Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
I am sorry for the false alert everyone. I made a mistake with the chapter and I had to fix it. I would also like to say thank you to AryaElf, leafstone, and that one anonymous reader who have reviewed my story. Thank you guys so so so much for the support. Without further ado here is chapter 4 to Isadora DaVita and the Goblet of Fire.
Chapter 4
Thick raindrops splattered against the windows, making it impossible to see out them. The rain always made me sleepy because it reminded me of being at home with a warm blanket and even warmer cookies.
I laid my head on Harry's shoulder just as the trolley came by. I sighed and picked my head up since I knew Harry would want something. Ron's never filling stomach had already convinced him to get something.
I was hoping to snatch a licorice wand from Ron, but he only got droobles. Deciding to mooch off of Harry, I looked to see him standing at the doorway and looking at something in the hallway.
He came back in the compartment a moment later with a dumb look on his face. I looked at him weirdly.
"This is horrible," Hermione said. "How can the Ministry not know who conjured it? Wasn't there any security?"
"Loads according to Dad, that's what worried them so much. Happened right under their noses" Ron answered.
Harry started to mess with his scar and Hermione, being Hermione, got super worried.
"It's hurting again, isn't it? Your scar," she asked.
"I'm fine," Harry insisted.
I didn't know whether or not to believe us. Harry didn't want to worry us, but I would be worried no matter what. There were people out for his life for Godric's sake!
"You know Sirius will want to hear about this," Hermione whispered leaning closer.
We were only people who knew Sirius was innocent besides Dumbledore. Last year Hermione, Harry, and I actually helped him escape.
"What you saw at the World Cup and the dream," she told him.
"She's right Harry," I told him.
He looked up at me and I took his hand, nodding my head.
He wrote a quick letter to Sirius and gave it to Hedwig who took off in the rain. The rain didn't let up as we got closer to Hogwarts. It seemed to get harder actually.
xxXXxx
As soon as I stepped off the train I was soaked to the bone. It was the same effect for everyone else. I felt sorry for the first years that had make their way across the lake in boats.
"Come on Isadora!" Hermione called.
I looked and saw they were making their way towards the carriages. I pushed my way through the crowd and somehow managed to make it without falling.
It ended up with Neville, Hermione, Harry, Ron, and I into a carriage. We were all sopping wet and Hermione looked like a drowned rat. I probably looked like one too though.
"Where's Amara?" I asked Neville when we started moving.
"I think she grabbed a carriage with Lavender and Parvati," he told me.
Out of all of us, Amara definitely got along with our roommates best. I was friendly too, but they liked to gossip a little bit more than I liked. Hermione was just civil. If it weren't for Amara and me, they would have probably hated each other.
I couldn't wait to see Amara. Aside from Harry, Ron, and Hermione, Amara was my best friend. She could spot a relationship or a possible relationship a mile away except for her own. Neville's been in love with her since Year 1 and she still doesn't know. Then again half school was in love with her. She was a pretty girl.
xxXXxx
When the carriage stopped we all practically ran to the doors to get out of the rain. And there we stood. A bunch of students that looked like they jumped in the lake and shivering. I, myself, was freezing my ass off.
"If that rain keeps up the lake is going to overflow. I'm soaked-AAHHH!" Ron shouted as a huge red thing dropped onto him.
I jumped back when it exploded on his head which was a bad idea because I fell back into Harry. Ron sputtered and stumbled into Hermione making another water balloon barely miss her. A water balloon I suspect was meant for Harry landed on my head.
I shrieked as it burst and cold water went down my back. When I tried to turn around and see the culprit, I lost my footing and went sliding into Harry once more. We ended up in a tangled mess of arms and legs on the floor.
"Harry, if you would be so kind. Please get your hand off my ass!" I told him.
"Sorry," he said moving his hand.
As soon as we were able to remove ourselves, I jumped up. Everybody else was freaking out and pushing each other so they wouldn't get hit. I looked up to see Peeves floating twenty feet about with water balloons in hand.
"PEEVES!" yelled a furious voice I knew quite well. "Peeves come down here at ONCE!"
Professor McGonagall was the Deputy Headmistress and head of Gryffindor House. She had come bolting out of the Great Hall which was a completely terrible idea. She skidded on the wet floor and grabbed something to keep herself from falling. Unfortunately it was Hermione's neck.
"Ouch - sorry, Miss Granger -"
"That's all right, Professor!" Hermione gasped rubbing her throat.
"Peeves get down here now!" Professor McGonagall growled straightening her pointed hat and glaring at him through her square-rimmed spectacles.
"Not doing nothing!" Peeves cackled throwing a water balloon at several fifth-year girls who screamed and dived into the Great Hall. "Already wet, aren't they? Little squirts! Wheeeeeeeeee!" He aimed another balloon at a group of second years who had just arrived.
"I shall call the headmaster!" Professor McGonagall shouted. "I'm warning you, Peeves -"
Peeves stuck out his tongue and threw the last of his water bombs up into the air before zooming up the marble staircase while cackling.
"Well, move along then!" Professor McGonagall said to the group of students. "Into the Great Hall, come on!"
"I really hate Peeves," I growled under my breath.
xxXXxx
The Great Hall had candles floating around and the tables were adorned with golden tableware. There were already a lot of students who were sitting at their respective tables and telling their friends about what they did this summer.
The ceiling that was charmed to show the sky was storming. I really felt bad for those first years when I saw lightning. This was definitely not the way to start off a school year.
"Hiya Harry!"
Colin Creevey, probably the most excitable boy in the whole school and he was only a third year. He always carried a camera around and Harry Potter was his hero.
"Hi Colin," Harry sighed.
"Harry, guess what? My brother's starting! My brother Dennis!" he said bouncing up and down.
"Er - good," said Harry.
"He's really excited!" Colin said. I didn't know if he was talking about him or his brother. "I just hope he's in Gryffindor! Keep your fingers crossed, eh, Harry?"
"Sure," Harry told him.
Godric I wanted to put my hands on both of Colin's shoulders and push him into his seat. All his bouncing around was going to give me a headache.
"Brothers and sisters usually go in the same Houses, don't they?" Harry said.
I guess he was thinking of the Weasleys who were all in Gryffindor. It would make sense, but then again there was n guarantee.
"Oh no, not necessarily," Hermione explained. "Parvati Patil's twin's in Ravenclaw and they're identical. You'd think they'd be together wouldn't you?"
He shrugged while I tried not to hold Colin still. Did this boy eat everything on the trolley before we got here!
"Where's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor?" Hermione asked when we sat down.
"They probably got caught up in something," Harry reassured her.
"Or they did the smart thing and backed out of the job," I said under my breath.
The Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor never lasted more than one year. It was a bad luck position. Quirrell died, Lockhart lost his memory, and Lupin resigned because Snape chased him away. Any smart person would reject the offer.
"Who backed out of the job?" someone asked sitting down next to me.
I turned to see Amara Gryffin in the seat to my left. I smiled and hugged her. I could already see a few guys checking her out. I think everyone, but Amara thought she was beautiful.
She was model tall and all legs which she never shows off. Her mocha skin glowed and she had a dusting of freckles across the bridge of her nose. Her eyes were like a chocolate brown and I'm pretty sure every girl wanted her figure.
"No one yet," I said motioning to the empty chair at the professors' table.
"I wish they would hurry up," Ron complained. "I'm starving."
"Ron, you're always starving," I reminded him.
Thank Godric that the doors opened at that exact moment. The first years filed in and I couldn't help, but feel bad for them. They looked they decided to hang out with the giant squid in the lake. They were drenched and shaking. I didn't know if it was from the cold or from the nervousness. I knew that feeling. They stopped and formed a line facing the rest of the school.
One little boy stood out from all the rest. He was definitely the smallest out of the lot and he had Hagrid's huge moleskin coat wrapped around him. His head barely peeked out of the thing. He looked just as excited as Colin.
When he had lined up with the other terrified first years, he caught Colin Creevey's eye and gave him double thumbs-up mouthing, "I fell in the lake!" He looked positively delighted that he was gonna get hypothermia.
Professor McGonagall brought out the three legged stool. The dirty old hat sat on top of it. The first years just stared at it along with everyone else. You could hear a pin drop. Then the long tear near the brim opened like a mouth and the hat broke into song:
A thousand years or more ago
When I was newly sewn,
There lived four wizards of renown,
Whose names are still well known:
Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,
Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,
Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad,
Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.
They shared a wish, a hope, a dream;
They hatched a daring plan
To educate young sorcerers
Thus Hogwarts School began.
Now each of these four founders
Formed their own house, for each
Did value different virtues
In the ones they had to teach.
By Gryffindor, the bravest were
Prized far beyond the rest;
For Ravenclaw, the cleverest
Would always be the best;
For Hufflepuff, hard workers were
Most worthy of admission;
And power-hungry Slytherin
Loved those of great ambition.
While still alive they did divide
Their favorites from the throng,
Yet how to pick the worthy ones
When they were dead and gone?
Twas Gryffindor who found the way,
He whipped me off his head
The founders put some brains in me
So I could choose instead!
Now slip me snug about your ears,
I've never yet been wrong,
I'll have a look inside your mind
And tell where you belong!
Applause echoed throughout the Great Hall when the Sorting Hat finished singing.
"That's not the song it sang when it Sorted us," Harry said clapping with everyone else.
"It sings a new one every year," I told him.
"It's got to be a pretty boring life, hasn't it, being a hat? I suppose it spends all year making up the next one," Ron said.
Professor McGonagall unrolled a large scroll of parchment.
"When I call out your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool," she told the first years. "When the hat announces your House, you will go and sit at the appropriate table.
xxXXxx
I was so glad when that was over. Not only was I bored, I was hungry.
"Now that we're all settled in I'd like to make an announcement," Dumbledore said.
The moment he started talking the room went silent. All eyes were on him because everyone wanted t know what was happening.
"This castle will not only be your home this year but home to some very special guests as well," Dumbledore told us. "You see Hogwarts has been chosen..." Dumbledore started to say, but was interrupted by Mr. Filch who had suddenly burst into the room.
Mr. Filch ran (or more like hobbled) up the aisle in between Gryffindor table and the Slytherin table until he made his way up to Dumbledore. Filch whispered something to Dumbledore who whispered something back. I looked to Hermione, but she just shrugged.
"Now as I was saying," Dumbledore said as he turned back to us. "Hogwarts has been chosen to host a legendary event. The Triwizard Tournament."
"Wicked," Fred and George both said.
"For those of you who don't know," Dumbledore continued. "The Triwizard Tournament brings together three schools for a series of magical contests. From each school a single contestant is selected to compete." Dumbledore had a smiled on his face as he told us this. Then he went back to being serious. "Now let me be clear, if chosen you stand alone. And trust me when I say these contests are not for the faint of heart, but more of that later. But for now, please join me in welcoming the lovely ladies of the Beauxbaton Academy of magic and their headmistress Madame Maxime."
The large double doors to the Great Hall opened and teenage girls in blue silk walked into the room. They walked in and stopped to sigh. They began walking again only to stop and sigh again Ron was absolutely captivated along with about every other male in the Great Hall. They then ran to the front of the hall and jumped to release blue butterflies.
"Blimey that's one big woman," Seamus Finnegan said. I would have said something, but I agreed with him. The woman was taller than Hagrid.
Professor Dumbledore had to only bend his head when he kissed the back of Madame Maxime's hand. Once she was sitting, her students sat at the Ravenclaw table. The boys all pretty much made up the applause by themselves.
"And now let me welcome our friends from the north," Dumbledore introduced. "Please greet the proud sons of the Durmstrang and the High Master Igor Karkaroff."
The large double doors opened up again and boys marched in carrying staffs. It was pretty cool how they spun them and when they hit the ground, sparks flew.
"Don't you think the one in the front is cute?" I asked Amara.
"I like the one behind him," she said.
They then put the sticks down and ran towards the front, all standing the line while the two guys in the front break danced.
Just then Ron's eyes grew wide when he saw the last person he expected to see walk in with the High Master.
"Blimey it's him," Ron said awestruck. "Look it's Krum!"
He was right because there was Victor Krum walking down the aisle with his headmaster.
"He's the cutest," Amara and I said at the same time before snickering quietly.
One of the Durmstrang boys blew a dragon made out of fire. Karkaroff greeted Dumbledore with a hug. Once Karkaroff was seated the Durmstrang students took a seat at the Slytherin table which Ron wasn't happy about.
xxXXxx
"Aaah, 'at's be'er," said Ron, with his mouth full of mashed potatoes.
"Ron that's disgusting," I told him.
"You're lucky there's a feast at all tonight, you know," Sir Nick said. "There was trouble in the kitchens earlier."
"Why? Wha' 'appened?" Harry said through a sizable chunk of steak.
I looked at him with disgust. These boys were just disgusting.
"Peeves of course," Sir Nick said shaking his head which wobbled dangerously. He pulled his ruff up higher. "The usual argument, you know. He wanted to attend the feast - well, it's quite out of the question, you know what he's like, utterly uncivilized, can't see a plate of food without throwing it. We held a ghost's council - the Fat Friar was all for giving him the chance – but most wisely, in my opinion, the Bloody Baron put his foot down."
The Bloody Baron was the Slytherin house ghost. He was the only one able to control Peeves, but I don't think anyone knew why. It was probably the silver bloodstains he was covered in.
"Yeah, we thought Peeves seemed hacked off about something," Ron said darkly.
"So what did he do in the kitchens?" I asked.
"Oh the usual," Sir Nick said shrugging. "Wreaked havoc and mayhem. Pots and pans everywhere. Place swimming in soup. Terrified the house-elves out of their wits—"
Clang
Hermione knocked over her goblet and orange pumpkin juice stained the white linen. She looked horrified and stared at Sir Nicholas.
"There are house-elves here? Here at Hogwarts?"
"Certainly," Sir Nick said. He seemed surprised that Miss Know-it-all didn't know that. "The largest number in any dwelling in Britain I believe. Over a hundred."
"I've never seen one!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Well, they hardly ever leave the kitchen by day, do they?" Sir Nick told her. "They come out at night to do a bit of cleaning… see to the fires and so on… I mean, you're not supposed to see them, are you? That's the mark of a good house-elf, isn't it, that you don't know it's there?"
"But they get paid?" she asked. "They get holidays, don't they? And - and sick leave, and pensions, and everything?"
Nearly Headless Nick laughed so much that the ruff on his neck slipped and his head flopped off dangling on the inch or so of ghostly skin and muscle that still attached it to his neck. I looked away from it. It's hard to eat with blood, muscle, and tissue staring at you.
"Sick leave and pensions?" he repeated pushing his head back on and securing it with his ruff again. "House-elves don't want sick leave and pensions!"
Hermione looked down at her plate of food that she barely ate before putting her knife and fork down and pushing it away from her.
"Oh c'mon 'Er-my-knee," Ron said accidentally spewing all over Harry and making me just look at him in disgust. "Oops — sorry, 'Arry —" He swallowed his food before speaking again. "You won't get them sick leave by starving yourself!"
"Slave labor," Hermione said crossing her arms. "That's what made this dinner. Slave labor."
"I don't think the house elves will notice if one student doesn't eat," I said.
She scowled at me, but still refused to eat. I sighed.
"What's going on between you and Harry?" Amara asked drawing my attention away from the pouting Hermione.
"Nothing," I said a little too quickly.
"You keep looking at his lips," she whispered.
"No I don't," I told her.
"You kissed him!" she gasped.