The Alexander Chronicles Year 4: The Return of Darkness.

Chapter 14: Foreign Visitors

Alex didn´t get much sleep that night. His mind kept going over what Hermione had said. Was he jealous at Harry? It felt like it sometimes. After all, it would be nice just to have one talk with Sirius, without Harry being mentioned. At the same time, Alex was sure that he didn´t needed Sirius, he had lived most of his life without him. So Sirius hadn´t changed anything positive in his life.

It was late when he finally felt to sleep and when he woke up he found that he was the only one still in bed. Alex sighed heavily as he got up and got dressed. When he got to the Great Hall people where already busy finish their breakfast. He quickly spotted Harry who was talking with Ron and Hermione, since they were whispering Alex assumed they were talking about Sirius. As he got closer, he could hear Hermione say. "That was a lie, Harry. You didn't imagine your scar hurting and you know it."

"So what?" Harry said as Alex looked between the two. "He's not going back to Azkaban because of me."

"Drop it," said Ron sharply to Hermione as she opened her mouth to argue some more. To Alex´s surprise, Hermione listen to Ron, and fell silent. Alex then looked at Harry who seemed satisfied with his plan, but Alex was sure that it wouldn't work. If Sirius wanted to come, he wouldn't listen to Harry´s concerns.

…

Over the next couple of weeks, nothing fun or interesting had been happening at Hogwarts. There wasn´t even a word from Sirius. Sometimes it got a little boring, and Alex would wish that something would happen. However he did enjoy that he could just relax, do homework and simply chat with his friends from Slytherin, talk to Hermione and Harry or simply to study healing class with Erik.

Alex´s study groups was really a big help since the lessons were becoming more difficult and more demanding than ever before, particularly Moody's Defence Against the Dark Arts. To everyone's surprise, Professor Moody had announced that he would be putting the Imperius Curse on each of them in turn, to demonstrate its power and to see whether they could resist its effects.

"But - but you said it's illegal, Professor," Hermione said uncertainly as Moody cleared away the desks with a sweep of his wand, leaving a large clear space in the middle of the room. "You said - to use it against another human was -"

"Dumbledore wants you taught what it feels like," Moody said in an inpatient tone, his magical eye swivelling onto Hermione and fixing her with an eerie, unblinking stare. "If you'd rather learn the hard way - when someone's putting it on you so they can control you completely - fine by me. You're excused. Off you go."

He pointed one gnarled finger toward the door. Hermione went very pink and muttered something about not meaning that she wanted to leave. Alex and Neville grinned at each other. They knew Hermione would rather eat bubotuber pus than miss such an important lesson.

Moody began to beckon students forward in turn and put the Imperius Curse upon them. Alex watched that his classmates one by one did the most extraordinary things under the influence of the curse. He couldn't help but be slightly amazed by the power of the curse. By the looks of it, there was no limit to what the curse could do. Dean Thomas hopped three times around the room, making pig noises. Lavender Brown imitated a squirrel, and Ron was acting humping at one leg while acting like a six-year-old girl. Alex had to try very hard not to laugh at that one.

But apparently the curse could do much more then making people do embarrassing things or stuff they would find unmoral. It could also make you do things that your body wouldn't be able to do, Neville was the proof on that. Moody had him do a series of quite astonishing gymnastics, stuff that the normal Neville have been able to do even if he wanted to. The common thing about all so far, was that none had been able to resist the influence of the curse.

"Potter," Moody growled, "you are next."

Alex watched as Harry moved forward into the middle of the classroom, into the space that Moody had cleared of desks. Moody raised his wand, pointed it at Harry, and said, "Imperio!"

Alex saw Harry's eyes glaze over, as it had been the case with everyone else and Moody spoke, "Jump onto the desk… jump onto the desk…" Moody had told that speech really wasn´t necessary since the order was given telepathy.

At first, it seemed that Harry was really to do as commanded. He bend his knees obediently, preparing to spring.

"Jump onto the desk…" Moody said again, but something happen or rather nothing happened. Harry didn't move, making everyone gasp. "Jump onto the desk…" But Harry didn't move. "Jump! NOW!"

Alex then watched as Harry had both jumped and tried to prevent himself from jumping - the result was that he'd smashed headlong into the desk knocking it over.

"Now, that's more like it!" growled Moody. "Look at that, you lot…Potter fought! He fought it, and he damn near beat it! We'll try that again, Potter, and the rest of you, pay attention - watch his eyes, that's where you see it - very good, Potter, very good indeed! They'll have trouble controlling you!" This time Alex watched Harry´s eyes more carefully and quickly saw the difference, his eyes wasn´t glazed over. Alex smirked as he took a note that was useful information.

Moody once again tried to control Harry a few more times with the curse, but Harry fought it every time.

"Excellent," Moody growled. "Now, who's left?" Alex slowly raised his hand, and everyone looked at him, as he were thinking crazy for wanting to try it.

"Ah, yes, come on over." Alex nodded and moved over to the spot, where Harry had been. Moody raised his wand, pointed it at him, and said, "Imperio!" and Alex´s eyes glazed over.

It was the most wonderful feeling Alex had ever had. It was even better than the feeling he had had when he was exposed to vantiserum. He it was floating sensation and it was like that that every worry that Alex had was gone completely. The only thing left was an untraceable happiness. Despite all that, he was dimly aware that everyone was watching him.

Then came Mad-Eye Moody's voice, it was echoing in some distant chamber of his empty brain. "Walk on your hands!" the voice said.

But why should he do something stupid like that. It wasn´t something he wanted to do. It would look stupid. Alex blinked, and as he did that, the floating sensation was gone. He saw Moody pointing his wand at him. "No!"

Alex could see Moody looked surprised, and when he looked around so did everyone. Alex was also a bit amazed that he simply had shrugged the curse of like that.

"Interesting." Moody muttered while looking at Alex with his magical and normal eye. "Class dismissed and remember CONSTANT VIGILANCE."

Alex moved from the centre of the class and to his bag that was in the bag of the room. He had just put in on the shoulder when Moody spoke up. "Can you stay after class?"

Alex nodded, and told Neville that he could wait outside, when everybody had left the room Alex said. "I hope I isn´t in trouble sir."

Moody smiled, "it was quite impressive what you just did."

Alex nodded. "Thanks but I am not really sure how I did it."

Moody didn´t reply but instead walked to his desk and begun gathering some papers together. Alex stood there wondering if that was all Moody had wanted to say. He was just about to ask if he could leave, when Moody without warning pointed his wand at him again and said "Imperio."

Once again, Alex was in the floating sensation of happiness, then he heard Moody´s voice. "Bow to me."

Alex stood still a moment before blinking again, casting the curse of. "No I won´t." Alex felt angry at Moody; how could he just attack him like that. "What the heck professor." He yelled grabbing his wand.

Moody gave an impressed smile that made Alex pause. "I apologize for the surprise Mr. Bonteri, but I had to see how you would react when you wasn´t prepared."

"Right Sir." Alex lowered his wand a bit.

"HOWEVER" Moody said, "this should also teach you that an attack can come from anywhere, so CONSTANT VIGILANCE. You may go."

Alex nodded and left, to his surprise wasn´t Neville the only one waiting for him, so was Daphne, Blaise and Tracey.

"Hey Alex," Daphne said as she smiled at him, a smile that he couldn't help but return. "So did you liked Moody´s lesson?"

Alex nodded, "yeah I did."

"So I heard that Harry Potter was able to resist the Imperius. None of us were able to do that, although Moody said that we had the potential, if we studied Occlumency." Tracey said as they walked towards the Great Hall.

"Well yes Harry did resist it." Neville said, "although not was quickly as Alex did it. It was in an instant."

"Wait you resisted the curse?" Daphne exclaimed. "I mean without breaking a sweat."

"Uh yeah," Alex said nonchalantly, but secretly he enjoyed how impressed Daphne sounded. "Yes I did, but I am sure a lot of people can do that."

"Yeah some can," Daphne said still sounding impressed. "After they have trained their minds, and even then the some powerful wizards still can get them under the curse."

"Still I can´t be the only one, who is able to resist it." Alex said.

"Yeah powerful wizards like Dumbledore and You-Know-Who can do it." Neville said, and Alex suddenly tripped over his own foot, nearly falling over.

"Hey watch out." Blaise said as he helped Alex regain his footing. "Are you okay?

"I am fine." Alex said, but he was thinking about what Neville just have said. Was this another ability he had gained from being related to Slytherin. He noticed that Daphne was giving him a worried look, Alex knew why. He had told her about everything that had happened during the summer shortly after they had arrived at Hogwarts. He had told her how he had attacked his stepfather and how his willingness to use the darkness was worrying him. Alex gave her a small smile to let her know they could talk later.

"Still Moody is amazing." Blaise said, "but still the way he talks, he makes it sound like we can be attacked at every seconds. I mean he is a bit paranoid."

"Yeah," Tracey grinned, "but he also used to train aurors and that he fought in the war."

"Still," Blaise said, "I heard that the Ministry were pretty glad when he left them. I heard that he once cursed someone because she shouted 'Boo' behind him on April Fools' Day? And when are we supposed to read up on resisting the Imperius Curse with everything else we've got to do?"

"Yeah keep talking minimum electives guy, and you might end not spreading time with your girlfriend." Tracey given her boyfriend an elbow.

But Blaise was right, the fourth years were getting more homework than usual and that is where the study groups came in handy. Professor McGonagall explained why, when the class gave a particularly loud groan at the amount of Transfiguration homework she had assigned.

"You are now entering a most important phase of your magical education!" she told them, her eyes glinting dangerously behind her square spectacles. "Your Ordinary Wizarding Levels are drawing closer —"

"We don't take O.W.L.s till fifth year!" Dean Thomas said indignantly.

"Maybe not, Mr. Thomas, but believe me, you need all the preparation you can get! Miss Granger, Mr. Bonteri, Miss Davis, Miss Greengrass, and Mr, Malfoy remain the only people in this class who have managed to turn a hedgehog into a satisfactory pincushion. I might remind you that your pincushion, Mr. Thomas´, still curls up in fright if anyone approaches it with a pin!"

Hermione and Daphne, had both turned rather pink again, seemed to be trying not to look too pleased with themselves, while Alex was laying his head in his arms and staring through McGonagall out of boredom. He hated the lessons where they didn´t did spells.

When it was time for divination, Alex, Blaise and Neville couldn´t help but grin when Professor Trelawney told them that they had received top marks for their homework. . She read out large portions of their predictions along with Harry and Ron´s, commending them for their unflinching acceptance of the horrors in store for them - but they were less amused when she asked them to do the same thing for the month after next; but that wasn't the weird part. The weird part was that a couple of Alex´s predictions had come true. It was mostly the ideas that had just popped in to his heard when he had done his homework. One of them was that Blaise would slip in some mud on the way to care of magical creatures, another thing was that he and Daphne would be bothered by a ghost which they did when they ran Peeves.

Meanwhile Professor Binns, the ghost who taught History of Magic, had them writing weekly essays on the goblin rebellions of the eighteenth century. Professor Snape was forcing them to research antidotes. They took this one seriously, as he had hinted that he might be poisoning one of them before Christmas to see if their antidote worked.

Professor Flitwick had asked them to read three extra books in preparation for their lesson on Summoning Charms.

Even Hagrid was adding to their workload. The Blast-Ended Skrewts were growing at a remarkable pace given that nobody had yet discovered what they ate. Hagrid was delighted, and as part of their "project," suggested that they come down to his hut on alternate evenings to observe the skrewts and make notes on their extraordinary behaviour.

"I will not," said Draco Malfoy flatly, when Hagrid had proposed this with the air of Santa Claus pulling an extra-large toy out of his sack. "I see enough of these foul things during lessons, thanks."

Hagrid's smile faded off his face.

"Yeh'll do wha' yer told," he growled, "or I'll be takin' a leaf outta Professor Moody's book… I hear yeh made a good ferret, Malfoy."

The Gryffindors roared with laughter and a few Slytherins joined in. Malfoy flushed with anger, but apparently the memory of Moody's punishment was still sufficiently painful to stop him from retorting. Alex, Daphne, Tracey, Blaise and Neville returned to the castle at the end of the lesson in high spirits; seeing Hagrid put down Malfoy was particularly satisfying, especially because he had done their very best to get Hagrid sacked the previous year. However as they approved the castle, Daphne asked Alex if she could talk with him, curious Alex followed her as they walked to the Whombing willow.

"So what is up?" Alex said although he had an idea.

"Well I been thinking that you seamed quit, since you had been placed under the Imperius Curse. Is it about what Neville said? Because you know that isn´t true."

"Isn´t it? I mean lately I been acting like it." Alex said.

"What do you mean?"

"Well my muggle stepfather for one thing." Alex said having already told Daphne about what had happened with his stepfather and why he had done it, some time ago. He had told Daphne most the story, but there were some things that he had left out, like the fact that he had been about to use the Cruciatus Curse, not just having an urge and that he had wanted to kill the man.

Daphne signed, "Look I agree that wasn´t that smart, but then again you did it because he hurt your mother."

"I did it because I wanted revenge, because he hurt me and my mother. Look I remembered everything how he used to treat my mother, but that doesn´t change that I wanted to hurt him because I hate him."

"It does make a difference; you wanted to hurt him because he had hit your mother because he had wanted to kill her. It wasn´t like he was an innocent bystander. I know it doesn´t make it right, but in your defence you had just relived a terrible trauma, so you wasn´t really thinking strait."

Alex looked around to see if anyone was nearby when that wasn´t the case he continued. "Yeah but I wanted to use the Cruciatus Curse, just like Voldemort would have wanted" Daphne flinched, but Alex continued still not telling how close he how close he had been to cast the forbidden curse. "And now I suddenly have immunity to Imperius Curse something he mostly has as well.

"The difference is you did what you did because of your love to your mother. You-Know-Who never would have done that." Daphne said.

"You know that isn´t the only thing. I am not a good person. Would a good person not care what happened to some innocent muggle children. I only imagined that it was Daniel that was up there, sometimes it feels like that I need a reason to like a muggle not hate them."

"Listen Alex, I found it strange you acted like you did during the World Cup, but even if you hate muggles. Then it still a choice to hurt them for no reason. As for the hate part well maybe it something you need to work on. I mean the muggle-borns here have good parents, maybe Daniel was just one of their worst kinds just as Nott represent the worst of the Slytherins."

Alex smiled a bit, "that is one way of looking at it."

"It is the way to look at it. I know you're smart enough to know that not every muggle is bad. You just need the time to see it yourself. Tell me; don´t you feel a bit bad over what happened to the muggles at the world cup?"

"Well uh I suppose I would have wished that I cared more. I mean in retrospect the muggles never had bothered me."

Daphne smiled, "that doesn´t really sound like a person that doesn´t care if innocent people – innocent children are attacked without a reason."

"But I didn´t cared when it happened."

"No you didn´t cared," Daphne said grabbing Alex´s left arm. "I cared about what happened, but you wasn´t the only one that didn´t. However the choice about being an evil madman is a choice, not a feeling of not caring. And as I have said you were still dealing with the knowledge of what your stepfather had done."

"I suppose." Alex said just before his stomach growled.

Daphne grinned, "yeah I am pretty hungry too – want to get some food?"

Alex nodded, "Yeah and thanks for the talk Daph."

"What are friends for?"

…

As the two friends arrived in the Entrance Hall they were surprised that a large crowd blocked their path. It turned out that everybody was gathered around a sign that had been erected at the foot of the marble staircase. They quickly found Blaise and Tracey.

"What is happing out here?" Daphne asked.

As they got closer, they all could read what was written on the sign.

TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT

THE DELEGATIONS FROM BEAUXBATONS AND DURMSTRANG WILL BE ARRIVING AT 6 O'CLOCK ON FRIDAY THE 30TH OF OCTOBER. LESSONS WILL END HALF AN HOUR EARLY –

"Aw," Tracey whinnied. "Then we miss out on most of the potion lesson."

"Yeah but at least the Gryffindors won´t get poisoned."

Alex looked at Blaise, "I don´t recall that Snape mentioned a specific house."

"Yeah but think about it Alex." Blaise answered. "Do you really think he will poison us Slytherin over your Gryffindors?" Everyone laughed.

"But I wonder who actually will compete in the tournament?" Daphne looking around.

"Well most of the boys that can enter from our house have said that they want to do it." Tracey said, "and I heard that Susan Bones talking with Hannah that Cedric was planning to enter."

"Cedric?"

"Diggory," Tracey said to Alex, "you know Hufflepuff sixth year."

"Oh please," Blaise, snorted, "can´t we have a better representative then him."

"Don´t underestimate him." Daphne said without looking. "From what I heard he is a top mark student and can back it up in the real world. What about you Alex does any of your Gryffindors want to try out?"

"Well I only heard that Fred and George wants to see if they can get in." Alex answered.

The appearance of the sign in the entrance hall had a marked effect upon the inhabitants of the castle. During the following week, there seemed to be only one topic of conversation, no matter where Alex went was the Triwizard Tournament.

Rumours were flying from student to student like highly contagious germs: who was going to try for Hogwarts champion, what the tournament would involve, how the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang differed from themselves. Alex also noticed that the castle seemed to be undergoing an extra-thorough cleaning. Several grimy portraits had been scrubbed, much to the displeasure of their subjects, who sat huddled in their frames muttering darkly and wincing as they felt their raw pink faces. The suits of armour were suddenly gleaming and moving without squeaking, and Argus Filch, the caretaker, was behaving so ferociously to any students who forgot to wipe their shoes that he terrified a pair of first-year girls into hysterics. Other members of the staff seemed oddly tense too.

"Longbottom, kindly do not reveal that you can't even perform a simple Switching Spell in front of anyone from Durmstrang!" Professor McGonagall barked at the end of one particularly difficult lesson, during which Neville had accidentally transplanted his own ears onto a cactus, leaving Alex to set him straight again.

When Alex and Neville went down to breakfast on the morning of the thirtieth of October, they found that the Great Hall had been decorated overnight. Enormous silk banners hung from the walls, each of them representing a Hogwarts House: red with a gold lion for Gryffindor, blue with a bronze eagle for Ravenclaw, yellow with a black badger for Hufflepuff, and green with a silver serpent for Slytherin. Behind the teachers' table, the largest banner of all bore the Hogwarts coat of arms: lion, eagle, badger, and snake united around a large letter H.

Alex whistled, "Wow that is impressive."

Neville nodded as Fred and George came by whispering to each other, "I can´t believe that he just ignore us." Fred hissed but stopped as he saw Alex were looking at them. "Hey Alex what is up?"

"Nothing much, what is up with you?"

"Nothing or actually I was wondering if we could borrow Archimedes."

The request took Alex by surprise, but didn´t change the fact that he wanted to help the twins. "Sure, but may I ask why?"

Fred and George shared a look then George said, "We need him to send a letter to someone who started to ignore our owls, as we know yours is more persistent."

"But we rather not say who, not yet anyway." Fred added.¨

"Oh okay, but sure you can borrow him, he is out hunting right now, but when he get back. – You not in any kind of trouble are you?"

"No," Fred and George said in unison then George continued, "No not at all - no worries. But thanks for letting us borrow you owl."

"No prop."

The twins continued towards the Gryffindor table leaving a puzzled Alex and Neville behind. "Wonder what that was about?" Neville asked.

Alex shrugged although he wonder if it had anything to do with their joke shop. Then he and Neville followed Fred and George who were talking to Harry, Hermione and Ron. On his way down Alex passed Chris that was sitting on the opposite side, he gave Alex a polite smile however Alex ignored him, thinking it was the best way to handle this.

"You two have any ideas on the Triwizard Tournament yet?" Alex could hear Harry ask Fred and George as he got nearer. "Thought any more about trying to enter?"

"I asked McGonagall how the champions are chosen but she wasn't telling," George said bitterly. "She just told me to shut up and get on with transfiguring my raccoon."

"Wonder what the tasks are going to be?" Ron said thoughtfully. "You know, I bet we could win, Harry. We've done dangerous stuff before…" Alex snorted and rolled his eyes while he was sure that he and Harry could survive in the tournament, he knew that Ron wouldn't stand a chance.

Fred seemed to share Alex´s opinion. "Even if that was the case, you haven´t done it in front of some judges."

"So do you know who the judges will be?"

"That is not a secret. Some of them is always three headmasters of the school." Alex said and was surprised that everyone was looking at him. "Well it true. In 1792 all of them were injured when a when a cockatrice the champions were supposed to be catching went on the rampage, as for the other judges I think they are from the host country ministry." Alex paused and saw that some was wondering where he knew all that. He rolled his eyes and answered. "What it is one of the more interesting things in Hogwarts a History."

"I am not that sure that book is reliable Alexander." Hermione said hardly.

"Sorry what?"

"I reread it and there isn´t a house elf mentioned ones. Not a single word that Hogwarts is cleaned by slaves!"

"Not this again Hermione. Listen they like how it is."

"They are brainwashed and brainwashed into thinking they need to be enslaved on order to live."

Alex rolled his eyes as he helped himself to some scrambled eggs and bacon. He had tried telling Hermione the truth but she wouldn't listen. It wasn´t because he was against the idea of treating the house elves better, but since she wanted to free the house elves he had refused to pay until she did her research. Harry and Ron had brought a S.P.E.W badge though, mostly to keep her from bugging their money had been wasted if anything, they seemed to have made Hermione more vociferous. She had been badgering Harry and Ron ever since, first to wear the badges, and she had also taken to rattling around the Gryffindor common room every evening, cornering people and shaking the collecting tin under their noses.

"You do realize that your sheets are changed, your fires lit, your classrooms cleaned, and your food cooked by a group of magical creatures who are unpaid and enslaved?" she kept saying fiercely.

So far the only active members of S.P.E.W was the golden trio, the others that were members had mostly paid to keep her from bothering them.

Ron now rolled his eyes at the ceiling, which was flooding them all in autumn sunlight, and Fred became extremely interested in his bacon (both twins had refused to buy a S.P.E.W. badge). George, however, leaned in toward Hermione.

"Listen, have you ever been down in the kitchens, Hermione?"

"No, of course not," said Hermione curtly, "I hardly think students are supposed to -"

"Well, we have," said George, indicating Fred, "loads of times, to nick food. And we've met them, and they're happy. They think they've got the best job in the world -"

"And remember," Alex said in a tired voice, "payment would ruin the magical contract."

"How do you know that is the truth Alex? And them liking it. That is because they're uneducated and brainwashed!" Hermione began hotly, but her next few words were drowned out by the sudden whooshing noise from overhead, which announced the arrival of the post owls. Alex kept eating food, not expecting a letter as nearly everyone else got a letter. Therefore Alex was surprised as his owl, Archimedes, dropped a letter on his plate, at the same time Hedwig dropped at a letter at Harry´s lab.

Alex grabbed his letter and opened it curious who it was from.

Hello Alexander

I just wanted to let you know that I am back in the country and have gone into hiding. I wanted to ask you a favour. I want you to tell me about everything that happens at Hogwarts and to keep an eye at Harry. I know that he want to try keep things from me so that I won´t worry, but let me knew if you even suspects that something is wrong.

However don´t want you to keep using Archimedes each time, use some of the school owls.

Padfoot

Alex crushed the letter in his hands, Harry! It was always about Harry. Why did Sirius never ask about him? Alex knew that he shouldn't let it bother him, but it still did.

"Something wrong?" Neville asked.

"Nothing Nev it was just a letter from my grandfather."

"Why crush it?"

"Huh?" Alex looked at the letter not realizing that was what he had done, "no reason." Alex stroked Archimedes´ feathers as he whispered to him. "Thanks for the letter, now I need you to let Fred and George borrow you for a while. Is that okay? They will come get you when it is time."

The owl hooted and flew to the Owlery to rest up and get ready to the new mission. Alex stood up as well as he wasn´t feeling hungry anymore. He had just reached the staircase when he heard Harry calling. "Hey Alex wait up."

Alex turned and waited for Harry to catch up with him. "Yes."

"The letter you got, was it from Sirius?" As Alex didn´t answer Harry continue. "He wrote me and asked me to keep my eyes open and be careful. I am pretty sure that he is worried about us." Harry smiled and continued. "It still feels weird that someone is worried about me."

Alex signed at Harry´s willingness to give up all that information out here. "Yes it was from him."

"What did he say to you?"

Alex´s eyes flickered "Nothing." He snapped, but continued in a friendlier tone as he saw the hurt look on Harry´s face, and realized that is irritation at Harry was unfair. "He said pretty much the same and make sure that you were safe."

"Yeah he told me to look after you too." Harry said, but Alex could tell that he was lying.

"Right then we better do that."

Harry nodded, "yup but honestly what can happen this year?"¨

Alex laughed a bit, "Yeah you already had the possessed teacher, killer snake and a traitor rat. But look I have to get up and pack."

"Wait shouldn't you had some breakfast?"

"No," Alex said slowly. "I am not really that hungry."

…

The days lessons passed quickly, it seemed that most of the teachers had decided against to have that much hard-core teaching and instead had the class redo some fun spells, every teacher expect Snape, who was determined to make up for the missing teaching time by having his students work twice as hard. Nonetheless it was nice since was a pleasant feeling of anticipation in the air that day, one that even Snape couldn't ruin. Once the bell finally rang ending to potion lesson, Alex and Neville bid Daphne, Blaise and Tracey farewell and went for the Gryffindor common room to drop their bags, only to rushed back downstairs into the entrance hall.

The Heads of Houses were ordering their students into lines.

"Weasley, straighten your collar," Professor McGonagall snapped at Ron. "Miss Patil, take that ridiculous thing out of your hair."

Parvati scowled and removed a large ornamental butterfly from the end of her plait.

"Follow me, please," said Professor McGonagall. "First years in front… no pushing…"

They filed down the steps and lined up in front of the castle. It was a cold, clear evening; dusk was falling and a pale, transparent-looking moon was already shining over the Forbidden Forest. Alex, standing between Neville and the Hufflepuff or Susan and Hannah to be more praise.

"Nearly six," Hannah said, checking her watch and then staring down the drive that led to the front gates. "How d'you reckon they're coming? The train?"

"No I don´t think so, I think they will want to show off. Neville said, "but maybe some will come on broomsticks and show off by flying in formation.

"Well portkey and apparateing is out of the question." Susan said, "I doubt the wards have been removed."

"Well they could be," Alex said. "It is a special occasion, but I think you are right. They will come by something else."

"Yes, I don´t recall reading about any schools traveling that way anyway."

"What do you think?" Neville, asked.

Alex shrugged, "No idea – maybe a flying car." He said making Neville, Susan and Hannah laugh as they all remembered how Harry and Ron had arrived in their second year.

They scanned the darkening grounds excitedly, but nothing was moving; everything was still, silent, and quite as usual. Alex was starting to feel cold. He wished they'd hurry up. He was sure that Neville would be right the foreign students show up in a dramatic entrance.

And then Dumbledore called out from the back row where he stood with the other teachers - "Aha! Unless I am very much mistaken, the delegation from Beauxbatons approaches!"

"Where?" said many students eagerly, all looking in different directions.

"There!" Alex heard Mellissa Robinson yell. He turned and saw her pointing over the forest.

Something large, much larger than a broomstick - or, indeed, a hundred broomsticks - was hurtling across the deep blue sky toward the castle, growing larger all the time.

"It's a dragon!" shrieked one of the first years.

"Don't be stupid… it's a flying house!" said Dennis Creevey.

Dennis's guess was closer…

As the gigantic black shape skimmed over the treetops of the Forbidden Forest and the lights shining from the castle windows hit it, they saw a gigantic, powderblue, horse-drawn carriage, the size of a large house, soaring toward them, pulled through the air by a dozen winged horses, all palominos, and each the size of an elephant.

The front three rows of students drew backward as the carriage hurtled ever lower, coming in to land at a tremendous speed - then, with an almighty crash that made Neville jump backward and hit the ground. A second later, the carriage landed too, bouncing upon its vast wheels, while the golden horses tossed their enormous heads and rolled large, fiery red eyes.

Alex quickly helped Neville back to his feet and turned just in time to see that the door of the carriage bore a coat of arms (two crossed, golden wands, each emitting three stars) open. A boy in pale blue robes jumped down from the carriage, bent forward, fumbled for a moment with something on the carriage floor, and unfolded a set of golden steps. He sprang back respectfully. Then Alex saw a shining, high-heeled black shoe emerging from the inside of the carriage - a shoe the size of a child's sled - followed, almost immediately, by the largest woman he had ever seen in his life. The size of the carriage, and of the horses, was immediately explained. A few people gasped.

Alex had only ever seen one person as large as this woman in his life, and that was Hagrid; he doubted whether there was an inch difference in their heights. Yet somehow - maybe simply because they were used to Hagrid - this woman (now at the foot of the steps, and looking around at the waiting, wide-eyed crowd) seemed even more unnaturally large. As she stepped into the light flooding from the entrance hall, she was revealed to have a handsome, olive-skinned face; large, black, liquid-looking eyes; and a rather beaky nose. Her hair was drawn back in a shining knob at the base of her neck. She was dressed from head to foot in black satin, and many magnificent opals gleamed at her throat and on her thick fingers.

Dumbledore started to clap; the students, following his lead, broke into applause too, many of them standing on tiptoe, the better to look at this woman.

Her face relaxed into a gracious smile and she walked forward toward Dumbledore, extending a glittering hand. Dumbledore, though tall himself, had barely to bend to kiss it.

"My dear Madame Maxime," he said. "Welcome to Hogwarts."

"Dumbly-dorr," said Madame Maxime in a deep voice. "I 'ope I find you well?"

"In excellent form, I thank you," Dumbledore said.

"My pupils," said Madame Maxime, waving one of her enormous hands carelessly behind her.

Alex, whose attention had been focused completely upon Madame Maxime, now noticed that about a dozen boys and girls, all, by the look of them, they were their late teens. They had emerged from the carriage and were now standing behind Madame Maxime. They were shivering, which was unsurprising, given that their robes seemed to be made of fine silk, and none of them were wearing cloaks. A few had wrapped scarves and shawls around their heads. Alex noticed that some of the girls were very pretty.

Most of the Beauxbatons students were looking at Hogwarts with apprehensive looks on their faces. Which were weird what was wrong with Hogwarts.

"'As Karkaroff arrived yet?" Madame Maxime asked.

"He should be here any moment," said Dumbledore. "Would you like to wait here and greet him or would you prefer to step inside and warm up a trifle?"

"Warm up, I think," said Madame Maxime. "But ze 'orses -"

"Our Care of Magical Creatures teacher will be delighted to take care of them," said Dumbledore, "the moment he has returned from dealing with a slight situation that has arisen with some of his other - er - charges."

"My steeds require - er - forceful 'andling," said Madame Maxime, looking as though she doubted whether any Care of Magical Creatures teacher at Hogwarts could be up to the job.

"Hagrid can handle anything."

"Zey are very strong…"

"I assure you that Hagrid will be well up to the job," said Dumbledore, smiling.

"Very well," said Madame Maxime, bowing slightly. "Will you please inform zis 'Agrid zat ze 'orses drink only single-malt whiskey?"

"It will be attended to," said Dumbledore, also bowing.

"Come," said Madame Maxime imperiously to her students, and the Hogwarts crowd parted to allow her and her students to pass up the stone steps.

"I wonder if Durmstrang's horses are that big or they are bit cuter?" Hannah said as she looked back at Alex and the others.

"I hope cuter, "Alex said softly. "If they are any bigger than Hagrid might end up in trouble."

"I wonder if he be able to handle those." Susan said. "I mean he have to deal with the skrewts. Wonder how it is going with them."

"I don´t know but I be happy if they escaped." Alex said softly, "that would be a dream come true."

"Would it really? Think about it – now we at least know where they are." Susan said, "if they escaped they could be everywhere."

"Thanks Sue. Now I know I have nightmares tonight" Hannah exclaimed.

They stood, shivering slightly now, waiting for the Durmstrang party to arrive. Most people were gazing hopefully up at the sky.

For a few minutes, the silence was broken only by Madame Maxime's huge horses snorting and stamping. But then - "Can you hear something?" Ron suddenly yelled. Alex listened; a loud and oddly eerie noise was drifting toward them from out of the darkness: a muffled rumbling and sucking sound, as though an immense vacuum cleaner were moving along a riverbed.

"The lake!" yelled Lee Jordan, pointing towards the lake. "Look at the lake!"

From their position at the top of the lawns overlooking the grounds, they had a clear view of the smooth black surface of the water - except that the surface was suddenly not smooth at all. Some disturbance was taking place deep in the centre; great bubbles were forming on the surface, waves were now washing over the muddy banks - and then, out in the very middle of the lake, a whirlpool appeared, as if a giant plug had just been pulled out of the lake's floor… What seemed to be a long, black pole began to rise slowly out of the heart of the whirlpool… and then Alex saw the rigging…

"It's a mast!" Susan said loudly.

Slowly, magnificently, the ship rose out of the water, gleaming in the moonlight. It had a strangely skeletal look about it, as though it were a resurrected wreck, and the dim, misty lights shimmering at its portholes looked like ghostly eyes.

Finally, with a great sloshing noise, the ship emerged entirely, bobbing on the turbulent water, and began to glide toward the bank. A few moments later, they heard the splash of an anchor being thrown down in the shallows, and the thud of a plank being lowered onto the bank.

People were disembarking; they could see their silhouettes passing the lights in the ship's portholes. All of them, Alex noticed, seemed to be built along the lines of Crabbe and Goyle… but then, as they drew nearer, walking up the lawns into the light streaming from the entrance hall, he saw that their bulk was really due to the fact that they were wearing cloaks of some kind of shaggy, matted fur. But the man who was leading them up to the castle was wearing furs of a different sort: sleek and silver, like his hair. Alex clenched his fist slightly he had met Karkaroff before, and the man could match Malfoy senior in arrogance. He had been one of the reason that Alex had begged his mother to go to Hogwarts instead of Durmstrang. Well that and the fact he didn´t want to run in to his cousin. At the thought of his cousin, Alex paled. Silan couldn't be here could he? – Alex tried scanning each new face to see if one of them belonged to Silan, but most of the students from Durmstrang had their faces covered. Alex cursed that he couldn't remember exactly how old his cousin was or rather what day it was his birthday.

"Dumbledore!" Karkaroff called heartily as he walked up the slope. "How are you, my dear fellow, how are you?"

"Blooming, thank you, Professor Karkaroff," Dumbledore replied. Karkaroff had a fruity, unctuous voice; when he stepped into the light pouring from the front doors of the castle he showed his tall and thin figure his white hair was short, and his goatee (finishing in a small curl) did not entirely hide his rather weak chin. When he reached Dumbledore, he shook hands with both of his own.

"Dear old Hogwarts," he said, looking up at the castle and smiling; his teeth were rather yellow. Alex clearly saw how fake the smile was.

"How good it is to be here, how good… Viktor, come along, into the warmth… you don't mind, Dumbledore? Viktor has a slight head cold…"

Karkaroff beckoned forward one of his students. As the boy passed, Alex caught a glimpse of a prominent curved nose and thick black eyebrows, and soon exited voices and gasps came from everywhere. Alex too was a bit impressed, Victor Krum the Bulgarian seeker was at his school.

….

Chapter end.

That is it for this chapter I hope you liked it. Please leave a review that helps my motivation. A big thanks to those who have already have reviewed.