The trek to the castle was not nearly as pleasant as it should have been. First, Charlotte was separated from Ada, who's duty was to help take the first years to the castle by boat; Charlotte ended up riding in a carriage full of rambunctious second years. Then she nearly ran head first into Professor Snape, earning her a black mark in the man's book not half an hour off the train. She spent as long as she could looking for Deek, whom she had sent to Viktor with her latest letter, but he had yet to return. This caused her to be one of the last student to the Great Hall, where the only seat left was next to Cho Chang and her group of friends. Charlotte had never had an issue with Cho or her friends, but neither had they sought each other out.

When the puddings had finally been demolished, and the last crumbs had faded off the plates, Hogwarts's Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, got to his feet. The buzz of chatter filling the Hall ceased almost at once, so that only the howling wind and pounding rain could be heard.

"So!" said Dumbledore, smiling around at them all. "Now that we are all fed and watered, I must once more ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices. Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to tell you the list of objects forbidden in the castle has this year been extended to include Screaming Yo-Yos, Fanged Frisbees, and Ever-Banishing Boomerangs. The full list comprises of some four hundred and seven items, I believe, and can be views in Mr. Filches office should anybody like to check it."

The corners of Dumbledore's mouth twitched. He continued, "As ever I would like to remind you all that the forest on the grounds is out-of-bounds to students, as is the village of Hogsmeade to all below third year. It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year."

Charlotte heard someone from the Gryffindor table shout, "What?"

"This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teacher's time and energy – but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts – "

But at that moment there was a deafening rumble of thunder and the doors of the Great Hall banged open. A stranger came forward, carried by a real leg and an artificial one that clunked every time the man put weight on it to step forward. As he reached the teacher's table at the front of the Hall, he reached out a hand that was as badly scarred as his face, and Dumbledore shook it, mumbling words no one could hear. Dumbledore gestured the man to the empty seat on his right-hand side.

"May I introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," said Dumbledore brightly into the silence. "Professor Moody."

It was usual for new staff members to be greeted with applause, but none of the teachers or students clapped except Dumbledore and Hagrid, but the sound echoed dismally into the silence, and they stopped fairly quickly.

Dumbledore cleared his throat.

"As I was saying," he said, smiling at the sea of students before him, all of whom were transfixed on Mad-Eye Moody, "we are to have the honor of hosting a very exciting event over the remaining months, an event that has not been held in over a hundred years. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Tri-Wizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year."

"You're JOKING!" said one of the Weasley twins loudly.

The tension that had filled the Hall since Moody's arrival suddenly broke. Nearly everyone laughed and Dumbledore chuckled appreciatively.

"I am not joking, Mr. Weasley,"he said, "though now that you mention it, I did hear an excellent one over the summer about a troll, a hag and a leprechaun who all go into a bar…"

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat loudly.

"Er – but maybe this is not the time… no…" said Dumbledore, "Where was I? Ah, yes, the Tri-Wizard Tournament… well some of you will not know what this tournament involves so I hope those who do know will forgive me forgiving a short explanation, and allow their attentions to wander freely.

"The Tri-Wizard Tournament was first established some seven hundred years ago as a friendly competition between the three largest European schools of wizardry: Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. A champion was selected to represent each school, and the three champions competed in three magical tasks. The schools took turns to host the tournament once every five years, and it was generally agreed to be a most excellent way of establishing ties between young witches and wizards of different nationalities – until, that is, the death toll mounted so high that the tournament was discontinued.

"There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the tournament," Dumbledore continued, "none of which have been very successful. However, our own Departments of International Magical Cooperation and Magical Games and Sports have decided that the time is ripe for another attempt. We have worked hard over the summer to ensure that this time, no champion will find himself or herself in mortal danger.

"The Heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving with their shortlist contenders in October, and the selection of the three champions will take place at a Halloween Ball at the stroke of midnight. An impartial judge will decide which students are most worthy to compete for the Tri-Wizard Cup, the glory of their school, and a thousand Galleons personal prize money."

Charlotte turned and tried to find Ada at the Gryffindor table, but was unable to see over the heads of the other students. The thought of Viktor entering the Tournament was horrifying enough; she didn't know what she would do if Ada entered as well. What if they were both chosen?

"Eager though I know all of you will be to bring the Tri-Wizard Cup to Hogwarts," Dumbledore's voice rose over the tittering that had broken out amongst the students, "the Heads of the participating schools, along with the Ministry of Magic, have agreed to impose an age restriction on contenders this year. Only student who are of age – that is to say, seventeen years or older – will be allowed to put forth their names for consideration. This –" Dumbledore had to raise his voice to a near-shout, as the entire Hall, it seemed, began to voice their disagreement with the decision out loud, "is a measure we feel is necessary, given that the Tournament tasks will still be difficult and dangerous, whatever precautions we take, and it is highly unlikely that students under seventh and sixth year will be able to cope with them.

"The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving on October 30th and will remain with us for the greater part of this year. I know that all of you will extend every courtesy to our foreign guests while they are with us, and will give your whole-hearted support to the Hogwarts champion when he or she is selected. And now, it is late, and I know how important it is for you all to be alert and rested as you enter your lessons tomorrow morning. Bedtime! Chop chop!"

Charlotte was unable to find Ada before curfew, so she made her way to the north corner of the castle and the Ravenclaw common room. Up five stories of winding staircases, dodging through clumps of other Ravenclaw students that had stopped to chat and catch up, she finally came upon the large, arched door that lead to her dorms. Pulling back the brass knocker shaped like an eagle, she knocked it once. The eagle came to attention and said,

"The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?"

"Footsteps," Charlotte answered.

"Enter."

The door swung open to reveal a large, round room with high vaulted ceilings painted with the night sky, and constellations that changed with the seasons. The carpet was a deep blue that echoed the ceiling. Blue and bronze tapestries hung on the walls and were illuminated by the morning sun when it rose through vaulted windows that reached the ceiling. Several students were already relaxing, huddled together in groups, discussing their summers and the upcoming school year. The most popular topic, as far as Charlotte could tell without stopping to become part of a conversation, was the Tri-Wizard Tournament.

As she ascended yet another set of stairs, Charlotte couldn't help but wonder who would be chosen for each school, and what kinds of challenges they would face. These were the stressing thoughts that followed her into her bedroom, and lingered as she changed out of her robes and into a large sleep shirt. Her trunk, already placed at the end of her bed, held tomorrow's clean uniform and the books she would need for her classes. Deek's cage had been placed on her bedside table, and the sheets on her bed were fresh.

Climbing underneath her bed covers, Charlotte drew the curtains around her bed and cast a silencing charm to keep the noise of other students away. She lay back on her pillows, closed her eyes, and wished for sleep to come.

Friday, September 2nd

The next morning, Charlotte woke early, showered, dressed, and headed down for breakfast. Most of the students who were already awake, were slow and sleepy, trudging to their tables to await the delivery of their schedules. Charlotte helped herself to the toast and jam that was already on the table and hoped that her owl would reappear with today's delivery of mail. After about fifteen minutes of waiting, Professor Flitwick, her head of house, stepped into the Great Hall with a rather large stack of parchment in his hands.

"Good morning, Ms. Wright," the small man squeaked.

"Good morning, Professor."

"Here's your schedule for the year," he said, handing her a schedule from the bottom of the stack. Charlotte took it, and went to return to her breakfast, but Professor Flitwick stopped her with a soft touch to the back of her hand.

"Professor?"

"My condolences, Ms. Wright. Should you need anything, please let me know."

"Thank you, Professor," Charlotte said quietly.

She set her toast to the side, and was quiet until Ada found her twenty minutes later.

"Good morning, Charlie," she said, sitting on the bench at the Ravenclaw table.

"Hey. Where were you last night?"

"I caught two second years trying to sneak out to see the giant squid in the lake. I had to take them to McGonagall. By the time she was done scolding them, we were all late for curfew."

"Detentions on the first night," Charlotte laughed.

"Detentions with Filch," Ada said in a tone that said she pitied the two that got caught.

"May Merlin have mercy on their souls. Have you gotten your schedule yet?"

"Yeah. What do you have this morning?"

"Double Potions, then Transfiguration."

"That's it? That's all you have on Fridays?"

"Yep."

"I have a full day, plus Astronomy from eight to midnight. You have it so easy this year!"

"If you had done a little more work last year, like I told you to, you wouldn't have such a full schedule this year."

"Bah," Ada scoffed.

"Besides, every moment not doing school work, I'll end up practicing for auditions."

"Oh, okay," Ada said.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Ada grinned and faked a cough into her fist, "Viktor."

"Shove it," Charlotte said, hitting Ada on the shoulder.

Both girls dissolved into giggles that lasted until the horde of owls that served the school and belonged to students began to sweep into the Hall though the high windows. Charlotte searched the room for her own owl, who had still yet to appear, and almost missed a familiar goshawk as it cut its wings to spiral down and land on her shoulder. The large bird earned Charlotte several odd looks, especially from those who knew she owned a rather grumpy barn owl. Crumbling up a piece of sausage, Charlotte fed it to Orion as she untied the dragon hide case from his talon.

Charlotte,

I do not mean to alarm you, but Deek was attacked by something as he delivered your last letter. He is alive, and I have asked our school's healer to take a look at his injuries. I do not know how long it will be until he can return to you, but I will bring him to you if he cannot fly by the time we begin our trek to Hogwarts.

It pleases me that you will join me on Halloween. I am very much looking forward to it. The shortlist for attendees has been finalized, though there was not much chance of failing to make the cut. Several of my friends are looking forward to it as well, and have expressed interest in seeing how things are done at Hogwarts. Hopefully, we will be more well received that if you were visiting Durmstrang. It has long been a hostile place.

Yours,

Viktor

Charlotte could hardly pay attention through her first Potions class of the year, though they did nothing more complicated than refresh their memories of things learns years previous. She sat next to a quiet Hufflepuff boy, Zander, she thought his name was, but he didn't attempt to make conversation, and that was fine with her.

By the time Potions was over, and Charlotte had made it to her Transfiguration hour, she wasn't even attempting to keep up the facade of paying attention. She quickly jotted down the answers to the questions Professor McGonagall had assigned as the first day's work, then pulled out a fresh sheet of parchment to begin a new letter to Viktor.

Dear Viktor,

Thank you for taking care of Deek. I was terribly worried when he did not return to me when expected. Do you have any idea of what could have attacked him? He's never been injured in a journey before. He may become grumpy, and if he does so, is usually plied best with breakfast sausage. Has your healer had a look at him?

When you do arrive, I imagine you will be greeted with a bit of wonder. We've never had another school visit before, and many students will possibly treat you as a bit of a side show. As for hostility, when new students arrive in their first year, they are sorted into one of four houses, named after the school's original founders. There has always been a healthy amount of competition between the houses, but Gryffindor and Slytherin are the only two houses that have been known to become hostile in the past, and even then only with each other. I think you will be safe from any adversarial feelings, unless, of course, you are chosen to represent Durmstrang in the Tournament.

Wishing for a sooner Halloween,

Charlotte

"I assume you've finished your assignment, Ms. Wright?" murmured a quiet voice in Charlotte's ear.

She startled, causing a bit of ink from her quill to splash across her letter, and looked up to find Professor McGonagall leaning over her desk.

"Yes, ma'am," she said, handing the teacher her finished assignment.

"Very well," the older woman said, arching an eyebrow. Then, before she walked away, she muttered under her breath, "Viktor is a very lucky boy, my dear."

Charlotte felt her face start to heat and hoped she wasn't as red as she felt.

"Thank you, professor."

After her Transfiguration class, Charlotte had her assigned lunch period, and was free for the rest of day. With no homework to complete over the first weekend, she stowed her books in her bedroom, and changed out of her uniform. In pants and boots more suited to the rain that seemed to be imminent, Charlotte gathered her cloak, wand and small backpack, and headed outside to the greenhouses.

Greenhouse Eight was used exclusively to grow herbs and ingredients for Madame Pomfrey in the castle's hospital, and was usually left undisturbed by other students. Professor Sprout knew that Charlotte frequented the greenhouse, but the Ravenclaw didn't know if the teacher knew for what purpose. As usual, Greenhouse Eight was unlocked, so Charlotte set her bag down on a bench, and pulled out several pieces of sheet music.

A quick and simple spell, and the greenhouse was soundproofed; another and an invisible orchestra began to read from the sheet music, pausing whenever Charlotte cracked a note from lack of practice or missed a cue. By the time dinner rolled around, Charlotte had sung herself hoarse, and was forced to seek Madame Pomfrey herself for a soothing potion.

Saturday, September 3rd

"Hey," Ada said, plopping down at the breakfast table next to Charlotte.

"Morning," Charlotte mumbled around her toast.

"So McGonagall posted a notice in the common rooms this morning: there's going to be a shopping expedition to Diagon Alley this afternoon for people to find masks and robes for the Halloween Ball. Do you want to go?"

"I don't have a gown, so I suppose I need to."

"Good! Cause I signed us up to go. We're leaving from Hogsmead at noon."

"I'll be ready," Charlotte said, rolling her eyes at Ada's antics.

"What else do you have planned for the morning?" Ada asked. "Practice?"

"I practiced after lunch yesterday, out in the greenhouse."

"How's it coming along?"

"Okay, I guess," Charlotte shrugged.

"What arrangement did you pick? Is it something I'll know?"

"Probably not. Think of Me is Christine's signature solo piece, and I feel like everyone who wants the part will pick that one. I'd like to do All I Ask of You, but it's a duet."

"So what have you been practicing?"

"Think of Me."

"She has to have other songs," Ada insisted. "Why do you have to even do one of her songs?"

"That's just how it's done, Ada. I have to prove, beyond a doubt, that I have the vocal range for Christine, and that only happens by singing the songs written for Christine."

"So what are some of her other songs?"

"She only has two solos in the whole play, everything else is sung with a partner."

"Okay, so if Think of Me is one of them, What's the other?"

"It's called Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again. It's an ode to her father that's passed away," Charlotte said quietly, eyes focused on her plate.

"I'm sorry," Ada said, before forcing the conversation long. "So, Think of Me it is. We can stop in that little music shop you like and see if they have anything good."

"That sounds good."

"Come on, Ada, or we'll miss the trip," Charlotte scolded her friend who was lazily trudging down the hall towards the door.

"We won't miss it," Ada said.

"Hurry up anyway."

Once they were both out in the muggy September air, they set a rather quick pace towards the Three Broom Sticks. Once there, they'd floo to Diagon Alley with Professor McGonagall as their chaperone.

"What kind of dress do you want?" Ada asked.

"A pretty one," Charlotte said.

Ada scoffed.

"I've never bought a formal gown before," Charlotte reasoned. "I don't really know what to look for."

"Well, I do," Ada said, "and I'll make sure you get something gorgeous."

Ada's father was a muggle lawyer who worked for a very large company, and as such, Ada had spent many a train ride to school lamenting over the wasted summer potential spent on formal parties and dinners attended with her father. Charlotte knew the events didn't really bother her, that Ada was glad to be able to spend time with her father, especially after her mother had left them, but Ada felt it was her daughterly duty to complain.

"I don't know how I'd survive without you," Charlotte said flatly.

"Me either."

"No, put that down. It's not your color," Ada commanded.

"I quite like the color, thank you," Charlotte said.

The two of them were in the third specialty robes shop in the span of only two hours, and Charlotte was quickly losing patience with the excursion. Ada, who had found her dress in the second shop, was doing her best to help Charlotte, but was also grating on the other girl's nerves.

"I think it'll make you look to yellow."

"The dress is yellow."

"Exactly."

Charlotte had to push down the urge to kick Ada in the shin.

"Do you girls need any help?" asked a shop attendant. "What occasion are you shopping for?"

"Our school is hosting other schools for a formal ball," Ada told the woman. "I've found my gown, but we haven't had any luck for Charlotte."

"Hogwarts?" she asked.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Alright, let's see what we can do," she said pleasantly. "What colors do you prefer?"

"I don't know that I have a preference," Charlotte said.

"It's a Halloween Ball," Ada added, "so darker colors would probably be best."

"A dark red would look lovely on you," the woman commented.

Charlotte squirmed a little.

"What?" Ada asked.

"The Durmstrang banner colors are red."

"Are you kidding me?" Ada said. "He already asked you? Did you say yes?"

"Would I be worried about the color of their dress uniforms if I hadn't?" Charlotte snapped.

"Alright," the attendant interrupts them. "So we have this straight. You have a date? And he's attending Durmstrang?"

"Yes, ma'am," Charlotte said.

"Durmstrang's formal uniform for summer, which is considered March through October, is black," the shop woman said. "So if the Ball is to take place Halloween night, they'll still be required to wear their summer formal uniforms. So a dark red would likely compliment your young man's attire."

"Oh, no he's not..." Charlotte tapered her sentence off at a look from Ada. "Yes ma'am. Dark red would be lovely."