Chapter Three

Quiz

Septimus Weasley was happy to be returning to Hogwarts after Christmas but he'd miss his older brothers who he'd gotten used to having around. They were a pain but all of them apart from Septimus himself and Jules had left Hogwarts now, meaning that he didn't get to see them very often. He gave his eldest brother a big hug before stepping onto the Hogwarts express.

"Thanks again for the owl!" He shouted, hopping onto the train, his brand new owl in a cage dangling by his side. It had been his brothers who had saved enough money for a new one and had passed this one down. Septimus found a carriage with his Gryffindor friends and sat as the train pulled away and his family disappeared into big black puffs of smoke.

"Had a nice holiday?" Jarrad asked as he sat down and Septimus nodded, showing him his new owl.

"What have you named him?" Jasmine inquired.

"Uh- Albert," he admitted, "I know it's a bit lame for an owl, but I couldn't think of anything better."

Albert screeched, ruffling his brown feathers and they laughed.

"Oh, Septimus, Professor Merrythought wants to see you, he was in here just before you came in – he said he'll be over in the teachers carriage," Jasmine said, running a hand through her hair.

Septimus' stomach fluttered slightly, surely he couldn't be in trouble? He'd been good all of last term, he'd started focusing on his exams.

"Did he say what he wanted?" He asked the blonde girl who shook her head.

Septimus sighed and stood up, leaving his owl with the group and heading down to the teachers carriage where he found Professor Merrythought sharing a compartment with a group of other students.

"Ah, Weasley, there you are. I was just saying there's only you and Black left to arrive. Well, sit down. Once Black gets here I'll let you know what's going on."

Septimus Weasley took a seat next to another Gryffindor. In total there were seven students two from each house apart from Slytherin, but there would be two of those as well when Black arrived.

A thought crossed Septimus' brain, "Uh- which Black is it we're waiting for?" He asked but before anyone else could answer there was the sound of approaching heels and Cedrella stood at the door of the compartment, "This one," she said, raising her eyebrows.

Septimus sighed. Of course it was her, how could it not be? Was the world determined to make him into nothing but another of the boys who chased one of the Black girls? He'd seen them before, chasing after Cedrella or one of her two sisters, never even thrown a sideways glance. He had never understood the attraction, but seeing Cedrella stood there, tall in her heels, her black hair thrown behind her, her eyes sparkling, Septimus understood it perfectly. There was a mystery there, in that cool confidence, one he sort of wanted to get to the bottom of.

"Ah, good," said Professor Merrythought, "Well, sit down Black, and I'll get onto explaining why you're all here."

Cedrella took a seat next to the Professor and directly across from Septimus as Professor Merrythought began talking.

"Well, as I'm sure you've noticed, I've gathered two of the most intelligent students here from each house, and you're probably wondering why." She clapped her hands together once, smiling. "I propose an interhouse quiz."

"What kind of quiz?" asked Cedrella and Septimus at the same time, while the rest of the group were busy looking smug at being referred to as the most intelligent in their houses.

Professor Merrythought looked from one to the other, before announcing – "A general knowledge quiz. Famous ministers of magic, potion ingredients, spells and curses. Fifty house points for first place, thirty for second and fifteen for third."

"Fifty isn't very many…" Cedrella mused, "They get more than that for winning a Quidditch match."

The Professor raised her eyebrows, "Then what do you propose Miss Black?"

"One hundred."

Professor Merrythought pondered it… "Alright then. One hundred house points for first place, fifty for second and thirty for third."

"That's better," Septimus grinned, turning to share a confident smile with his Gryffindor team mate, "Now it's worth our time."

"Wait a minute before you start presuming who your teammates are, Weasley."

"Huh?"

"Only one person from each house will get to the finals. For the first round you will be paired up with someone from another house and made to work with them to beat another pair. To make sure that a person from each house makes it to the finals, we will have four pairs. Two pairs with a Gryffindor and a Slytherin, two pairs with a Hufflepuff and a Ravenclaw. The two identical pairs will then be against each other. For example a Gryffindor/Slytherin pair will be against the other Gryffindor/Slytherin pair, meaning that one person from each house will definitely be in the final which will be a four way individual quiz rather than a quiz with two opposing teams. Any questions?"

"Yes," a Slytherin boy, George Prince said, "Do you mean I have to work with a Gryffindor?"

Professor Merrythought grinned, "Yes. Glad you grasped it so quickly."

"That's not going to happen."

"Well then you might as well just hand over those one hundred points." Septimus said his eyes flashing with the challenge and the brown haired boy scowled.

"Fine," George said to Professor Merrythought, "I'll do it but I am not working with him. I'll take her instead." He jerked his head at Lucy, the other Gryffindor who scowled but Professor Merrythought nodded.

Cedrella's eyes flickered with alarm for just a moment as she realised she'd now have to be the one to work with Septimus. He realised this at the same time and caught her glance, his own eyes betraying him with an identical flicker of alarm. He sighed and threw his head back, he should've seen that one coming.

"Well then," the Professor continued, "Jayne and Olivia you two can work together" she said, nodding at a Hufflepuff and a Ravenclaw respectively, "and Sarah and Henry you two will be a pair." Sarah, the Hufflepuff nodded politely at Henry who gave a sort of grimace back. He was known for being really intelligent and was obviously doubting Sarah's own intelligence.

"I'll leave it at that," said Professor Merrythought, "I suggest that you spend time getting to know each other and studying anything you think might come up. The first round is in a week exactly, I'll send each of you a note letting you know where."

A/N Well I hope you could follow all of that about the quiz! Please review! :D