With a new supply of 1st years to teach, Alex and Hermione were ecstatic, bringing the passion of brewing to another 40 children. More confident in their abilities now, they split their teaching times, while one would teach; the other would either assist another professor, or hold office hours for any student who had a break. Penny would occasionally sit in on their classes, outside of Herbology, her favourite class had to be Ancient Runes, but most times she could be found in the forest, training furiously; Hermione would heal her every lunch and dinner break she had, for which the satyr was happy for.

Amelia and Tonks would pop into the school every few days, set up different things or simply plot what their plans would be, always making time to see the two demigods and satyr. Remus seemed even more happy that the young Auror would be sticking around, having met her the previous year when she had come in to see the teens, and had talked to her for a few hours. That had earned him many days of ribbing, but also a belting over the head after he grew depressed after a full moon, not wanting to drag such an innocent down should she accept his offer of a date. His two cubs had sat him down and told him in no uncertain terms that there was nothing wrong with being a werewolf, it was an unfortunate curse that he had but it also defined the strength that he showed in not giving up. Remus had asked Tonks out on a date and it was decided that they would waiting until after the names were drawn for the tournament, the Auror being overrun by problems that would hopefully have settled by then, but she was definitely interested in the date. The Marauder was walking on Cloud 9 for a week after she said that.

The second day of term, the young couple had sent a request to their French friend, asking if she could bring along a supply of those scanners when she came. Her answer came 3 days later, with a sealed confirmation from Apolline that the scanners would be in Fleur's hands until they were passed over to the demigods. Hearing from the woman warmed their hearts, fully aware that their fathers were kept up to date on their activities through her and also the merpeople in the Black Lake. The way things were going, the two gods would be aware of their entire lives before they had a chance to see them.

During that first week Alex received a letter from St Mungo's, it was the bill for the Muggle family from the World Cup. They were all fine, having their memories cleaned up and reassembled, apparently the Healers were furious at the sloppy work that the Aurors had done on realigning everything as they supposed to. The bill went directly to Bogrod, who paid it, but a responding letter also went to the Director of St Mungo's, stating how he was pleased that the family was taken care of but disappointed at the reluctance to assist them at the event as they were Muggles. The witch replied by saying things would be changing, and they were, as the Quibbler announced, a large number of Healers were being forced into Muggle Relations workshops, and would then be judged if able to return to work. Alex decided that being Harry Potter was a good thing if it assisted those who truly needed it.

Severus was now teaching the Gryffindor/Slytherin 4th year class that his wards would have been in, and as he walked into the class that first time, he nearly did a double take at how they were. The only same colours at a bench were Crabbe and Goyle, and Draco, who was sitting alone. They'd kept the same seating arrangements as the previous term, but instead of quivering fear, each oozed confidence in that they could handle any potion he threw at them, it was unnerving. As the lesson progressed he realised something, they didn't even need him, if there was a problem, either their partner would assist or they would ask a neighbouring bench. A bolt of pride shot through him and it didn't leave the further into term they got, it simply grew.

Bill had been given another year as professor, having actually asked his Gringotts employers if he could remain at Hogwarts, enjoying the work but not enough to leave his other profession. The goblins were fine with it, he had spent a few weeks during the summer in a temple that many prized treasures were found in, so could deal with not having one of their best Curse Breakers on hand at all times, and also knew that he had two substitutes available if they truly needed him urgently.

Over the two months between start of term and Halloween, the Weasley twins and Lee Jordan were seen huddled over thick text books, causing many hearts to skip beats, until realising they were trying to work out a way to get around any type of block to enter their names into the goblet. When they were caught by the demigods, they thought the jig was up, before Hermione took the book and told them to continue on, she'd needed it for another reason. Rumours circulated and apparently the trio of troublemakers were trying everything from an Aging Potion to cursing the goblet.

As Halloween approached, Hermione could be found every evening on the balcony in their room, reading the stars, trying to work out what was going to happen, but finding that they weren't revealing anything useful. Alex had another way to handle the nerves, and that was holding his love to his body and reassuring himself that she was safe; he was so afraid that whatever was going to happen to them would happen to Hermione and not him, no matter what everyone else tried to tell him.

Finally it was time for the two foreign schools to arrive, and everyone was waiting outside in the chilled air. Only the demigods were looking in the air, having been told by Fleur that that was their travel method. It was a 2nd year who called out what the demigods had seen for a while, "Look! In the air!"

"What is that?" "It's a flying house" "No, it's a huge magic carpet"

Hearing the silly guesses, the pair simply smiled wider and wider the closer it got. When the large white Abraxan steeds hit the ground, and the Beauxbatons' carriage came to a stop, they were practically bouncing from excitement. The first thing they saw after the page boy opened the door was a large, high heel clad foot, followed by another and the rest of a woman who could have towered over Hagrid. She strode forward, towards Minerva, but got a shock when the demigods broke from the ranks and raced to their friend, "Fleur."

The Veela had changed since coming into her talents, nothing noticeable by eye but the power was greater, and Alex was pleased that he loved Hermione or else he would be acting as the teenage boys in the gathering. Embracing as a trio, the French witch then gulped lightly as she spotted her headmistress looking at her, "Our apologies Madam, my friends were excited to see me again."

The half-giant woman nodded, Fleur had been a worry for her since starting her school, as a Veela very few witches wanted to be friends with her for jealousy, while the boys wanted only one thing. Turning back to Minerva, she spoke in a deep but soft feminine voice, "Minerva, a pleasure. Has Karkaroff arrived yet?"

"Any moment now. Would you like Wilhelmina to take care of your horses?"

"They are very powerful, perhaps…" Olympe Maxime was cut off when she spotted Fleur with her two friends and another girl by her stallion, the wildest yet strongest of her herd, and they were scratching his ears, "Perhaps I was wrong."

"Madam Maxime, do not worry yourself, they have that effect," Severus explained, "Your students must be freezing, come inside and warm up, there's plenty of time to see Durmstrang once they arrive."

"Yes," the woman's voice drifted, watching with fascination at the quartet, before snapping her fingers to her shuddering students and following in.

By the large stallion, Hermione was talking to him softly, "Now, will you behave if a professor takes you to the stables that we've had built especially for you all?"

Dax, the leader of his herd, liked the quartet who talked to him, so agreed, "Of course but we only drink single malt whiskey, be sure whoever it is knows that."

Kissing his head, the group walked over to the COMC professor, "They'll go with you calmly ma'am, oh, and they only drink single malt whiskey, you may want to send an elf to the Three Broomsticks for some now."

"Thank you for that," Wilhelmina walked over and unhitched the horses, leading Dax and the others followed calmly.

Minerva smiled at them, "Miss, your headmistress is inside with your fellow students, if you wish to join them out of the cold."

With a flick of her wand, Fleur's light cloak became heavier, "I am fine ma'am, I would prefer to stay with my friends."

The headmistress nodded and returned to her place in the welcoming party, watching with one eye as the quartet moved closer to the castle to talk privately, "Did you bring them?"

"Oui, they are in my trunk in the carriage. Mama gave me 20 of them and instructions," looking about to make sure they were truly alone, the witch said softer, "You have caused troubles with the gods, more so when Rhea finally approached her children for the first time since before you were both born. They are growing impatient, and the Fates are being hounded daily."

The couple groaned and banging their heads against their foreheads, "A year, not even that, it's only 10 months. After many thousands of years you'd think that they could wait another measly 10 months, I mean we're the supposed children and we're fine waiting until the Fates allow, even though it means we must wait that much longer without seeing our fathers."

Fleur and Penny giggled, "The gods, from all cultures, are not known for patience, except perhaps the Buddha."

"Suggest they do bloody meditation, we're not budging on our decisions"

Their group was disrupted by another student, an older Hufflepuff this time, calling out, "The lake!"

All eyes turned to face the choppy waters, Hermione shuddering violently at it, "I hope the merpeople and Giant Squid are safe."

"They have enough common sense to get out of the way," Alex reassured her.

From the waters rose a huge boat, the Bulgarian flag fly at top mast. Once it calmed and a gangplank appeared, a sly looking man disembarked and walked towards Minerva, who looked as though she had swallowed a Flobberworm when he kissed her hand, "Minerva, a pleasure."

"I cannot state the same Karkaroff," Minerva said frostily, "Come along children, indoors and we can all eat."

All of Beauxbatons sat with Ravenclaw, bar Fleur, while Durmstrang was at home at Slytherin, though Draco was seen viciously talking to one of the boys at one point, no doubt for disparaging remarks that were no longer appreciated. After Neville got a head slap, he was fine around Fleur, blushing in apology for his reaction, which was better than that of most of the other boys. The Veela wasn't bothered, she was used to the reactions and simply ignored them all with good grace and a laugh as she was lightly teased by her friends.