A new year begins

The rest of the train ride was fairly uneventful. The twins tried to apologize for their brother, only to be told the apology would have to come from him. Adding that it would have to be sincere had their faces falling, before acknowledging it was only fair. Ginny tried to visit, but her apparent inability to speak to Hermione, focusing just on Harry, quickly saw to her departure. The Trolley witch made her rounds at lunch, and Neville taught the pair that she not only sold sweets, but lunches as well. A filling meal of roast chicken and potatoes later, and everyone settled in to relax. As darkness began to fall, Hermione expelled the boys so she could change, before letting them do the same. Though embarrassed that they did change one at a time, ensuring she was never alone outside the compartment, she did feel a bit of gratitude over the gesture.

Hogsmeade station was the same as it was every year, packed with teens and their baggage. Harry and Hermione held hands so as not to lose each other in the throng. They stopped to say hello to Hagrid, who made them promise to visit soon, and joined Neville at the carriages. They managed to get a carriage with Neville and Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott from Hufflepuff for the ride up. The pair of puffs were nice, only complimenting Hermione's ears and asking how she dealt with her tail.

"It was hard at first," Hermione explained carefully, as said tail curled over Harry's shoulder. "I had to keep it in a special wrap. But now it's not as bad, I just have to remember not to let anyone sit on it."

"I see," Susan said blushing a bit, "And what about…" She paused, glancing meaningfully at the boys. "How do you…"

"That," Hermione said exasperated, "Will not be mentioned. Ever."

"Sorry about her," Hannah said quickly, "She has no filter."

"It's ok, Hannah," Hermione sighed, "I understand curiosity, but I'm not talking about it."

The rest of the ride was in companionable, if awkward silence. The Hufflepuff girls obviously wanted to know more, but were afraid to ask, settling for disconcerting looks at Hermione. Harry's hand squeezing hers reassured Hermione that while he may not know what happened, he supported her. She smiled back, basking in his support.

There was a noticeable, if minor, drop in the general murmur of conversation as they entered the Great Hall for the feast. Hermione paused as she saw many eyes turn towards her, seeming to appraise or evaluate her. Harry pulled her onward and found them seats along the outside of the Gryffindor table. He'd debated sitting on the inside, with their backs to the hall, but figured that while seeing all the stares might be bad, seeing any hexes or someone positioning to pull Hermione's tail was worth it.

Neville sat on Hermione's other side, while the twins shared a look before leaving their friends to join then across the table. Harry nodded his thanks to the terrible twosome before the hall quieted, signaling the start of the Sorting.

Professor McGonagall led the tiny first years, awe plastered over their faces, to the front of the hall. Several looked nervous, looking around like they were looking for a threat.

"Were we ever that small?" Harry asked quietly, trying to distract Hermione.

Hermione, of course, realized what Harry was doing, but smiled despite it. "Yes Harry, we were. As I recall, you were even smaller."

Harry grinned back, knowing he'd been caught. He'd never expected to actually get away with it, but he was happy now that Hermione had relaxed a bit. Nodding towards the sorting hat, they turned to wait for his annual song.

Another year has come and gone

And now there's sorting to be done

And as before, in those years past

Once more must the die be cast

But this year, like none before

Must you hear this warning in your core

Listen wiley Slytherin

Keep ambition within

Ravenclaws young and old

With knowledge you cannot hold

Hufflepuffs, with all your care

Must think before you dare

And Gryffindors so bold

Learn from days of old

There is much in balance these days ahead

Friendships shall keep you in good stead

Friends from far and near

Hold close what you hold dear

Now the doom and gloom are gone

There's sorting to be done!

The hall stilled in shock for a moment as the unusual warning from the Sorting Hat rang through the halls. A dull murmur started up, as neighbor turned to neighbor to try to decipher the words. Harry turned to look at Hermione, then nodded to her slight shake of the head. She didn't know either. They sat and watched, cheering each new Gryffindor, each reflecting on the happenings of the last year, and the year ahead. The food came and went, and they waited for the big announcement. Both Mr. Weasley and Percy had hinted at some big to-do at Hogwarts, yet refused to tell them.

"Your attention, please." Dumbledore called, rising to stand at his podium. "Now that we've all eaten our fill, there are a few start of term announcements to make. First off, the new students are warned that the forest on the grounds is off limits to all students, and a few of the older students would do well to remember that as well. Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to inform you he has added Fanged Frisbees, Quivering Quills, Ever-bashing Boomerangs, and several other items to the banned items list, the full 487 item list is posted outside his office."

"Oh goody, new ideas," whispered one twin.

"Time to pay another visit," confirmed the other.

"In addition, many of you will have noticed a particular student has returned to us uniquely changed from when she left us last year. Miss Granger has unfortunately experienced a partial relapse from her potions mishap two years ago. I warn you now, any action taken towards her in malice because of this will be dealt with most severely. Which reminds me, it has come to my attention that some of you have already made comments about Miss Granger that were most unbecoming. Because of this, Slytherin is docked 40 points."

"That's not fair," Malfoy called loudly over the rumbles from Slytherin, "Assigning point deductions for calling the girl a name before anything was said? That's a gross abuse of power!"

"I agree, Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore responded sagely, "and though i feel any abusive comment a student makes to another should be punishable, the rules do not allow this. Which is why I only deducted 40 points for the use of a most ugly term for one's blood status, and not the additional 150 for referring to Miss Granger as a creature. That shall be the proscribed punishment from now on, If you still think this is unfair, I'd be pleased to discuss proper decorum with you during a detention…"

Malfoys surly "No Sir." was almost drowned out in the hubbub of the point deduction associated with such a comment. 150 points made it the highest prescribed point deduction in the school, even Snape had only ever deducted 100 points at a time. This was cut off as the enchanted ceiling suddenly darkened and lighting crashed across it, startling everyone with the sudden change. From the corner by the anteroom, a jet of light blue lanced at the ceiling, which calmed just as rapidly as it had risen.

The room turned to look at the grizzled, scarred man that had cast the spell. Heavy set and leaning on a staff, Half his nose and his left eye missing, replaced by a rapidly-spinning, obviously magical eye. His wizened hair and scarred face left the observer with the impression this man had seen many dark and deadly things in his life. Dumbledore was obviously expecting him, as he walked over and shook the man's hand as one would greet an old friend.

"That's Mad-eye Moody," one twin mumbled.

"The Auror?" Neville asked with a hint of fear.

"Auror?" Hermione repeated

"Dark wizard catcher," the other twin explained.

"Yeah, half the cells in Azkaban are full due to him." The first rejoined.

"This is Professor Moody; he will be your Defense against the Dark Arts instructor this year." Dumbledore resumed addressing everyone. "And finally, there will be no Quidditch this year."

The hall erupted as every table started complaining and objecting. Dumbledore stood patiently for a few moments, before sending a few cannon-blast spells off to quiet the hall back down.

"As I was saying," he continued, "There will be no Quidditch this year as we will be hosting a rather momentous event this year: The Triwizard Tournament." He again waited for the din to die down.

"Eternal Glory!" He announced loudly, "That is what awaits the winner of this event. However, this is not for the faint of heart. This competition will test you, and should you survive, change you. Because of this danger, the ministry has decreed that no student not of age shall be allowed to compete." The roar was bigger this time, "No enough of this, the other school shall arrive at the end of October, and the champions shall be selected then. Now off to bed."

The pair made their way up to the tower, ignoring the slight distance everyone seemed to be giving them.


The next day was rather stressful for Hermione. She'd managed to escape to her room and behind her curtains fairly quickly the night before, avoiding the inevitable questions of her housemates and especially her roommates. This morning however, it was open season. Parvati and Lavender, the gossip queens of Gryffindor, had tried three times so far to corner her and it was only breakfast. Harry tried to run interference, but he was no match for them. Once she had her schedule, she had hastily retreated, with Harry in tow, to a disused section of the castle.

"You ok?" Harry asked her, drawing her quivering form into a hug.

"I don't know, Harry," She admitted, "I'm trying not to let it get to me, but I'm already fraying and it's not even the first period."

"Well, I'll be with you all day today, it's Charms, Care, and DADA today." Harry reassured her, "The only place I won't be able to follow and protect you is the loo."

"Harry, I don't need…" She trailed off as he drew back slightly so she could see his raised eyebrow. "Okay, maybe I do need some support, at least today."

"Well, you have it every day from me." Harry told her, "Now come on, let's get to class before we're late."

The day actually went fairly smooth after that. Parvati and Lavender had apparently been threatened by Neville, of all people, to lay off Hermione. It was so rare to see the youth so vociferous that the gossip queens had actually paid heed. Professor Flitwick had treated Hermione as he always had, which was to say she earned 10 points by the time class was over. Hagrid had welcomed her warmly, before introducing some weird, never before heard of species called a Skrewt. Neither Harry, nor Hermione, thought they were natural, but couldn't study them very easily as they all seemed to run from them.

After lunch they had DADA, with Moody. They'd heard at lunch to keep their wits about them, he'd apparently scared the sixth year claws something fierce. As Harry approached the door to the classroom, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. Glancing around, he saw nothing to alert him to any danger but grabbed Hermione's elbow and slowed her down, stopping outside the doorway.

"Do you feel that?" He asked quietly, looking about.

Hermione paused, taking in their surroundings. She looked at the doorway and felt her hairs rise too. "Now I do," she confirmed, "the doorway."

"Let's give it a minute." Harry said, pulling her over to an alcove across the hall.

They stayed there for a minute, waiting and studying. They'd realized there were multiple spells active on the doorway. One was the standard attendance charm. They were pretty sure another was a glamour of some kind. There was also an odd smell they could both not identify.

Shortly before the bell, they spotted Malfoy approaching with his guerrillas. They slid deeper into the alcove to watch, but they were still seen.

"Trying to be late for class?" Malfoy sneered, "What's the matter, Granger, can't find a litter box?"

They laughing trio turned into the classroom, and disappeared. Harry's magic sense told him two spells had fired just the other side of the glamour. As no noise came out as the spells triggered, he figured one was a silencing spell. He turned to tell Hermione and saw Ron hurrying from the other direction.

"Ron," He called, "You might want to wait."

"And be late, not bloody…" Ron's response was cut off as he moved through the Glamour. Harry felt the two spells fire off again, and then nothing.

"It seems this is a test," Hermione commented idly, her look that of one in deep thought.

"Indeed it is Miss Granger," Moody's voice came from beyond the glamour, which fell as he spoke to reveal him standing ten feet beyond the doorway. "You may enter now."

"Wait," Said Harry, holding Hermione's arm. "It's not over."

"What do you…" Hermione trailed off, and looked at the arch of the doorway again. "Deprehendere" She cast at the arch, and was rewarded with a trio of glows still circling it.

"We'll enter after you remove the spells that trapped everyone else." Harry told the grinning Professor.

"Do it yourself." he challenged back.

"Hmmf," Hermione grinned, "Harry, shield us, please; it wouldn't surprise me if he booby-trapped the spells. I'll start on the removal."

"Got you," Harry replied, and instead of raising a shield spell, he transfigured a short wall in front of them. Seeing Hermione's questioning look, he merely said "Some spells can't be stopped by Protego."

"Good point, though I'd hope he didn't use any of those, as this is a school, and those tend to be rather nasty curses." Hermione turned back to the archway, "Finite."

The glowing spells in the archway twitched, and two of them vanished with a sharp CRACK. With that crack, two things happened. The silenced students who'd been floating above the doorway came crashing down in a heap. The other was the release of a barrage of red spells straight back at the duo. Ducking behind their wall and a quick Protego to protect them from any breakthroughs and they were fine.

"Very good you two. Five points each." Moody called, looking down at the rest of the class. "As for you lot, let this be a lesson to you, always be on your guard."

A chorus of groans and 'Yes, sir's' answered him. They ambled to their seats, Harry carefully angling Hermione to a corner desk near a wall.

"Mr. Malfoy," Moody grinned at the Slytherin, "If you would please, demonstrate your awareness of past events and repeat to us Professor Dumbledore's warning about malicious verbal attacks to Miss Granger."

"Sir?" The blonde was looking decidedly green in the face.

"The punishment demonstrated by Professor Dumbledore at the feast last night. You do remember it don't you?"

"Yes, sir"

"Well, what was it?"

"40 points sir."

"Not that one, the one he couldn't give because you had not been informed of the rule." Moody Snapped, "The one about referring to her as a creature."

"It was 150 points, sir," Malfoy sighed. He'd managed to keep anyone in Slytherin from discovering it was him who'd been caught calling Granger a mudblood and cost them 40 points. This he wouldn't be able to hide.

"Well, Mr. Malfoy, I won't be taking those points today," Moody said softly, Malfoy missed the Auror's grin as he started to liven up. "Instead, you'll receive a more memorable punishment. Report to this classroom every night after the last class. You'll clean in here, and wherever else I tell you to, until dinner."

"Yes, sir," Malfoy answered before smiling to his goons and continuing softly, "One measly detention? This professor has his head on straight."

"And you apparently do not, Mr. Malfoy." Moody called from the other side of the room, "I said EVERY night. That is every night until you go home for Christmas."

The look on Malfoy's face after that revelation actually had both Harry and Hermione smiling.

As Moody moved about the classroom, lecturing on the need to have 'Constant Vigilance' Harry noted the odd smell he had noticed earlier seemed to emanate from the professor. He tried to identify it, but it wasn't quite like anything he'd smelled before, even in potions. Later, after discussing it with Hermione, who'd also noticed the smell and found it offensive, they decided he must have some potion regimen from his previous injuries that affected his odor. Hermione did note that he made her feel uneasy, like there was something wrong, but since they couldn't say what exactly triggered it, they simply decided to keep an eye open and see if they could find out why.