Chapter 9: Back in Hogwarts

I still had the "Viktor-staying-in-my-house" euphoria until we went shopping for my school things in Diagon Alley. The school letters told that we should bring dress robes. Naturally, as I knew what will be the upcoming event, so I brought the most beautiful robes I have. I told Nikki in a coded letter about the event. She wrote back telling she also knew about the Triwizard tournament from her father; she also did manage to bring robes that fit her perfectly. I wanted to talk to the twins about the coded letters I often exchanged with Nikki, maybe we four can do it in school, in that way no one except for us can find out what we're doing. To my surprise, Viktor wrote to me right before I leave for Hogwarts. In this letter, addressed to me and my parents, he thanked us for the hospitality we showed him and his parents, and he would be more than happy to invite us again over in Bulgaria next summer. My father was rather impressed by this gesture. I winked at my mother and whispered to her that I preferred Viktor rather than the slimy git Draco. Surprisingly, she also approved of him. September first has arrived; I was all packed and ready to meet Nikki in the train station.

"Oi, over here!" Nikki waved at Ianthé in Platform 9 ¾ .

Ianthé was accompanied by her mother, "Remember, Ianthé, of what I told you. Your father would have his way of arranging you to a boy from a prestigious family with immense wealth. What I advise for you to do is convince him to choose the right boy. I reckon you know who I'm talking about." Margeaux winked at her and hugged her tightly, "Take good care of yourself."

"I will, Mum."

"Don't forget to be pretty for the you-know-what!"

"I won't, Mum."

"If you need spells for your make-up and hair, owl me urgently!"

"Mum! I can handle myself!"

Margeaux laughed, "Just checking."

Ianthé hugged her mother once again and walked towards Nikki.

"Wow, I haven't seen your mum like that before! All teary-eyed and emotional, just because you're going to school…"

Ianthé whispered, "I'll tell you everything after we find a compartment."

"So, what exactly happened?" Nikki asked as they sat inside an empty compartment.

"Papa is trying to arrange me with Draco…"

"What!"

Ianthé nodded, "Well, during the gravy incident with Viktor, Papa was also trying to arrange me with him. Now, he resorted to the lowest dirt-crawling vile creature we have had the misfortune of meeting… And speaking of the devil incarnate…" her eyes narrowed as Draco Malfoy, accompanied by Crabbe and Goyle, opened the compartment door.

"Hello again, Ianthé."

"Goodbye, Draco."

"Ouch…"

"You'll mean that ouch once I call for Pansy…"

"You are particularly nasty, aren't you?"

"I'm only this nasty with one particular person, and that person is you…"

"Aww, Ianthé, you're breaking my heart…"

"Oh yes I am, with pleasure… Now, get out of my compartment!" Ianthé said in a cold voice.

Crabbe and Goyle looked as if they have shrunked several feet shorter and several sizes smaller. Draco scowled at her and quickly left.

"Glad you can stand up to that horrible person…"

"I have been steaming that anger on him for days now… Papa invited them over for dinner when I got home from school. He had been making advances on me all evening."

"I thought your summer was wonderful?"

"It was, in general. After the World Cup, Papa invited Viktor and his family to stay with us for a whole week! I got to know him better. He's Edmond's dorm mate in Durmstrang and Viktor said Edmond always had him in stitches. What about your rather adventurous summer?"

"It was fantastic!" Nikki said animatedly.

Our talk on the rest of the trip was all Charlie Weasley, Charlie Weasley, and Charlie Weasley; his courage and bravery after being almost torched by a dragon, his abilities in and out of a broomstick, his muscles. I wanted to club Nikki on the head when we got to the thestral-drawn carriages. I guess that's how being in love feels like. You discuss the one you fancy twenty-four-seven and then daydream about him the next.

"This year, Hogwarts will held a legendary event --- the Triwizard Tournament!" most students cheered at this announcement.

"Yes! Meeting other boys from the other two schools!" a girl near Ianthé whispered.

Ianthé rolled her eyes at Nikki, who she then saw staring in nothingness.

Ianthé waved her hand in front of Nikki. Honestly! She on cloud nine all day! Can't she give it a rest?

"Oi!"

Nikki woke from her stupor, "What did you do that for?" she slapped Ianthé's arm.

"You're practically drooling on your pudding for the last hour!"

Nikki giggled, "This must be how love feels like…"

"Now, don't you go all giggly on me!" Ianthé joked.

"I'm not all giggly!"

They got up and headed to the Ravenclaw common room.

"Pssst! Pssst!"

Ianthé looked behind the state of a goblin playing a mandolin.

"Fred, George! Nice to see you!"

"So, what's…."

"…. our………"

"…. agenda?"

"How do you guys like coded letters?" Ianthé whispered.

"Nice stuff! Maybe we could use it for the thing we're planning after Hogwarts, especially now that we're on our sixth year."

"What are you guys planning after graduating?"

"Opening…."

"…a joke shop!"

"Something that would…."

"….rival Zonko's!"

Nikki whistled.

"So, how are we going to decode the letters?"

"It's pretty simple, really…………"

We discussed every aspect of coded letters until curfew. When I got to bed, I have this eerie feeling that my life would turn drastically upside down this year. I shrugged it off as just one of my weird feelings.

We have a new Defense against the Dark Arts professor, a barmy former Auror by the name of Mad-eye Moody. He's moody alright and raving mad too.

I was counting off the days until the arrival of students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. Edmond wrote that they were all in a flurry because both Viktor and him were chosen as part of the 7th year students to be representatives of Durmstrang in Hogwarts. He said Viktor was as happy as he is to see me again. Fred and George, not wanting to waste any more time (as Quidditch was cancelled), began on their quest to invent products for their joke shop; I was helping them with the other concepts regarding business. We still have quite a large stock of extra-strength Polyjuice potion, so more pranking ensued.