A/N: I'm afraid I have an awful habit of writing rather short chapters! Sorry! This is only the build up, so hopefully the next ones should be longer! Oh, and sorry to disturb you with this annoying note! But anyway, R&R! (If you like cookies. Reviews are like cookies. The more you get, the more you give out!)

"Boys and girls."

There was a faint tapping of glass, but no one actually paid the slightest attention. A few people sniggered as Professor Kopf straightened his pointed hat and tried again. "Ladies and gentlemen!"

Even the staff ignored him. Professor Longbottom, the Herbology teacher, pointedly turned to talk to Professor Patil, the Divination teacher. Professor Slughorn had dozed off in his seat, the goblet in his hand slowly tipping over his emerald velvet waistcoat, staining it an unpleasant scarlet.

"SILENCE!"

A collective shriek ran through the Hall. Every head turned in the direction of the staff table, amazed that Professor Kopf could make such a noise. However, this was proved wrong as the sight of the tiny Headmaster gripping the brim of his hat in terror met their eyes. On the chair beside him, carelessly lounging against the gilded arm, sat a teacher no one had ever seen before.

"Who's that?" The murmur echoed from every corner of the room as students exchanged glances. Scorpius sat up a little straighter, his eyes narrowed. Evidently, this person believed they lorded over the school.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, boys and girls." Kopf squeaked in his weedy voice. "Now, as you know, the caretaker Mr Filch would like to remind you all that absolutely no jokes are to be made about cats, or dead cats, or anything relating to cats or dead cats."

From the back of the hall, the disgusting sound of someone blowing their nose like a trumpet could be heard. A groan came from the Gryffindor table, where Fred Weasley looked absolutely distraught at the thought of not being able to laugh about Mrs Norris. Despite how much Scorpius thought the cat had deserved it, he couldn't help but relish in the fact that the Weasley wouldn't be getting more attention. His dad and uncle had had enough of that.

As Kopf went off into the long ream of rules and regulations, this was the moment when most students would have fallen asleep. However, not today. Every single eye was fixed on the man dressed in the black robes beside the Headmaster.

Eventually, Kopf finished on his explanation about the new Self-Rolling Toilet Rolls the school had installed, and just as he was about to start speaking, a loud throat-clearing interrupted him. With a yelp of surprise, he turned to face the strange man who had gotten to his feet.

"Headmaster." The man nodded, and Kopf practically shrunk into his seat. "Students of Hogwarts." He bared his teeth at the sea of faces before him. "I am your new Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts."

"NO!" "What about Professor Lupin?" Shouts filled the entire room as students leapt to their feet, their faces contorted with rage. Even many Slytherins allowed a look of horror to cross their uncaring facades. Teddy Lupin was the greatest DADA teacher they'd had! Where had he gone?

Scorpius Malfoy sat paralyzed with fear in his seat.

"QUIET!" The man yelled, and instantly, the cries were quelled. "That's better." Barely noticeably, he made a slight movement beneath his robes, and Scorpius saw a flash of wood. "My name is Professor Lycon. I hope that we shall have an enjoyable year together." Again, he flashed his blood-curdling leer.

"Thank you, Professor Lycon." Kopf had finally mustered up the courage to speak. As Lycon slowly sat back down, the Headmaster piped up. "This is a very special year. After much consideration, a great magical tradition has been decided to be renewed. It is my great pleasure to announce that this year, after two previously unsuccessful attempts since 1994, Hogwarts shall once again hold the Triwizard Tournament!"

If a pin had dropped, it would have sounded like a cannon blast in the silence that then fell. The Triwizard Tournament.

Scorpius couldn't stop the grin spreading across his face. Just what he needed to finally prove his worth to the scum of Hogwarts. If he could win, what eternal glory he would gain!

"Are you going to enter, Scorp?" Lorcan Scamander cast a glance over at the blond who was, he knew, only pretending to be asleep. No one ever really understood how the son of Luna Lovegood had become a Slytherin, but they'd stopped questioning it after a while.

"The Tournament?" Scorpius opened one eye.

"No, the Chamber of Secrets!"

"Shut it." Scorpius sat up and threw the shoe beside his bed at Lorcan. "Of course I am." He settled himself back down again, smiling slyly.

"I think I will too!"

"Good luck with that!" Malfoy snorted. "They'd have to spend all the prize money on your coffin."

"I won't be as bad as Diggory!" Lorcan pouted.

"You keep telling yourself that."

Hugo Weasley lay in a fitful state. People had already begun asking questions about Rose, but he couldn't tell them what had really happened. And that new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher...he was definitely a little more than that. Hugo's first thought would have been a paedophile, but it was unlikely.

Then, an even worse thought struck him. The Triwizard Tournament included Beauxbatons...what if Rose came?