly attempted to get Hermione's interest.

"Treacle tart, Hermione!" Ron started, deliberately wafting the smell over to her, "Spotted dick, look! Chocolate gateau!"

But Hermione stayed strong and gave him a glare so strong he was reminded of Professor McGonagall as he gave up and left her alone.

Before they knew it Headmaster Dumbledore stood to his feet to address everyone again.

"So," He began as he waited for the Great Hall to quiet down. "Now that we are all fed and watered," Max did not miss the snort of derision Hermione let out loud, "I must once more 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 this year has 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, ad can be viewed in Mr. Filch's office, if anybody would like to check it." The way his lips tilted upwards was more than telling enough for Max to note he didn't expect anyone actually would.

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

"What!" Harry hissed as Ron shh'd him. He looked towards Fred and George who were looking dead straight at Dumbledore mouthing wordlessly their dissent.

"This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy - but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have the great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts-" however, before he could finish there was a deafening rumble as the doors to the Great Hall thundered open.

In the glow of the doorway stood a large man leaning upon a staff, blanketed in a heavy black cloak. Every single head in the Great Hall had turned to see what had caused the loud bang as a crack of lightning lit up the ceiling overhead them. The man lowered his hood and shook out his long grey hair, before he began to walk towards the teacher's table. He slowly limped his way towards Dumbledore again as another fork of lightning lit up above them. Hermione gasped at the mans grizzled face and Max recoiled as well becoming startled at how busy everything had become.

The man had a chunk of flesh missing from his nose, a scar cutting through his face diagonally, and his one eye had become ghostly pale, rolling around in every direction without cause. With an uncomfortable shift Max realized from the description this had to be Mad-Eye Moody; or that was her best guess as she watched him pull out a small knife and stabbed it into a piece sausage to eat.

"May I introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?" Dumbledore began, not at all bothered but the savage display from the aforementioned teacher. "Professor Moody!" He announced as if the Great Hall wasn't blanketed in awkwardness.

The Great Hall was deadly silent and Max noticed Severus shift his eyes angrily towards Professor Moody before turning back to regard Dumbledore.

"Moody?" Harry muttered towards Ron, "Mad-Eye Moody? The one your dad went to help this morning?" That peaked Max's interest.

"Must be." Ron confirmed, eyes filled with awe.

"What happened to him?" Hermione whispered, "What happened to his face?"

"Dunno." Ron whispered back.

The man in question did not seem concerned with the unorthodox greeting, nor the lack of applause, and was instead messily pulling out a hip flask and taking a long drink from it. Oh joy.

"As I was saying," Dumbledore cleared his throat, "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 very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year."

"You're JOKING!" Fred gasped, excitement pouring from him. The tension had finally broken in the Great Hall and everyone had started to laugh and giggle at the Weasley twin.

"I am NOT joking, Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore laughed as well, "though now that you mention it, I did hear an excellent one over the summer about a troll, hag, and a leprechaun who all go into a bar..."

Professor Mcgonagall politely cleared her throat loud enough to catch everyone's attention.

"We - but maybe this is not the time...no..." He thoughtfully trailed off, "where was I? Ah yes, the Triwizard Tournament...well, some of you will not know what this tournament involves, so I hope those who do know will forgive me for giving a short explanation, and allow their attention to wander freely." Dumbledore took a moment to catch his thoughts before continuing.

"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."

"Death toll?" Hermione whispered this time looking deeply concerned, but her anxiety didn't seem to be shared amongst the rest of the students who were starting to chatter excitedly.

"There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the tournament," Dumbledore continued, "none of which has been successful. However, our own Departments of International Magical Cooperation and Magical Games and Sports 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 himself or herself in mortal danger." Hermione didn't look at all like she believed him.

"The Heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving with their shortlisted 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 for the Triwizard Cup, the glory of their school, and a thousand Galleons personal prize money."

"I'm going for it!" Fred proclaimed to the entire Gryffindor table.

"Eagar though I know all of you will be to bring the Triwizard Cup to Hogwarts, the Heads of the participating schools, along with the Ministry of Magic, have agreed to impose an age restriction on contenders this year. Only students who are of age - that is to say, seventeen years or older - will be allowed to put forward their names for consideration. This" Dumbledore raised his voice slightly to cover the start of dissent from his younger students, "is a measure we feel is necessary, given that the tournament tasks will still be difficult and dangerous, whatever precautions we take, and it is highly unlikely that students below sixth and seventh year will be able to cope with them. I will personally be ensuring that no underage student hoodwinks our impartial judge into making them Hogwarts champion." His twinkling eyes glances towards the Weasley twins as they both tried to conceal their rage.

"I therefore beg you not to waste your time submitting yourself if you are under seventeen. The 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 he or she is selected. And now, it is late, and I know how important it is to you all to be alert and rested as you enter your lessons tomorrow morning. Bedtime! Chop chop!" Dumbledore sat down again and turned to discuss something with Mad-Eye Moody.

"They can't do that!" George shouted out startling Max as she turned her attention towards the unruly boy. "We're seventeen in April, why can't we have a shot?"

"They're not stopping me from entering." Fred admonished, being obstinate in his decision, "The champions will get to do all sorts of stuff you'd never be allowed to do normally. And a thousand Galleons prize money!"

"Yeah," Ron agreed, a faraway look taking over his face. "Yeah, a thousand Galleons..."

"Come on," Hermione pushed wanting to head to their common room, "we'll be the only ones left here if you don't move." She had managed to corral everyone out of the Great Hall, Fred and George arguing as they walked over ways to apply to the Tournament while being underaged.

"Who's the impartial judge who's going to decide who the champions are?" Harry asked, deflecting the conversation to a safer topic.

"Dunno," Fred took the bait, "but it's them we'll have to fool. I reckon a couple of drops of Aging Potion might do it, George..." oh boy, this was going to end in a mess.

With a roll of her eyes Max bolted over towards Hermione intent on starting her year off WITHOUT detention.

"Dumbledore knows you're not of age, though," Ron began.

"Yeah, but he's not the one who decides who the champion is, is he?" Fred said shrewdly, "Sounds to me like once this judge knows who wants to enter, he'll choose the best from each school and never mind how old they are. Dumbledore's trying to stop us giving our names."

"People have died though!" Hermione finally exploded having enough of their juvenile discussion as they walked through a door concealed behind a tapestry and started up on another narrow staircase.

"Yeah," Fred tapped his chin, "but that was years ago, wasn't it? Anyway, where's the fun without a bit of risk? Hey, Ron, what if we find out how to get 'round Dumbledore? Fancy entering?"

"What d'you reckon?" Ron asked turning towards Harry, "Be cool to enter, wouldn't it? But I s'pose they might want someone older...Dunno if we've learned enough..."

"I definitely haven't," came Neville's voice from behind Fred and George, "I expect my gran'd want me to try, though. She's always going on about how I should be upholding the family honor. I'll just have to - oops!" Neville sighed out as his foot sunk right through a step halfway up the staircase.

Sadly there were all too many trick stairs in the old Hogwarts and Max let out a concerned gasp. Harry and Ron noticing the problem quickly grabbed ahold of their shy friend and pulled him from the stairs as he offered a small 'thank you...' As they did so a suit of armor let out a small groan that sounded a lot like laughter.

"Shut it, you," Ron hissed, hitting it's visor as he stepped past. They made their way up towards the entrance to the Gryffindor Tower, which was concealed by a large portrait of a fat lady in a pink silk dress. At least that much hadn't changed for Max.

"Password?" She asked as they approached.

"Balderdash," Said George startling everyone else, "a prefect downstairs told me."

The portrait opened with a soft bang and they all climbed through the opening to find a soft fire crackling away at the fireplace. Everything was made of plush red's and gold's still and Max breathed out feeling finally at home.

"Slave labour..." Hermione whispered as she disappeared, bidding everyone goodnight, up the stairs to the girl's dormitory taking them two at a time.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow." Max smiled as she followed Hermione into the girl's dormitory, following her into the room she knew they would share.

As she entered she noticed the five four-poster beds, two on each side opposing each other, and the fifth was at the far end of the room where it dipped in enough to fit it decently far from the door. A double window separating the four beds along the two walls, the curtains around the bed's were a rich maroon and gold. There were some drawers at the end of either bed providing each girl with four drawers each. There wasn't a whole lot of anything else as the common space shared by each individual dormitory had desks and workspaces for students.

Three other girls were already seated comfortably talking idly to Hermione who had just entered and taken a seat on her own bed, her trunk of belongings sitting beside her bed as she started to unpack and prepare for tomorrow's lessons.

The girl in the bed behind her had long dark hair and light brown skin. Her eyes were a beautiful shade of dark brown, almost glowing with a slight reddish hue. She smiled brightly as she turned to talk animatedly with the girl seated on the bed across from her. The girl across from her had long curly golden hair and crisp blue eyes. She was taller and a touch more filled out than the rest of the girls in the room, herself included. She was already wearing her pink and white pjs. She smiled warmly for the briefest of moments before turning back to the darker haired girl.

On the bed closest to her sat a tall girl with straight brown hair and blue eyes. She was impish in nature, keeping more to herself, but was already done sorting her school supplies out and was getting up to head out to the common room.

"Oh hi Max!" Hermione greeted pulling herself from her trunk long enough to motion towards the bed across from her nearest the window.

"Hi!" Max greeted noticing her trunk was already at the motioned towards bed and so she headed over to unpack as well.

"This is Pavarti Patil, over there is Lavender Brown, and the girl heading back to the common room is Fay Dunbar. Everyone meet Max Suthers, she's a fourth year transfer." Hermione introduced as everyone waved towards her welcomingly, before going back to their activities.

"Nice to meet you all." Max smiled as she started to pull out her PJ's so she could prep her clothing for the morning.

~End Chapter5~

End Author's Note: There you have it! Max is finally at Hogwarts! It can only go downhill from here! I had loads written so each chapter will be about this long. Please note it currently follows the books closely, but will deviate. I will explore scenes not in the books and movies, as well as not include moments or scenes Max is not privy too. I want to do this for a few reasons, one: it's tiring to and not fun to re-write someone else's book, two: I don't want to bore everyone, we all know what happens, and three: I want to engross you in Max's story, as well as Severus' story. My desire is to have Max discover things as they go and explore characters we don't see as often in the books or movies (for this book, you will see more of Hermione, Fred, and George!)

Reviews:

Guest: I am so glad you enjoy my story! I am also so glad the wait paid off :)

: Ehehehehe...Oops? :P I am super happy you enjoy my story though :) I hope you like what I have planned!