Hey everyone,
Just starting this chapter feels like a breather compared to last one. And that while I am not even all that much of a fan of Goblet. Still, I will honestly say that, other than the starting point, I have no idea where this chapter will go. Then again, sometimes you need notes to write stories, sometimes you just need to let your muse take the story.
This is the latter,

Venquine1990


Chapter 44
The School Year Begins

3rd of November 1993
Great Hall, Hogwarts
Jeremy's POV

"Reg, Sev, what happened? Shortly after Fudge took her to the office, did that weird pink woman storm out of the office again. I had to summon a few of the students who had stood up on hearing her rampaging heels clatter on the floor because she would have rammed them over for being in the way. Why was she so annoyed?"
Uncle James asks as our little discussion returns to the Great Hall and mother says: "Let's just say that I kept her from sweet-talking me with false words and lies and that she didn't like that, James. All I can say, for now, is that her very position at the Ministry is just more evidence of the power the MMB has over Magical England."

Yet while this makes the man worry, do I notice Madam Bones having reached the book and the pedestal it is on. She turns the page and seems to read the chapter title before she says: "Looks like you're best to be next, Frank. Either you or Alice." And instantly the two share a concerned look before Lord Longbottom says:
"I'll do it. It's about that imposter, isn't it?" Madam Bones sighs and says: "Certainly looks that way. The chapter title is his name, after all." The man nods and receives a kiss of reassurance from his wife before he moves over to replace the Head of the DMLE. And seeing what we discussed just now, do I feel great respect for her.
The woman had been an incredible negotiator and actually made my parents give in a few times, but was unable to do so all the time and honorably accepted some of their terms as well. And while I am sure that the others, Isaac especially, will be happy with the contract we set up, do I sit down, ready to listen to another chapter.

Mad-Eye Moody … Triwizard Tournament.

This makes Mrs. Weasley glare at the two, but then Irma pulls a new note out of her file and she reads They were the smartest of them all. Others both had ideas that were much crazier and just didn't know when to quit. The woman looks shocked, but then smiles at the astonished looking twins with proud smiles as Uncle Frank reads on.

"Today's not … extremely annoying.

"You really need to switch classes, mate." I tell my Squad member, who nods and then turns to a professor that has long straight black hair of which parts are combed to hang in front of both of her shoulders and he asks: "Am I too late, professor?" The woman shrugs and says: "I will test you later." Harry nods and Uncle Frank reads on.

"You should … Hermione haughtily.

"Hate to say it, girlfriend, but you're probably going to waste your time. You're just a student, Hermione. One of thousands upon thousands that pass the House Elves line of sight and attention over the decades. They just don't pay attention to individuals anymore or consider them their owners. Only the teachers have that right."
Uncle Remus tells the girl and she asks: "So, so say I – I learn to knit or sow or something of the like and leave what I created behind for the House-Elves to find?" The man shrugs and says: "It will just be like you not eating. It'll be seen as an insult, nothing more." The girl sighs and her parents hug her close to comfort her as Frank reads on.

"Yeah… and … his letter?

This seems to startle some of the students, proving they had completely forgotten that Harry had sent his father a letter in just the second chapter. Sirius himself just pulls his son close and says: "I sincerely doubt that, kiddo. I'm probably just really far away, is all." Harry nods, smiling at the caring man as the man's friend reads on.

His preoccupation … the end."

This makes the girl in question wince, yet I notice that she doesn't seem to have any pimples. "Guess you just got warned ahead of time. Now you know that you're going to get pimples, but you also know to just head for the Hospital Wing when that happens." A friend of hers says and the girl nods in relief, making Uncle Frank smile and read on.

A booming … of it!"

"That – doesn't sound like a project for Fourth years. I'd sooner say late Fifth, maybe early Sixth?" Sirius says, an eyebrow raised in curiosity as he hears this, but then he shrugs and says: "What do I know? I've never heard of them before anyway." And most of his friends nod, proving they haven't either before Frank reads on.

"And why … at once?"

"Actually, I can think of a few instances and organizations that might be interested." Rosaline says and the Malfoys look at her shocked before she starts to count down: "Banks, to guard their treasures. Prisons, to keep their prisoners in check. The black market, to intimidate victims." And while I agree with the girl, does Frank read on.

"Just because … the better.

At this the man rubs the back of his head and Sirius sighs as he says: "As long as you remember that your skills do not count for everyone, that you need to keep skill level in mind and that you take proper precaution and care of both your students and subject, I don't see the problem." Malfoy rolls his eyes and Uncle Frank reads on.

"Well, at … us all."

"That's a little harsh. I would definitely move them out of Hogwarts before they get unable to be handled by the students, but I wouldn't just outright off them. Though I do hope you'll take Sirius' advice to heart and leave these critters to the Sixth years, Hagrid." Alice tells the ComC teacher, who nods as her husband reads on.

They sat … saw him.

"As you should." James suddenly growls and only then do I notice that the man has actually been glaring at the woman ever since we read of Harry and Ron going up to the North Tower. And the glare that he is giving her is filled with such a hatred, I wonder how he's not Edena's mother as well before Frank sighs and reads on.

The usual … you think…"

"If you don't start leaving my son alone, whatever you dread will come to pass – and then come to haunt your sorry ass to boot as well." James growls at the woman, who seems ready to bolt out of her seat. "James?" Professor Dumbledore asks and James growls: "Later." At which his uncle nods before his friend continues to read.

Her voice … hacking cough.

Yet James is glaring even worse at this and he growls: "I will not forget that. You just signed your own death contract with that. I will not ever forget that, woman." And when the woman whimpers: "This is the future." Does James snap: "So you think this is the first time that you said those horrid words Do you?"
The woman is shaking something awful and then Harry asks: "Mum?" And just the sound of the boy's voice seems to knock the man out of his anger and instead he turns sad on such a level it almost looks as if he just lost a member of his family. "I met her, kiddo. Midwinter when I was pregnant of you. I met her and – she said the same thing.
Not – not – not even the next day, did I almost lose you. Something happened and to this day I still don't know what and – and it injured me bad enough I had to go to St. Mungo's. But the Blacks were there as well as Bella had been injured in a fight and – and I didn't dare run into them. I didn't dare let them see what I was like."

He then looks up and meets Lily's eyes, who is smiling at him, her face showing how much she wants to sit at his side and reassure him before he says: "If – if Lily hadn't studied any and all potential spells and potions needed to keep a pregnant person healthy, I would have lost you that day. Which was right in the middle – of midwinter."
Everyone looks at this astounded and horrified and then James glares back at the trembling woman as he growls: "And that is something I will never forget. And the fact that you are calling out to my son's misfortune in life. You're dead to me, Sybill Trelawney. Just dead." And I can tell the others agree with him as Frank reads on.

Half an … the class.

"It wasn't Uranus." Irma says with a roll of her eyes before she sighs and asks: "Professor Dumbledore, how old does one have to be to be a teacher here?" The man looks shocked, but then smiles and says: "I will have a word with you and Xeno about that at our next break, dear." Irma nods and Frank reads on.

"A detailed … about something.

"You really have nothing better to do, do you? Do you really have no interests other than making your own cousin's life miserable? I mean, seriously, what is your problem? Are you trying to replicate Dudley or something?" Elena asks her younger brother, who looks at her horrified over the last one before Frank reads on.

"What?" said … embarrassing scene.

"Because anyone who needs to have it explained that such afairs are the duty of the Ministry in the first place aren't even smart enough to graze the halls of Hogwarts, let alone worth the time of those who actually have a working set of brains." Isaac deadpans and this startles students before some of them snort and laugh as Frank reads on.

"And there's … with her?"

This makes Mr. Malfoy glare at the boy, but his wife is looking at her son and asks: "Tell me Draco, how is it your Lion of a cousin can make insults more worthy of a member of our House and line than you, a Snake that has been raised as such since birth?" Her son and husband look at her horrified and Harry smirks as Frank reads on.

Malfoy's pale … been standing.

Here Frank stops, but I can tell that this part angers him and he snaps: "No one dare laugh. Alastor would never stoop that low. That is the work of a Death Eater. There is actually a Death Eater inside Hogwarts." And while this reminds me of the last book, how another had been sleeping in Harry's dorm, does the man angrily read on.

There was … once more.

"I recognize this. I – I know it from somewhere. Urgh, my long time staying in bed with my mind just utterly blank is working against me. I can remember the most vital things, but stuff from the war is still too vague. I know this is the method of one particular Death Eater, but – I can't remember which." Frank moans before he reads on.

"I don't … to do …"

"He's trying too hard. Alastor does dislike that, but he doesn't outright hate it. He recognizes that it's necessary, at least if you're in a life or death situation and it can help you escape it. Though he definitely wouldn't have condoned it here. Though he wouldn't do this either." Alice sighs as she finishes her statement and her husband reads.

The ferret … upward again.

"That is just wrong." Edena growls and she goes on: "Don't get me wrong, kid. What you've been doing so far really isn't any better, but you at least went after those who, more or less, could defend themselves. You yourself got that chance taken from you here. That's just wrong." Draco looks at her astounded and Frank reads on.

"Professor Moody … still higher.

"And more evidence. It really is just piling up. Though this sick bastard sure knows how to hide it. Seems he has experience with that." Frank mutters and Professor McGonagall looks at him at which Alice says: "You and Alastor are actually quite close. Alastor thinks of you like his little sister." The woman looks startled and Frank reads on.

"What – what … will it?"

Isaac's eyes widen, yet it's Joshua who speaks up and says: "That's not a warning, it's a promise. This is someone who just made a promise to Mr. Malfoy that he will keep Malfoy junior safe. That he will watch his back and make sure he won't get himself in more trouble." Everyone looks at this shocked and Frank grimaces as he reads on.

"Yes," said … bouncing ferret."

This makes Mr. Malfoy glare at the boy, but Sirius rolls his eyes and says: "Give me a break. We were way worse on – right, not enemies, just rivals. Damn, these memories are confusing." And the man shakes his head, actually resembling his Animagus form as he does so and Frank looks at the man in concern before he reads on.

Harry and … disappointed voice.

Yet the boy himself seems to disagree with his book-self and mutters: "I really hope we won't have too many DADA classes that year." At which Uncle Remus smiles and says: "I will try my best to stay here until next year, Ron. How does that sound." And together with his brothers, Ron shouts: "Please, do! Please!" Startling the man.
The others laugh, but I notice that Frank has yet to lose his grimace and he says: "I don't like this. We only got a preview of the fake, but nothing more. I – I'm not sure I want to know what his lesson will be like.""And the fact that we can't remember which Death Eater uses that punishment method isn't helping either." His wife mutters.
The man nods, but then Irma says: "Actually, it does. Hear me out! We need to remember what Harry of the future wrote. How much we've already figured out at this point. If we also figure out who this person is, we will just make the entire book pointless." The two grimace at this, but they still nod, giving the girl right.


Dang, that sucks.
Okay, I'll be real with you guys. I was utterly uninterested with this chapter, especially when I realized that it wasn't going to actually include Moody's actual class. To be honest, I consider this just one of those chapters that prove why this is one of the weaker entries in the HP franchise. Barely anything significant happened.
The most important of it all was the introduction of the Skrewts, though I do hope I managed to bring equal levels of importance to the rest of the chapter. Also yes, James has more than one reason to hate Sybill. He just didn't mention it in the last book, because he was too happy to be back with his family to care.
Next chapter: Frank and Alice get a really painful reminder of what happened to them and a new reason to despise the fake-Moody. Yet at the same time will Neville, Rosaline and Rosemary get a chance to grow even closer to the people they have wanted back in their lives the entire time, even if they didn't actually know them.
Let's do this,

Venquine1990