The trip to Hogwarts was mostly uneventful. Hermione and Evie taught Harry and Ron a bit more about the other Wizarding schools. Several of their fellow Gryffindors stopped in to say hello and relive the World Cup. For that portion Hermione buried her nose in Standard Book of Spells Grade 4. Evie joined her for a bit when she saw Hermione was trying to learn a Summoning Spell, but mostly she just tried to assure Neville that even though the World Cup was great, he was lucky to not have been there. That proved particularly hard to do with harry, Ron, and Seamus excitedly recounting everything but the danger end to the night.

The most notable part of the trip, unfortunately, was when Malfoy and his cronies Crabbe and Goyle stopped by after overhearing Ron tell Neville they had sat in the Top Box at the World Cup. They got the unfortunate news that Malfoy's father had told him about whatever the big event was that year.

"For your information, Malfoy, our fathers could have told us, but we aren't supposed to know yet, are we?" Evie raised an eyebrow at him. "But Slytherins like you never do care to follow the rules; it's why the only thing that keeps your father so high up in the Ministry is money, not actual skill or intelligence. Good thing too, because if you all weren't rich, he'd be poor and stupid."

"My father is one of the most intelligent and capable wizards to ever live!" Malfoy seethed.

"Oh, well I was only guessing based on your performance and since you always fall somewhere behind Hermione and myself, I assumed you'd gotten your lack of intelligence from your father. My mistake." Evie shrugged feigning innocence. The boys in their compartment laughed as Malfoy stormed away, Crabbe and Goyle following behind him.

"Evie, you know you shouldn't be sinking to Malfoy's level." Hermione sighed at her.

"I wasn't…" Evie looked at Hermione. "Okay, maybe I was but I'm not going to just let him insult us like that."

The rest of the trip passed by quickly. They changed into their robes as they got closer, and the rain grew harsher the further north they traveled. When they got off the train, they ran into Hagrid. Evie was glad she wasn't a first year. The rain had not let up even a little and she was glad she wouldn't have to take the trip up to Hogwarts by boat.

In the Entrance Hall of the castle Peeves was throwing water balloons at everyone as they came in. McGonagall came out to yell at him, but he just finished throwing the rest of his balloons and flew off. Peeves never listened to anyone, and he was a real menace when you ran into him if you were running late to class. If fact, Evie found it best to avoid Peeves at all costs, unless accompanied by Fred and George, whom the little Poltergeist seemed to have a deep respect for.

The four friends sat through the Sorting Ceremony, in which all the poor first years where soaking wet. The food arrived and they all sat around eating and talking until Nearly Headless Nick told them that Peeves almost ruined their chance of having a feast at all that night. When Hermione heard that there were house-elves, and they didn't get paid or get sick leave she refused to eat another bite. Evie thought about trying to talk to her friend, but she knew how stubborn and determined Hermione could be and she felt there was really no use. Hermione would probably be eating again soon anyway.

When the feast was finally over Dumbledore rose to speak again. After giving the usual warnings and rules, and additions to Filch's list of forbidden items, a list which was some four hundred or so items long, he said something nobody was expecting. The inter-house Quidditch Cup was cancelled. Evie was shocked, and with peaked curiosity she listened closely over the sounds of outrage from the rest of the Quidditch teams. IT had to have something to do with whatever the big event was.

Just as Dumbledore was about to announce it, the doors to the Great Hall crashed open. Standing in the doorway was a man, with a long staff in one hand and a black cloak covering his body. He lowered his cloak as lightening flashed across the sky and Evie gasped. His hair was grey and unkempt, his face was nearly all scar, to the point where he was even missing a bit of nose. Other than the scars the only remaining discernible feature of his face was a large electric blue eye, which never blinked and never stopped moving. As the man walked a dull clunk filled the hall as everyone had fallen silent to watch his progression to the Heads Table. Once there he held out a hand to Dumbledore and took the only empty seat left.

"May I introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?" Dumbledore smiled at he gestured to the man. "Professor Moody."

Instead of the usual round of cheering and applause that met new teachers, only Dumbledore and Hagrid clapped and when they heard how forlorn it sounded, they stopped. Evie was still staring in shock at the man that was devouring a banger. Moody, she knew the name. She imagined anyone whose parents worked at the Ministry knew the name.

"Mad-Eye Moody? The guy your dad was talking about this morning?" Harry turned to Ron.

"Must be." Ron answered still looking at Professor Moody. Evie's eyes went wide as she rounded to her friends when she realized that Harry must be right.

"What happened to his face?" Hermione asked, still in a bit of shock and horror.

"Dunno." Ron answered.

"Really?" Evie looked at all of them in shock.

"What?" Harry looked at her confused.

"Mad-Eye Moody is one of the most famous and best Aurors ever. He's caught more dark wizards that anyone I can think of still alive. I mean, people say he's a bit crazy now, but if anyone was a good pick for Defense, it's him." Evie answered a bit excitedly, turning back to look at the man again. He was pulling a flask out of his travel cloak, taking a swig and then replacing it on his hip. As he fiddled at his hip Evie noticed the reason he was using a staff wasn't just because he was on in years, but because one of his legs was wooden.

Dumbledore cleared his throat and finished announcing the big event Hogwarts would be hosting that year, the Triwizard Tournament. "You're JOKING." Fred shouted out, breaking the tension in the room that had settled upon Moody's arrival. Even Dumbledore chuckled while he assured Fred that he was not, in fact, joking. He almost sidetracked himself with an actual joke, but Professor McGonagall called him back to attention. Then Professor Dumbledore explained exactly what the Triwizard Tournament was.

Evie paid little attention to Dumbledore's explanation. She had heard of the tournament before, and she also distinctly remembered Cedric wishing excitedly they would bring it back so he could compete. Hermione seemed as opposed to the tournament as Evie found herself. Hermione was whispering something about the death toll in Evie's ear, but she was too busy scanning the Hufflepuff table to actually catch Hermione's worries.

Evie couldn't catch sight of her brother and as Dumbledore droned on about safety precautions and an age limit, which was met with outraged fuss, she finally spotted him. Evie watched as Cedric offered Dumbledore his full attention, trying to catch every rule and restriction, as well as how and when students would be able to place their names in the running. Dumbledore never gave that answer though. He told them they'd all just have to wait until October to find out.

When Dumbledore sent them off towards bed Evie excused herself from the group as Fred and George complained about the age restriction. Evie pushed her way through the crowds and rushed over to catch Cedric before her got to the Hufflepuff tunnel.

"You're going to put your name up, aren't you?" She eyed him knowingly.

"You remember the stories! I could bring glory to the school, be a hero. I could bring a thousand Galleons home, that's not a bad way to start off my life, especially if I don't get drafted by a Quidditch team." Cedric reasoned.

"I do remember the stories. You know what I remember about them that you don't seem to? The deaths! They stopped holding the tournament because of the death toll, or did you tune out that part of the history lesson?"

"What are you saying?"

"You know even some of the greatest young witches and wizards died in those tournaments." Evie lamented.

"I haven't been picked as a Champion yet. I haven't put my name in the running. Why are you so worried already?"

"Because I know you will. And I know there will be a good chance you do get picked once you do."

"Really?" Cedric perked up as though the statement was intended as a compliment.

"Cedric, are you even listening to me? This isn't funny."

"I know that. But I also know that you are prone to worrying about things you shouldn't be."

"People have died! How is my worry unreasonable?"

"You could've died every year since you got here! So, you know what? If I get picked as the champion you will finally get to see what it feels like to be your brother." Evie stared after Cedric in shock as he left the Great Hall. Not knowing what else to do she turned and rushed after her friends.

She made it up the stairs just as the group was entering the Gryffindor common room. Evie was out of breath when she climbed through. The familiar common room felt as much like home as the Diggory Cottage. Evie and Hermione separated from the boys and went up to their own dorm room.

In the room, their usually beds sat empty and waiting for them. Lavender and Parvati had already gone to sleep, and all of their usual posters of famous witches and wizards they idolized or found attractive were back on the walls surrounding their beds. The smell of Lavender's perfume was also already thick in the air.

"Bloody hell, if she puts any more on she'll kill us all." Evie waved her hand to air out the area near her bed before pulling on her pajamas and crawling into bed. There was a warming pan between the sheets and she sighed as she reveled in the warmth. Beside her, Hermione was climbing into her own bed. When she felt the warming pan she scoffed and removed it. "You're going to freeze." Evie said, watching her friend.

"I will not rest on the backs of slave labor." Hermione glared as Evie left her pan exactly where it was.

"Hermione, you are my friend and I respect your opinion, but I have a feeling you are going to be sorely disappointed with whatever this endeavor ends up becoming. That's not to say I won't support you, I'll help you in whatever way I can, but I don't think you understand what you are up against." Evie sighed.

"I don't care what I'm up against! I will not let the house elves continue to be treated this way."

"Alright, but we aren't going to get anything done tonight. We'll worry about setting them all free tomorrow." Evie snuggled deeper into the warmth of her blankets.

"'We'? So you'll help me?" Hermione's voice perked up.

"Like I said, you're my friend and I'll support you however I can. Goodnight Hermione." Evie turned over and drifted off to sleep quickly.