"I knew this was going to happen."

Kate watched from her spot at the Gryffindor table as Shawn's sky blue eyes darted around the Great Hall wildly. His pupils were dilated, and his mouth was stuck in a permanent grin for the time being. He was shaking slightly, but that was due to the bouncing of his leg underneath the long wooden table.

"How much did he eat?"

Kate turned her head to the girl sitting next to her, shaking her head in annoyance. "Merlin knows."

The girl laughed, her blonde hair almost white against her black robes. Having just cut it before arriving at King's Cross, it fell to a straight line midway down her back, entirely flat and shining. When she turned her head back to the hyperactive Shawn sitting across from them, it moved with her like a waterfall, and about her freckled face, the shorter strands hung forwards to hide her hazel eyes. The only thing holding them back was the think black frames of her glasses.

"Anywho, how was that vacation with Mum, Dad, and the others? You were with your cousins in the states right?" Kate asked, focussing all of her attention on her "sister", Clyo Thornton, Gryffindor's other Chaser along with her brother, Paul. Her tanned skin glowed in the candlelight of the Great Hall and with the little makeup she wore her freckles danced across her face like ballerinas, showing themselves off to the world.

"Yeah, we stayed with them all summer and honestly, I was ready to come home to the gloomy and sun-deprived country that we live in by the second day. Do you see this? It looks like I got a spray tan!"

"What did you do? Roll around in a bag of Doritos?"

She glared at Kate, "Not funny." Flicking her eyes in the direction of her older brother, Paul, who was casually conversing with his twin, Caspian, and their best friend, Ethan Cunningham, a little ways to the girls left. "They weren't complaining though. They love it! The bloody gits were so happy they were getting tan, I can't even look at them. They looks like fucking Mexicans!"

Clyo groaned in exasperation, burying her head in her hands. "Next time Kate, you can go in my place. You're practically family anyway, so it won't make a difference who goes and who doesn't. As long as two girls and two guys are going, we're good." She picked her head up from the long oak table and looked around. "Where are the first years? I want the sorting to be over with asap. I'm starving."

Kate shook her head and laughed as the doors to the Great Hall swung open and a line of first years entered the room, following Professor Sprout obediently. Their gazes wandered around the Great Hall in awe, and a few of them had their jaws hanging open as they stared up at the velvety black ceiling dotted with numerous stars, and the thousands of candles floating above them. They crowded around the top of the Great Hall where the professors' table was located along with a lone stool sitting at the centre of the stage. An old, tattered hat was sitting atop it.

Silents cloaked the hall for a few moments before the hat twitched, and a rip near the brim opened up, startling some of the first years. An old, raspy voice echoed about as the Sorting Hat began to sing.

"A thousand years or more ago,
Before Hogwarts came to be, There lived four kingdoms of renown,
Whose names are still cloaked with mystery;

Bold North, from wild moor,
Shrewd South, from glen,
Sweet East, from valley broad,
Cunning West, from fen.

By North, the bravest was
Prized far beyond the rest;
For South, the cleverest
Would always be the best;
For East, hard workers were
Most worthy of admission;
And power wallowing West
Were loved for their ambition.

Now millennium later,
When the Kingdoms have long been gone
Time comes that rivers run salty,
And the false sister shall break the bond.

Each of these four descendants,
Plagued by an unfortunate casualty,
Shall cause the rise of a new God,
To rule over one's chastity.

The great queen, upon seeing herself vanquished,
Will exhibit an excess of masculine courage;
On horseback, she will ride unprotected entirely,
Pursued by swordsmen through a forest long forbidden.

'Twas navigation that showed the way,
For the founders of Hogwarts to find me,
And now I hope to aid in a battle, Only four will be witnessing.

Now slip me snug about your ears,
For the Sorting must commence,
I'll have a look inside your mind
And tell where you'll place best!"

Applause broke out around the Great Hall as the hat sat motionless once more. Kate and her friends shared quizzical looks as they clapped. "Well, that's new," Kate whispered to Clyo as Professor Sprout started to read off the names of the first years.

"No kidding. The last time it gave advice was before the second wizarding war." Clyo replied, her eyes fixated on the young first-year girl sitting on the stool.

"Well, I thought it was really pretty." Shawn cut in just as the Sorting Hat yelled out the girl's house. The whole Gryffindor table burst into applause as she made her way towards the front of the table.

"Of course you did."

"Now before dinner begins, I have a few announcements that I'm sure will be the topic of conversation this evening."

Clyo let out a loud groan, mimicking that of many others throughout the Great Hall as Headmistress McGonagall approached the phoenix podium at the centre of the platforum. Kate elbowed her in the side, ignoring her childish whimpering as she waited for Headmistress McGonagall to continue.

"This year the inter-house Quidditch Cup will not be taking place," McGonagall said, pausing at the outraged yells from a few Quidditch players, Clyo, Shawn, Caleb, and Kate included. Her eyes narrowed in annoyance as she looked about the great hall, stalling on Kate. Kate quickly shut my mouth and kicked Shawn in the shin, causing him to yelp in pain as the Great Hall quieted down.

"Violence is never the answer." He whispered, glaring in his fellow Prefect's direction as he clicked his tongue in distaste.

"It is in my book." Kate mumbled, causing Clyo to let out a little chuckle in amusement as the group focused their attention back onto McGonagall

"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." Whispers spread about the Great Hall like wildfire as the Headmistress continued on with her announcement. "I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that with much convincing the Ministry of Magic has allowed for Hogwarts to be the host of the first annual Tetrad Trials."

"Similar to the Tri-wizard Tournament, the Tetrad Trials will consist of a number of magical tasks. From each of the four schools participating, a single student is selected to compete in the competition." Professor McGonagall paused, her eyes (if possible) hardening even more. She leaned her pale, wrinkled hands upon the podium, her face impassive. "Now let me be clear. If chosen, you stand alone. And trust me when I say these contests are not for the faint-hearted."

"But we will continue that conversation later, we will be housing three other wizarding schools from across the globe," whispers of excitement and curiosity started to work their way about the Great Hall and Kate shot Clyo an excited look. Xavi? Kate mouthed, earning a shrug in response. She signed, crossing her fingers that her childhood friend's school was one of the three coming to Hogwarts for the Tetrad Trials. "A student from Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Mahoutokoro School of Magic, and Uagadou School of Magic will be participating in these trials alongside one of our own. They will arrive in three days time and I expect a warm welcome to be given when they do. . ."

Kate and Clyo discreetly high-fived at the announcement of Mahoutokoro School of Magic. The rest of McGonagall's lecture on etiquette was lost upon the students as they whispered and gossiped about the coming trials and once dinner appeared all thoughts pertaining to the Sorting Hat's song were that of a distant memory.